There’s so much more to creating a cohesive jewellery collection than producing 15 different designs and stamping your own logo on each one, ready for sale. Producing a signature collection that is as distinctive as it is interconnected, is a difficult process to get right, especially if you’re in the midst of moving away from making one-off pieces.
That’s why we’ve put together this guide on how to create a jewellery collection that makes a statement and is undeniably your signature style, helping you to make sure each design fits as a piece of larger puzzle which should help you to build your jewellery brand.
How to build a jewellery collection using your signature style
Your signature style is what will make you stand out as a jewellery designer. So, your collection should be built on what inspires you, what makes you different, and what you know your ideal customer would buy in an instant.
So where do you start?
- What inspires you: Create a mood board for your collection or collect materials and shapes that you would like to incorporate into your jewellery collection so that you have a clear picture of where you want to take it.
- What makes you different: What are your strengths? Are you proficient at more difficult soldering techniques? Or are you trained in stone setting? Use your distinct skills to your advantage so that you’re providing your customers with the finest work you possibly can. And if you’ve already mastered a difficult technique, how can you put a spin on it that will make you stand out from your competitors?
- Your ideal customer: If you know how to create a jewellery collection with a specific customer in mind then you’re halfway to building a collection that will work for your customer base. Don’t forget to use social media to your advantage here too. If you’re already using Facebook and other platforms to advertise, make sure you research who is interacting with your products on these platforms. Which competitors do they follow? Are they inspired by other designers? Once you have this information you can refine your designs so that they really speak to your target customer.
Want to learn more about marketing your work on social platforms? Read our article on how to successfully sell your jewellery on social media.
There’s no getting away from the fact that your own style will set you apart from the rest. If you’re mirroring a jewellery collection or design that is already on the market this will be reflected in your sales. So, ask yourself the difficult questions above and answer as honestly as you can. In the long run this will help you figure out how to create a jewellery collection that truly stands out.
How to develop your jewellery collection from scratch
You may have already created single jewellery designs using different techniques and styles. But when it comes to developing your own collection from scratch, the key to bring everything together is to start with one element that runs through your entire jewellery collection. Perhaps your collection could start with one single statement piece, and then a material, gemstone, or shape from that statement piece could be used in other pieces to form your cohesive jewellery collection. Whatever approach you decide to take with your collection, remember that there should always be a common thread running throughout.
Found that common element? Here’s what’s next:
Define your singular pieces
Once you’ve found that cohesive element that runs throughout your jewellery collection you’ll need to start sketching out some ideas for other pieces. Will that common element work on a ring? Earrings? How about a bracelet? Make sure that each single design will function and stand out using that common element. And if it doesn’t work? Scrap it. If the jewellery design just doesn’t work, and the quality of the craftmanship suffers due to the design, it’s always best to go back to the drawing board.
Find the upsell pieces in your jewellery collection
So, you have a statement piece and perhaps a few items that could be costed at a lower price than your statement piece. But which smaller pieces could you include that would be very easy for a loyal customer to pick up, along with their favourite piece from your new jewellery collection? Thinking cleverly about how you could market and discount certain pieces, could really help you to boost sales and create a cohesive collection.
Edit your jewellery collection
Tried and tested a few new pieces? When creating a jewellery collection there are no rules as to how many pieces to include. However, it’s important to take a step back and make sure that your jewellery collection has not become a vast number of designs that have not been carefully curated. If you’ve created over 20 prototypes, you may want to get some outside advice. It can be hard, as the designer to take that step back and decide between your own creations.
So, ask a friend to help you narrow down your choices. Which pieces do they think complement each other best? And don’t forget to have your target customer in mind as you choose. This will help you narrow down your choices and help you create a cohesive jewellery collection that draws in your ideal customer and stands out from the crowd.
Looking for more advice on how to design the best jewellery collection possible? Read our guide on the most common pitfalls to avoid when designing jewellery.
Cooksongold