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Mountain Beauty Necklace by Kajal Naina Sherchan Rai |
Home > Winners > Design #66057 >Interview |
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FS: What is the main principle, idea and inspiration behind your design?
KS: The inspiration is nature: Beautiful wild Rhododendrons and waterfalls in the mountains of my country Nepal. Rhododendron is the national flower of Nepal since it grows up in the mountains and I am from the city I had never seen one until few years back as an adult. I fell in love with what I saw. We also have an abundance of waterfalls. I had this great urge to share the exquisite beauty of what I witnessed to other people too.
FS: What has been your main focus in designing this work? Especially what did you want to achieve?
KS: I love making artistic pieces and the challenge that comes with it. I am a romantic at heart so to be able to translate this glory of nature in its undiluted form was the main focus. Being true to my inner self, I wanted to create something beautiful but also practical and should be easy to use. I wanted to At the same time, life has taught me to be a practical person so it's also important for me that my creations are practically wearable again and again hence the multipurpose theme.
FS: What are your future plans for this award winning design?
KS: I hope that it is purchased by someone who truly loves and appreciates the beauty and meaning and craftsmanship of this piece.
FS: How long did it take you to design this particular concept?
KS: The designing took about 3 months by the time I was totally satisfied with it.
FS: Why did you design this particular concept? Was this design commissioned or did you decide to pursuit an inspiration?
KS: The initial seed for desire to create this design was planted just before I got into jewellery designing. So this piece was created not by any commission, but to because of an inspiration that I just had to bring into life.
FS: Is your design being produced or used by another company, or do you plan to sell or lease the production rights or do you intent to produce your work yourself?
KS: I haven't given much thought in that line but I probably will produce my work myself.
FS: What made you design this particular type of work?
KS: I love and highly appreciate beautifully crafted artistic creations. I have always been attracted to nature, flowers, waterfalls so I think organic designs come naturally to me.
FS: Where there any other designs and/or designers that helped the influence the design of your work?
KS: No one for this work in particular. But I am more inclined towards organic designs. I am a big fan of designs and craftsmanship of fine jewelry of Van Cleef and Arpels and Cartier. Amongst contemporary artists, I highly look upto the works of Cindy Chao with all the perfect play of organic shapes and at the same time very I'm drawn to the unconventional charm of jewelries by Solange Azagury Partridge.
FS: Who is the target customer for his design?
KS: Someone who values beauty and functionality. Someone looking to stand out in a unique design at any kind of occasion.
FS: What sets this design apart from other similar or resembling concepts?
KS: 1. Because it is from my heart. It was inspired when I hadn't even started to make jewelleries but I knew that I somehow wanted to somehow use my talents to showcase this beauty of nature to others. It has been created without much influence from anything or anyone so it is pure and uniquely special. 2. Because it is absolutely versatile and can be used for a variety of different occasions and for different purposes.
FS: How did you come up with the name for this design? What does it mean?
KS: "Mountain beauty" takes its name from the fact that the elements of design are inspirations from the mountains. The glittering diamond necklace represents the magnificent and thundering waterfalls cascading down the mountains and the centerpiece signifies the wildly blooming rhododendrons that cover the mountains. The flower and waterfall suggest the beauty in the wilderness of nature and a reminder how creativity flows like the waterfall and blooms like the flower, without inhibition- wild, unstoppable, and enchanting.
FS: Which design tools did you use when you were working on this project?
KS: Hand drawing and CAD.
FS: What is the most unique aspect of your design?
KS: The use of this Rhododendron flower for the first time in jewelry. Also it can be used in 3 different ways giving maximum versatility and benefit.
FS: Who did you collaborate with for this design? Did you work with people with technical / specialized skills?
KS: I collaborated with my manufacturer in Thailand. All the craftsmen were highly skilled.
FS: What is the role of technology in this particular design?
KS: Designing in CAD helped me to make necessary changes until the design was exactly what I wanted and visualize how the final product would look like even before we started actually making anything. Resin printing helped to make sure that the final product would look exactly like how we had planned.
FS: Is your design influenced by data or analytical research in any way? What kind of research did you conduct for making this design?
KS: Not much.
FS: What are some of the challenges you faced during the design/realization of your concept?
KS: The first thing challenge was to source my support team since I had just started out. Second challenge was in relating my design concept for a convertible jewelry and third challenge was in the making of the flower as this flower is not a very common one.
FS: How did you decide to submit your design to an international design competition?
KS: I hadn't commercialized this design yet and when I saw the A'design competition dates were open, I wanted to submit this.
FS: What did you learn or how did you improve yourself during the designing of this work?
KS: I learnt how important it is to collaborate with the manufacturing team. Sometimes designers have a vision, but if not related well to the team it can lead to unwanted changes. I also learnt that although sometimes we have some fantastic ideas in out head, we need a strong and skillful manufacturing support to realize the dreams.
FS: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
KS: Yes. I would like to give this answer to anyone who asks me what being a jewelry designer means to me: "Ask anyone what a piece of jewellery they’re wearing means to them, and they’ll usually have a story. For me, jewellery is a big part of my life and my culture. In Nepal, where I’m from, if you have any extra money, you don’t just put it in the bank. You buy jewellery. Gold jewellery. (Because you can always convert it back to money.) For me, jewellery, and gold, especially, is a connection to my mother, who’s no longer living. As a child, I loved watching my mother get her outfit ready for a big event. She would choose a colorful sari from her big, steel closet that was just for saris. She would lay the sari out on the bed, and then, with me by her side, she’d open the steel safe in our prayer room and pick the jewellery to go with it. While the safe was open, she’d show me different pieces; necklaces, earrings, bangles, rings, and tell me stories about each one. Many, she received for her wedding. Some came from my grandmother, who would hand her pieces over the years. Some, she’d picked up on her trips to India, Thailand, Bhutan, Singapore, Hongkong etc. where she would always buy some small piece for me, as well. When I started getting older, she would take me to the store to pick out something special for every birthday. Always gold. When I see, touch, and wear gold, I see both my past, my present and my future. I see myself as a child, joyfully getting small pieces of gold from my parents and grandparents on birthdays and special occasions. I see myself now feeling more special every time I put on my beloved jewelry pieces and feeling good about myself helps to strengthen my confidence. And I see myself years ahead, feeling safe and free. From my upbringing, in addition to the beauty it gives, gold represents a safety net. Even if I never sell it, I know I have the leeway to take a year off or to handle whatever unplanned events life brings me. Most of all, I see glamour. Jewellery is a way to look extra nice, to feel special and that can help boost confidence in oneself which is always a good thing. People usually buy jewellery during happy times: birthdays, anniversaries, proposals, weddings, holidays, and just to say “I love you.” I love that I get to share in that happiness...and yours. I love making things that make you feel beautiful."
FS: Thank you for providing us with this opportunity to interview you.
A' Design Award and Competitions grants rights to press members and bloggers to use parts of this interview. This interview is provided as it is; DesignPRWire and A' Design Award and Competitions cannot be held responsible for the answers given by participating designers.
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