(This is the second part in a series on the jewellery industry. The first part appeared on July 11, 2014)
By Dominic Gaskin
Jewellery design is the first stage of a process that puts new products on the market. Even though sketching by hand is still used to explore and depict concepts, the use of computer aided design (CAD) software has increased tremendously over the last decade. There is little doubt that CAD is now the tool of choice for jewellery designers around the world since, with many programmes fully compatible with downstream processing applications, it provides a more seamless integration into the manufacturing stages.
The design stage is almost completely missing in Guyana’s jewellery production regime. Its role as a provider of new designs has been usurped by the widespread use of imported Chinese moulds into which gold is melted to form items of jewellery. This provides an easy way for goldsmiths to produce a never ending range of jewellery. From a developmental point of view, however, it does little to promote design skills within the industry.
Importation of finished jewellery also reduces the need for local designer input. Investment in product design and development is not likely to take place naturally and would need to be stimulated somehow. This is an area that shouldn’t be overlooked because the successful transformation of this industry will hinge not just on the quality