How to Win Design Awards (for Jewellers)
By Noel J. Nolan
1. Understand the judges.
Take the time to understand the individual judges—their artistic preferences, cultural backgrounds, and the values they bring to the judging process. Every judge has a unique perspective, and recognising this can help you better position your work.
2. Choose your category wisely.
Avoid entering categories where judges may have family members, relatives, or close associates presenting work. Even when judging is fair, it is wise to avoid situations where perceptions of bias could exist.
3. Design with the judges in mind.
Only after considering the above should you begin designing. Create something that is fresh, original, and unexpected, while remaining within the broad boundaries of accepted taste and contemporary fashion. You could describe this balance as working within the ever-shifting pulse of vogue.
4. Develop your ideas thoroughly.
Begin by sketching around 50 rough concepts. Allow yourself three to four months before the final presentation so you have time to refine your thinking without rushing.
Study your sketches at random, then begin a process of elimination. Reduce the collection to about 25 designs, then continue narrowing the field until only three remain. From these three, choose the single design you believe has the greatest potential.
At this stage, you will probably be tempted to ask others for their opinion. My advice is: don't.
If you have honestly followed each of the previous steps, you are, at this point, the person best qualified to judge your own work. Outside opinions are more likely to muddy the waters than improve your decision. Trust your judgement, commit to your choice, and present it with confidence.
noeljnolan
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2026-07-11 23:28:24 UTC
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2026-07-11 23:28:24 UTCEvent JSON
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"content": "How to Win Design Awards (for Jewellers)\n\nBy Noel J. Nolan\n\n1. Understand the judges.\nTake the time to understand the individual judges—their artistic preferences, cultural backgrounds, and the values they bring to the judging process. Every judge has a unique perspective, and recognising this can help you better position your work.\n\n2. Choose your category wisely.\nAvoid entering categories where judges may have family members, relatives, or close associates presenting work. Even when judging is fair, it is wise to avoid situations where perceptions of bias could exist.\n\n3. Design with the judges in mind.\nOnly after considering the above should you begin designing. Create something that is fresh, original, and unexpected, while remaining within the broad boundaries of accepted taste and contemporary fashion. You could describe this balance as working within the ever-shifting pulse of vogue.\n\n4. Develop your ideas thoroughly.\nBegin by sketching around 50 rough concepts. Allow yourself three to four months before the final presentation so you have time to refine your thinking without rushing.\n\nStudy your sketches at random, then begin a process of elimination. Reduce the collection to about 25 designs, then continue narrowing the field until only three remain. From these three, choose the single design you believe has the greatest potential.\n\nAt this stage, you will probably be tempted to ask others for their opinion. My advice is: don't.\n\nIf you have honestly followed each of the previous steps, you are, at this point, the person best qualified to judge your own work. Outside opinions are more likely to muddy the waters than improve your decision. Trust your judgement, commit to your choice, and present it with confidence. \n\n",
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