Dezeen School Shows: for this roundup of student projects, we've picked six jewellery designs featured in Dezeen School Shows that have additional functions.
These jewellery, silversmithing and product design students have created a variety of jewellery that aim to support mental and physical health as well as pieces that foster a connection between humans and nature.
This roundup of projects includes a collection of jewellery that serves as a barrier against surveillance technology and hearing aids that are designed to be worn as an accessory.
The selection of projects comes from product design, jewellery design and silversmithing courses at international institutions including Sheffield Hallam University, University for the Creative Arts, Middlesex University, Glasgow School of Art and Lucerne School of Art and Design.
The Anxiety Relief Set by Yijia He
Jewellery materials and design student Yijia He created a collection of jewellery pieces that aim to reduce feelings of anxiety, confronting the rise of mental health issues due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Informed by traditional Chinese rituals, the pieces are designed to connect with users, integrating them into the fabric of the artwork.
"Combining my design sensibilities and cultural background I propose ways to relieve anxiety, loneliness and feelings of self-isolation," said He.
"My work is performative and aims to break the boundaries of jewellery design and thus allow the work to interact with the audience and make the process part of the work."
Student: Yijia He
School: Sheffield Hallam University
Course: Jewellery Materials and Design
Privacy To Go: Disruptive Jewellery by Laura Desch
Criticising the invasive nature of modern surveillance systems, jewellery design student Laura Desch developed a collection that creates a barrier against facial recognition technology.
Desch aims to encourage confidence in public spaces, giving users the power to control their privacy.
"The jewellery plays with self-perception and other's perceptions and the absurdity that underlies the surveillance system, identification and classification of individuals," said Desch.
"When worn on the body, the series of objects develop an emancipatory character. This performative jewellery generates a disruption in digital presence and allows the wearer to regain control of their private sphere in what is an increasingly monitored public world."
Student: Laura Desch
School: Lucerne School of Art and Design
Course: XS Jewellery
Micheal Loizou, a jewellery and silversmithing student, designed an interactive tool that can be worn on the body, offering a portable source of comfort when people are feeling anxious.
According to Loizou, the pieces feature different kinetic mechanisms such as rivets, providing users with physical distractions to calm them.
"Specialising in the field of kinaesthetic jewellery, Loizou brings a playfulness to jewellery design by focusing on tactility, form and interactive components."
"Fabricated in precious metals, he focuses on soothing textures and visual qualities to engage the user, utilising soft edges and elegant form, calming motion and vivid gemstones, reminiscent of the calming qualities of nature."
Student: Michael Loizou
School: University for the Creative Arts
Course: BA (Hons) Jewellery and Silversmithing
Do You See Me Hearing You? by Sophie Mia Willener
Contradicting the discreet designs of modern hearing aids, jewellery design student Sophie Mia Willener created a hearing aid that serves as a bold and expressive jewellery piece.
The concept took inspiration from 19th-century hearing aids known as ear trumpets, characterised by brass elements and a trumpet-like shape.
"The aim was to design 'visually loud' hearing aids in order to make them more conspicuous and endow them with their own formal autonomy," said Willener.
"Using various add-ons, the hearing aid becomes an item of 'listening jewellery' for the self-assured wearer."
Student: Sophie Mia Willener
School: Lucerne School of Art and Design
Course: BA XS Jewellery
Ease: Easing Neurodiverse Driven Anxiety Through Physical Products by Zöe Needham
Product design student Zöe Needham experimented with various physical anxiety relief strategies, creating a range of jewellery that aims to comfort neurodiverse women.
The pieces can be customised with different textures, sizes, materials, designs and inserts that distract and reassure users in the form of bangles, pendants and key rings.
"Distraction and reassurance through physical contact is an established method of relief for anxiety," explained Needham. "Current solutions focus on medical or technological manifestations."
"A configurable range of anxiety management tactile fabric inserts allow the wearer to insert a variety of tactile fabrics of their choice to support a reduction in stress, discomfort, anxiety or panic."
Student: Zöe Needham
School: Middlesex University
Course: BA Product Design
Silversmithing and jewellery design student Cara Smith created a series of sculpture-like jewellery pieces that imitate organic forms when worn on the body.
Smith aimed to explore the relationship between nature and the human body, experimenting with texture, form, repetition, transformation and movement.
"The jewellery pieces are sculptures intended to become animated once positioned on the body – to become bodily extensions. As nature changes, it gifts us with fleeting phenomena," explained Smith.
"These moments are captured in these activated body adornments, such as the life cycle of the dandelion head changing from yellow to translucent, and then as motion, like a bird in flight."
Student: Cara Smith
School: Glasgow School of Art
Course: BA (Hons) Silversmithing and Jewellery
Partnership content
These projects are presented in school shows from institutions that partner with Dezeen. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.