Hatton Jewellery Institute X UAL Short Courses
- Written byCarys Thomas
- Published date 21 December 2023
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Here at UAL Short Courses, we have been working with the Hatton Jewellery Institute for a number of years to deliver jewellery development programmes.
Next year will see the launch of a brand-new online programme in collaboration with the institute. Led by founder and creative director, Nathalie Melville, the course will offer a practical overview of the important skill of designing to a brief.
We caught up with Nathalie to find out more about the institute’s story and discuss what students can expect from the course.
Nathalie Melville
When Nathalie Melville first enrolled on a foundation course in London, she wasn’t planning to go into jewellery design. “At that point, I had a strong leaning towards performance arts and costume,” she says, “but my foundation course opened my eyes to other options.”
“I’ve always enjoyed telling stories,” she tells us, “and that’s what jewellery is – it has a narrative and a personality. I hadn’t found the medium to tell them until I did my foundation course, which gave me the opportunity to work with metal."
"When I had my first experience working with metal it was one of those Eureka moments and I thought this is what I'm meant to be doing. It was like the final piece of a puzzle.”
Nathalie went on to study jewellery design at Central Saint Martins and spent several years working in the industry for various independent designers and brands, on both the retail and craftsmanship side.
During the recession in 2010, Nathalie decided to move to Hong Kong with her family to set up her own jewellery business. Having previously rented a bench in London’s Hatton Garden, Nathalie was looking forward to the opportunity of expanding her business abroad.
Nathalie’s first studio space in Hong Kong was around 300 square feet. “I just made some IKEA tabletop benches and thought let’s see if people are interested in learning how to make jewellery,” she explains, “and from there it just snowballed!”
The Hatton Jewellery Institute
The Hatton Jewellery Institute began life as the ‘Hatton Studios’, aptly named after Nathalie’s time in London’s famous Hatton Garden. Nathalie wanted to create a creative hub; a forward-thinking environment that would offer a sense of community and support for learners.
“It was one of those slightly organic businesses that started with just a few people to help pay the rent,” says Nathalie, “and then it became more and more all-consuming until we were bursting at the seams.”
“We moved to a 30-bench workshop,” Nathalie explains, “where we’ve since added 4 more benches and have our own gallery and office space. The aim was to create a community environment, where people could find peer-to-peer support. We wanted to make it accessible for everyone.”
As the business grew, Nathalie began working with UAL Short Courses to deliver a 1-year programme for students looking for an intensive learning experience. Read more about the Jewellery Development Programme.
Nathalie currently leads the virtual curriculum, which covers everything from technical drawing and illustration to the creative process. “This past academic year was the first year that we've offered that course both virtually and in person,” she says.
“We were finding that our students were based all over the world,” says Nathalie, “so having the option to study online meant that they were then able to join.”
Central Saint Martins
Working in collaboration with the Hatton Jewellery Institute, the new online course will be delivered by Central Saint Martins for UAL Short Courses.
Central Saint Martins is a world-renowned arts and design college that brings together a range of creative practices across art, design and performance.
At the core of the College’s ethos is the belief that art, design and performance can generate real, productive change.
University of the Arts London (UAL) is ranked Top 2 in the world for art and design according to the QS World University Rankings®.
The College’s outstanding reputation attracts the best tutors and talents, as well as interest and investment from big names in the creative industries.
Designing to a brief
The new online programme explores how to design effectively to a brief, a skill that Nathalie feels is essential for aspiring jewellers.
“One of the biggest questions we get asked is ‘what do I need to work in the industry?’”, says Nathalie. “Being able to design to a brief is really important. You must be able to bring a sense of yourself to a project whilst also ensuring that the client’s needs are met.”
“When you’re designing for someone else, it’s about finding a balance. The new course offers students a bridge into a more professionally prepared avenue that allows them to think about how they approach designing a brief,” says Nathalie.
Split into 4 projects, the course enables students to take control of their learning, opting to study as many projects as they want based on their interests.
Students will receive a certificate and digital badge on completion of a project, and for those that take all 4 courses, a 5th certificate will be issued.
1. Engagement rings
The first project of the online programme focuses on engagement rings. Arguably the most important piece of jewellery someone will commission, engagement rings are a key part of a jeweller’s creative portfolio.
From design expectations to budget management and sensitive conversations, this project covers the process of delivering the design requirements alongside relationship and cost management.
“As any private jeweller will know, a large part of your bespoke work will be engagement rings,” Nathalie says. “The process involves managing emotions, so you need to be enthusiastic, sensitive and practical.”
2. Ghost collections
Many iconic designs synonymous with a particular brand will have been designed by someone whose name you will never know.
Ghost designing is an important skill for any jeweller wanting to work in the industry. This course explores the process of creating ghost collections, from brand analysis and market research to feedback and cost control.
“When you are designing a ghost collection, you have to be able to ensure it is in keeping with the brand ethos, whilst also not replicating what they’ve already done,” says Nathalie.
This project is for fine and demi-fine collections rather than fashion jewellery.
3. Watches and timepieces
The third project looks at watches and timepieces. Part of an ever-growing market, high-quality watches and timepieces require valuable design skills.
Many jewellers are seeing an increase in bespoke watch design requests, ranging from the classic to the ornate; the everyday to the couture.
“The value of the watch industry has exploded exponentially over the last few years,” says Nathalie. “It used to be very much within the arena of the collectibles but it’s now much more mainstream.”
This course focuses on the exterior casing rather than the interior mechanisms, covering classic, dress and fob watch designs using mechanism specs available on the market at different price points.
4. Write your own brief
Students who have taken 1 or more of the 3 other projects will have the opportunity to complete a 4th project based on their own professional or personal requirements.
This course is a blank canvas for students to customise their own brief. “You can come to the table with your own project,” Nathalie explains, “and structure it however you want. It’s an opportunity to rewrite your own history.”
Students may choose to work on a particularly challenging professional brief or focus on a specific area that they want to extend their knowledge of.
Nathalie will work with each student to help them achieve their creative goals, allowing for a more individually curated approach to the course.
Final thoughts
The new online programme promises to offer students a valuable learning experience. “The course should help students build a portfolio for very specific projects that will give them a wide breadth of experience,” says Nathalie.
Nathalie is looking forward to meeting the students and sharing her wealth of knowledge and experience with them. “I learn as much from my students as they hopefully learn from me,” she says. “I think it’s important for students to see craft in action.”
Interested in customised or executive training? At UAL Short Courses we will work with you to design tailor-made solutions to meet your training needs.
Get in touch with us using the details below or fill out an enquiry form and let us know what you’re looking for.
T: +44 (0) 20 7514 7015
