Jewellery Making

This is a progression course aimed at people who have completed the L1 course – adults progression from L1 or artists/designers/craftspeople wishing to further their skills and gain a qualification. This qualification is designed to enable students to gain additional contemporary jewellery making skills in materials such as metal and Perspex; while pursuing their own creative ideas through a series of set practical projects.

It encourages students to research the work of designers and other sources to develop their own design ideas; present and communicate their ideas to others (gathering visual images, simple sketches, working drawings, samples and technical annotations in a portfolio of work) and to plan, produce and reflect upon their final outcome(s) which will be exhibited at the end of the year show.

The course will cover:
• Recapping on previous skills learnt
• Additional technical processes in metal & mixed media
• Finishing and polishing
• Producing a wider range of jewellery outcomes
• Research and design development skills to produce an individual outcome
• Health & Safety procedures for maintaining a safe working environment

An aptitude for art & design
Good hand making skills
English and Maths qualification at Level 1 or above.

Each week, you will attend a 3 hour practical session with an experienced Jewellery tutor in our fully equipped jewellery workshop. You will research and develop your designs for your jewellery in your own time, this is an essential part of the course and requires full commitment.

The course is assessed internally and moderated externally by NCFE. There will be 4 assessments throughout the year for the following units:

Use materials, tools and equipment to develop craft techniques (3credits)
Investigate creative enterprise and employment opportunities (5 credits)
Develop craft ideas (4credits)
Create, present and evaluate final craft item (3 credits)

Students who pass this course can progress on to L3 UAL Diploma in Jewellery at The Manchester College.

Depending upon your performance on this course, you may be able to progress to the UCEN Manchester, Higher National Diploma in Art & Design: Jewellery & Contemporary Design Crafts.

This is the first step, with a great deal of further study and experience, students may go on to set up their own business as an independent practitioner: become a designer maker, applied artist, workshop facilitator or work in any number of roles within the growing art and design industry.