Genevieve Schwartz – Combining Jewellery Design and 3D Printing

Genevieve Schwartz is a featured designer on MyMiniFactory and the founder of Genevieve Black Jewellery. She has recently designed a collection for MyMiniFactory, which is based on geometrical shapes, as well as forms inspired by mathematics. The collection includes a series of rings and pendants which fit together in pairs, inviting the eye to see how the pieces come together when worn in a pair.

The collection istelf was first printed in B9 Yellow Resin using a B9 Creator printer, before being molded and casted in Sterling Silver. The finished pieces are also hand polished. The jewellery collection is her biggest so far, consisting of around 15 different pieces.

At 25, its inspiring that Schwartz has founded her own business at such a young age, though being surrounded by inspiring artists all her life has meant she felt confident to take the plunge. Her family is also very artistic like she is.

She learned how to use Rhino and Matrix at Holts Academy in Hatton Gardens, and her involvement with 3D design grew from there.

Despite the success of this collection, Schwartz has had plenty of design ideas that sadly haven’t become a reality, the same as any artist. She explains, “I think every CAD designer has these! Projects they have conceived in a moment of creative inspiration but not yet had all the components ready to print. Or have not yet worked out the details of how it will work. In my case, as a jewellery designer, I am most often stopped by having to find a gemstone which exactly fits my design. But I store all these for a rainy day when I might need some new pieces to add to a collection.”

Also, like any artist, ideas always come to her at the least expected times, “Normally this happens when I am out and about and see something I like and think “hey, that would be interesting as a necklace or bracelet?”. Because I am a jewellery designer by trade, most of my ideas come to me through a consideration of whether an object is ‘wearable’ or not. Then I let my imagination inspire my research and work out the best way to make my idea into a reality.”

You could even say that this was the same for her idea to use 3D printing and CAD as a medium to create her jewellery. The first time she saw one was whilst watching a YouTube video whilst in class. “The first thing that probably went through my head was about how obsolete humans seems to be becoming! But then I remembered how these machines need to be programmed and that humans design the objects that are printed. Watching a 3D printer work is genuinely hypnotising, and the detail possible in the final prints is remarkable.” It’s safe to say, from then she was hooked.

Her inspiration tends to come from images, as jewellery is generally a visual art. She goes further to explain, “Sometimes I won’t even realise certain objects have inspired me and then when I sit down to sketch, I find myself drawing inspiration from these objects.”

“My degree in Art History has also always had a heavy influence on my designs as I am very inspired by ideas from previous artistic movements. In particular Art Deco designs from the 1920s. I hope to one day design a collection based around this eras stylistic principles and ideas.”

Her work is available to purchase from the MyMiniFactory Jewellery Shop. Also make sure to check out her website, instagram and facebook page. Also keep up to date with her 3D printed work on her MyMiniFactory profile!