Harriet Kelsall announces winner of bespoke jewellery design competition

Lindy Neave, a year two student in Silversmithing, Goldsmithing and Jewellery, wowed the judges with her design concepts and sketches, scooping up the prize. The competition involved students watching a YouTube clip of an actress briefing a designer for her engagement ring. Harriet Kelsall, design director and founder of Harriet Kelsall Bespoke Jewellery, believed that this was the only way to make sure the competition remained true to bespoke design. Harriet said: "Proper 'clean-sheet' bespoke jewellery design is at the heart of everything we do at Harriet Kelsall Bespoke Jewellery and I want[ed] to make sure that this skill isn't lost. Design programs and CAD have made it easy to adapt template designs, with some in the industry calling this bespoke, but in my view this isn't real bespoke jewellery design. An important element of the competition was that students presented hand-drawn sketches, which made me aware that there is a real need to remind students that hand drawing is a key skill." Lindy's Darling Buds design concept will be individually hand-made by Harriet Kelsall's craftsmen, with Lindy being given the finished ring. Lindy has also been invited to embark on an internship at Harriet Kelsall where she will have the opportunity to work amongst designers and goldsmiths at the company. "We were looking for a winner who not only read the brief and listened to what the customer said in the clip, but also looked at her style, build and personality to come up with the right solutions which were also practical solutions for an engagement ring," added Harriet. "We all felt that Lindy's Darling Buds design stood out and she is a very deserving winner." Lindy said: "It's been an amazing competition to take part in and great for Harriet Kelsall to give us such a huge opportunity. It's been lots of fun!" Of the 40 entrants, the judges also commended Claire Simms, Ella Vilcins, Adam McLaren, Sophie Naylor, Bola Lyon and Lindy Neave as the 'top six'.