Jewellery Design has a rich history, literally. The easiest way to add value to anything is to somehow incorporate a jewel into the mix. So, in a country where an eighty carat aquamarine can be served alongside a mix of chocolate and tropical fruit, as many times as it is ordered, it appears as if we, as Sri Lankans, are tripping over precious stones as we walk the streets. However, like any small but resource rich country, the raw material being gemstones, are taken away to be set and sold somewhere else in the world. Now this makes undeniable economic sense, but a thriving export industry should be partnered with a flourishing local jewellery market. Sri Lanka has a small group of jewellery houses that design exquisite jewellery; this in turn highlights the fact that there are master craftsmen who are able to create these delicately moulded pieces. What Sri Lanka lacks, according to industry insiders, are the people who are able to design pieces of jewellery and then create it themselves, the artisans are absent.

The Academy of Design (AOD) in Sri Lanka which has established the BTEC National Certificate in Jewellery Design and Manufacture will prepare students for professional careers as jewellery artisans. The programme guides students through the different areas related to the jewellery discipline. Whether they want to work within an established company or launch their own line, the course will train and focus the students for careers as designers, who are able to fabricate what they design and then effectively manoeuvre through the diverse field of jewellery practice and manufacture.

The local jewellery industry does not have a large number of designers, most ideas for jewellery are rehashed versions taken off catalogues from more established bases around the world.
For a country with seventy five of the two hundred minerals that are classed as 'gemstones' a true 'Sri Lankan aesthetic' is missing. The local market is highly specialized, and because of its small size, decidedly competitive and yet remains wide open for any creative individual armed with original designs and the ability to physically produce jewellery to please the Sri Lankan consumer, who is always looking for something 'new'.

While AOD is a newly established centre for jewellery design, it is a school that is set up to bring talented people together. So the school will bring a budding jewellery designer into contact with the larger design network through such events as the annual Sri Lanka Design Festival, and simply being around like-minded students.

AOD offers international qualifications in Fashion, Interior, Graphic and Jewellery Design. With a dynamic staff of lecturers and active ties to the local and international Design industry, AOD offers a unique educational experience for the design oriented student. The 10-month Jewellery programme begins on February 15, and a limited number of merit and need-based scholarships are on offer, alongside regular admissions.

We look forward to welcoming you to the Academy of Design!

For further Information Contact :