NO GOLD, PLEASE?

The students of the Goldsmithing, Silversmithing, Metalwork and Jewellery department of the Royal College of Art, London and the students of the department Objekte der Alltagskultur (SOdA) der Fakultät für Gestaltung, Pforzheim have participated in the workshop 'No Gold Please'. During this one week workshop they had the opportunity to experiment with two exiting new materials which have been developed by two companies in Pforzheim. The memory wire, also called nitinol  from G.RAU and the Zirkonium Dioxid from Wieland have been the focus of an intensive research into the new developments that the materials hold for future design and jewellery. The results of all the students will be on display at the Schmuckmuseum in Pforzheim until the 2nd of December.

 

During this short period I produced the following models for the exhibition:


‘Abacus’

 

The rigid structure of the necklace can be bend when cooled down in a freezer, which allows the wearer to move the beads on the necklace.

The pearls can also be covered with heat sensitive paint which informs the wearer of the current temperature of the necklace.

 

‘Short – Long – Short – Long’

These necklace models contain a piece of memory wire which allows the wearer to alter the length of their necklace. From short too long. By placing the necklace in a bowl of hot water the piece regains its original appearance and length and can be stretched again.

 

‘Unlock(r)ing’

 

These models are representations of the possible future applications of memory wire for settings. The memory wire allows the wearer to change the content of the setting by placing the piece in the freezer, which makes the wire supple for a short amount of time.

 

'Pearl earrings'

 

These models are representations of the possible future applications of Zirconium Dioxide for earrings. Zirconium Dioxide can be finished to a high standard with different colours glazing, it is hygienic and incredibly strong so the next future of ‘pearl’ earrings might be entirely made out of Zirconium Dioxide.

 

 

-> adress:

Schmuckmuseum

Jahnstrasse 42, D-75173 Pforzheim, Germany

 

-> 17 November 2012 unitl 2 December 2012
Opening hours: Tuesday - Sunday: 10 am - 5 pm

 

-> website: http://www.designpf.com/2012/10/%c2%bbno-gold-please%c2%ab-young-europeans-talents-workshop/

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
© 2012, Sofie Boons

All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recoring, or otherwise, without prior written permission of the author.