Jewelry Classes Online Program Curriculum
PCDI Canada's jewelry design classes online were developed by experts. You'll start with the fundamentals and quickly advance to hands-on techniques, enhancing your creativity in crafting, repairing and designing jewelry pieces of all kinds. For comprehensive and convenient training, PCDI Canada is the answer.
View Curriculum
Lesson Group 1: Orientation: Ashworth College Career Program
Learning at AshworthThe goals and values of Ashworth College; time management; creating a realistic weekly and monthly study schedule; the nature and purpose of assessments; how to study effectively to prepare for and take an online examination; developing the skill sets necessary for success in the twenty-first century.
Evaluating your business idea; setting yourself apart from the competition; market testing; investment funding and donation funding; qualities of an entrepreneur; crowdfunding and angel investors.
Lesson Group 2: Nurturing Your Inner Designer
Eye of the Jewelry DesignerThe value and meaning of jewelry; three guidelines for jewelry design; definition of a designer/maker; importance of learning good technique; expressing and finding your style; finding your creative community.
The origin of beads and their role in human history; the religious and symbolic meanings that have been attached to beads over time.
Different types of equipment used in jewelry making, including pliers and cutters; various findings used in jewelry making, including beading wire, clasps, crimp beads, crimp knot covers, ear wires, head pins, jump rings, and three-strand connectors.
Importance of researching where to buy your jewelry supplies and what to look for; low-cost options for bead buying; shopping online and through catalogs; selecting and buying the best tools; creating a shopping list; getting started with photography.
Lesson Group 3: Acquiring Skills and Techniques
Design and ColorDifferent types of hues; color value and intensity; warm and muted colors; developing your eye for color; using white and black in designs; the role of metallics in a piece of jewelry; using textures; types of color schemes; considering shape and style in different jewelry pieces.
Working with jump rings, crimp beads, and tubes; crimp knot covers with nylon-coated wire; bead societies; materials that can be used in jewelry making; coordinating beads, wires, and crimps; bead size and the right wire; using crimping pliers.
Creating simple loops, single-wrapped loop, and double-wrapped loops; creating a multistrand necklace and earrings.
The business of jewelry design; pricing factors; overhead costs; materials, labor, and sales commissions; tracking expenses; benefits of making multiple pieces; important photography tips.
Lesson Group 4: Working with Wires and Beads
Stringing Techniques, Part 2Advanced stringing techniques, including knotting and right-angle weave; suggested supplies to use when creating a right-angle weave design; thread and thread visibility; plotting on paper; mixing different beads; using different bead sizes.
Advanced wire-working techniques; creating Danish clusters, spiral earrings, and wire frames; considerations for using heavy-gauge wire.
Finding your themes; noticing repeating elements; understanding your unique signature.
Defining copyright; the relationship between copyright law and jewelry design; protecting your work from copyright infringement; recognizing the boundaries you need to respect when taking inspiration from the ideas of others.
Lesson Group 5: Setting Yourself Up for Success
Creating Unique FindingsCrafting distinctive pieces; function and form; benefits of making your own findings; basic forging tools and techniques.
Using color trends in jewelry design; being aware of trend cycles; classic and trendy colors; color and fashion forecasts; using professional forecasters; fashion magazines and blogs; deciding how trendy you want your designs to be.
Importance of taking good photographs of your jewelry; creating simple still-life setups; photography equipment options; techniques used to improve the quality of your photographs.
The importance of creating a cohesive brand; identifying a color scheme, theme, and other distinctive elements that identify your brand; different types of logos; designing a logo, business card, and packaging that match your overall design; elements of presentation; when to hire a professional graphic designer.
Lesson Group 6: Bringing Originality into Your Designs/h4>
Creating a Distinct Line of Jewelry
Success in creating your jewelry line; important questions to ask when developing your line; setting your line apart from others; planning and refining your line; building a collection; presenting a cohesive line; characteristics of different types of gems and stones; caring and storing of stones.
Starting Your Own Business
Laying the groundwork; being your own boss; pros and cons of business ownership; resources for the entrepreneur; types of business entities; creating a business plan; budgeting for a business; looking the part; wholesale jewelry supplies and sourcing; mass production; offshore production.
Finding Your Inspiration
Letting your ideas flow; finding new techniques; creating wonderful beadwork with various stitches.
Lesson Group 7: Putting It All Together
Creating and Photographing Jewelry Displays
Creating attractive jewelry displays for craft fairs and trunk shows; organizing and displaying your jewelry; photography tips for jewelry displays; researching and hiring a photographer; working with models.
Selling Your Work Online and at Craft Shows
Selling your work on Etsy; showcasing your shop; pricing your work; online promotion; creating your own jewelry website; organizing, advertising, managing, and hosting trunk shows; applying to and participating in craft fairs; considerations for participating in out-of-town craft shows.
Ergonomics
Defining ergonomics; the importance of a comfortable seat; choosing the right table; having adequate lighting; incorporating good working conditions and habits; listening to your body.
Maintaining Your Creativity
Using reclaimed materials; going to yard sales, antique and thrift shops; resources for finding and maintaining your creativity when designing jewelry; advanced jewelry-making techniques.
Success in creating your jewelry line; important questions to ask when developing your line; setting your line apart from others; planning and refining your line; building a collection; presenting a cohesive line; characteristics of different types of gems and stones; caring and storing of stones.
Laying the groundwork; being your own boss; pros and cons of business ownership; resources for the entrepreneur; types of business entities; creating a business plan; budgeting for a business; looking the part; wholesale jewelry supplies and sourcing; mass production; offshore production.
Letting your ideas flow; finding new techniques; creating wonderful beadwork with various stitches.
Creating attractive jewelry displays for craft fairs and trunk shows; organizing and displaying your jewelry; photography tips for jewelry displays; researching and hiring a photographer; working with models.
Selling your work on Etsy; showcasing your shop; pricing your work; online promotion; creating your own jewelry website; organizing, advertising, managing, and hosting trunk shows; applying to and participating in craft fairs; considerations for participating in out-of-town craft shows.
Defining ergonomics; the importance of a comfortable seat; choosing the right table; having adequate lighting; incorporating good working conditions and habits; listening to your body.
Using reclaimed materials; going to yard sales, antique and thrift shops; resources for finding and maintaining your creativity when designing jewelry; advanced jewelry-making techniques.
Program Description
The Jewelry Design and Repair program will give students the information they need to strengthen their jewelry-making skills and tap into their creative side. This comprehensive program covers the hands-on skills involved in designing and crafting all types of jewelry, all while helping you discover and maintain your jewelry’s signature look.
Program Objectives
After completing the Jewelry Design and Repair program, students will be able to:
- Outline the personal and professional characteristics of successful jewelry workers and describe typical job responsibilities, including the special ethical considerations in this field.
- Describe the distinctive characteristics of different jewelry-making materials, including gems and other stones, precious metals, alloys, and nonmetallic materials.
- Explain the basic principles governing the design and production of jewelry items.
- Identify and describe the equipment and tools used to make and repair jewelry and identify the retailers and wholesalers from which such items may be obtained.
- Identify and describe both basic and advanced techniques used to make jewelry.
- Describe how to develop your signature look and cohesive brand, identify how to promote and sell your work through photography, advertising, and creative displays, and identify how to prepare to sell at craft fairs and trunk shows.
- Identify the importance of ergonomics while working at your bench and recognize ways to maintain and increase your creativity.
Our jewelry classes online help you master your craft conveniently and quickly so that you can begin your career. Call 1-800-535-1613 or enroll online now.