SPACES AVAILABLE FOR 2022
The British Academy of Jewellery offers a Diploma Programme in Jewellery Design and Manufacturing. It is a three-year study programme, which follows on from the introductory year Jewellery Fundamentals.
The BAJ Diploma Programme provides the essential skills and experience necessary to succeed in the creative sector as well as contribute to the growth and success of the industry at a local, national and international level.
The programmes are intended to develop creative design and making skills , in addition to the entrepreneurial skills needed to build or support a business, and produce an imaginative and versatile designer maker that is able to respond, adapt and lead in the dynamic and fast-changing jewellery industry.
AVAILABLE
2022
Enrol for our Jewellery Design and Manufacturing Diploma at level 4, 5 or 6. Each level is a 10-month course where you’ll study 2 days per week, or take our fast-track 5-month course, studying 4 days per week.
1-to-1’s ensure that you get the individual support you need to flourish.
Tiffany & Co. and Goldsmith.
Year 1 SQA Level 4
This year will introduce you to complex technical skills, alongside expanding design and creative thinking skills. You will develop further essential workshop and Computer Aided Design (CAD) skills needed to complete and produce set and self-directed designs.
Application of fundamental jewellery techniques learnt on foundation, to the production of specific pieces of jewellery including:
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- Introduction to forging
- Introduction to stone setting
- Creating professional stone mounts for setting
- Hand make a clasp, a hinge, mechanisms and linkage production
- Creating mechanical joins
- Further knowledge of the casting process and metallurgy
Use of Rhino 3D to create both 2D and 3D designs appropriate in the jewellery industry, including:
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- Use of curves and bitmaps for 2D drawings for production
- Use of basic solids and transform commands to create simple objects
- Use and application of the ‘big 6’ commands to form 3D models for casting
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- Ability to apply design process in response to design brief
- Choose, prepare and apply appropriate presentation skills to communicate ideas
- Rendering: continuation of metal forms; opaque and translucent cabochons; faceted stones; rendering an orthographic drawing
- Extending the application of elements and principals of design
- Exploring different materials for maquette making
- Designing mechanical linked components for production
- Technical drawing: isometric and further orthographic drawing
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- Introduction to gemstones and their properties
- Understanding professional practice within the jewellery industry.
- Learning to network and develop contacts in the industry
- Refine development of own career path through a mentoring scheme
- Developed knowledge of jewellery history through learning and applying cultural jewellery techniques e.g. filigree, granulation
- Application of metallurgy concepts
Year 2 SQA Level 5
In the second year, you will concentrate on advanced jewellery manufacturing skills. In addition, you will be introduced to professional practice and challenged by exciting projects further encouraging the development of an individual creative language and a strong portfolio of work and skills.
Advanced Jewellery Manufacturing Skills (35%)
- Advanced forming skills
- Advanced soldering skills
- Understanding of experimental jewellery techniques
- Ability to experiment with jewellery techniques
- Intermediate to advanced finishing and polishing skills
Advanced skills using CAD/CAM (15%)
- Advanced Computer Aided Design skills
- Ability to design for and apply Computer Aided Manufacturing techniques innovatively
Advanced 2D Design Skills (20%)
- Intermediate drawing skills
- Intermediate painting skills
- Produce innovative jewellery designs in conjunction with set parameters as specified in the design brief
- Apply effective and appropriate communication skills and tools to professionally present work
Advanced Jewellery Studies (30%)
- Basic market research for business
- Understand environmental and social impact of work
- Identify, read and critically evaluate material related to their own research interests in jewellery
- Intermediate gemmology knowledge
- Basic writing skills
- Develop a personal professional development plan identifying areas and opportunities for continuous expansion
or proof of equivalent qualification. A bench test and portfolio review may be required.
Year 3 SQA Level 6
During the final year, you will develop a selection of specific jewellery manufacturing skills and professional attributes informed by your career aspirations. Whilst developing a final collection as accumulation of all acquired knowledge and skills, you will start producing content in support of future goals. With support in personal promotion through and a dedicated final show at the end of the qualifications, you will have taken all required steps to launch your career upon completion.
During the final year, you will develop a selection of specific jewellery manufacturing skills and professional attributes informed by your career aspirations. Whilst developing a final collection as accumulation of all acquired knowledge and skills, you will start producing content in support of future goals. With support in personal promotion through and a dedicated final show at the end of the qualifications, you will have taken all required steps to launch your career upon completion.
Upon completion of the qualification you will have gained:
- Advanced jewellery manufacturing skills
- Ability to utilise traditional and new technologies and techniques, materials and processes to creatively produce a final collection
- Ability to efficiently plan and manage the development of a collection from initial design through to final production, meeting all deadlines
- Creative problem-solving skills to overcome design and making problems
- Ability to produce and present a brand built around own work, business values, and correct market placement within the jewellery industry
- Ability to reflect on and describe their own practice in relation to contemporary contexts
- Ability to describe the relationship between their research topic and the issues explored in their own practice
- Ability to write for print/online distribution
- Ability to produce a professional portfolio
- Ability to confidently present a body of work tailored to their chosen target market
- Capacity to analyse product images, and create or collaborate to develop own professional imagery
- An understanding of business and e-business
You will also have:
- Developed and organised an in-depth, well-presented extensively researched project utilising appropriate research methods, and with reference to a variety of appropriate and fully-referenced research sources
- Produce and present a creative and industry-ready promotional package documenting designs of the final collection
- Used supporting business skills to plan the achievement of your individual career goals during studies and upon graduation
Our courses are designed to provide you with the technical craftsmanship, creative thinking and entrepreneurial approach to design, make and build your own jewellery brand.
As well as giving you the skills you need, we’ll introduce you to our close relationships with small and large employers, and key industry experts in the field, putting you at the forefront of the jewellery industry in the UK and globally.
Yes. Our diploma programmes, Jewellery Fundamentals; Jewellery Design & Manufacturing and Preparation for the Jewellery Industry, are all globally recognised and accredited by the Scottish Qualifications Authority Awarding Body.
These qualifications are recognised as part of of the Regulated Qualifications in England and Wales and are also supported by Creative and Cultural Skills, the sector skills council (SSC) for the jewellery industry.
Short courses and online courses are non-accredited. A BAJ certificate of completion is awarded upon successful completion of these courses.
