| Entering a jewelry design contest can boost your | | | | new challenge as an opportunity for learning. |
| sales and your self esteem. Planning is the key to be | | | | Time: Take your time in completing the piece. |
| successful when entering a jewelry design competition. | | | | Usually competitions are announced a year in |
| Remember that you will be competing against many | | | | advanced, so use the entire year to work on the piece |
| more talented designers and jewelry artist, so submit | | | | you will be entering in the jewelry design contest. This |
| your best design. | | | | can prove to be your most valuable asset, since the |
| How do I know if my design is worth submitting to a | | | | gift of time can help you achieve perfection and get |
| competition? | | | | feedback from mentors and experts you know. |
| The following is a simple checklist that can help you | | | | Prepare a time line: Include every step it will take to |
| prepare to submit your best piece of art jewelry. | | | | complete the project from beginning to end. Include the |
| Design: Integrate the basic rules of provided by the | | | | time it will take for the actual submission process. |
| principles and elements of design. | | | | One at a time: Focus on one competition at a time, |
| Sketch: Sketch every piece that you will be | | | | the process can become overwhelming and thus |
| fabricating and how they will work together. Allow | | | | contra productive to work on more than one piece a |
| flexibility to incorporate changes that are a result of the | | | | year, |
| fabrication process. This will help you resolve simple | | | | Balance: Keep your life in balance. Choose a |
| issues as they appear. | | | | contest that suits your design point of view, your skill |
| Passion: Let your passion show; bring to life your | | | | level and experience. Do not get stuck in the |
| point of view and all your creative abilities. Judges look | | | | performance vortex. You can always enter more |
| for the original designs that truly represent their maker. | | | | advanced and sophisticated competitions as your skill |
| Focus: Spend time to focus on the process and | | | | progresses. |
| not the final product. Don't get caught up in the | | | | Photographs: Hire a professional jewelry |
| competition price. Use your energy in creating the best | | | | photographer that can highlight your piece. After all the |
| design. | | | | time and energy you have put into it is worth the |
| Care: Careful Care in the fabrication process: Put | | | | investment. Quality photographs can make a big |
| extra emphasis in the fabrication process. You may | | | | difference. This will be the first thing the judges will see, |
| want to spend more time in polishing, cleaning and | | | | even before you actual piece is submitted. |
| perfecting your piece. Judges want to see the full | | | | Pre-Judge: Get your own panel of experts |
| application of well developed skills and techniques. | | | | pre-judge your piece. Include a jewelry artist, a |
| Past Entries: Review the past entries for inspiration | | | | fabrication expert, a fashionista and a "true" friend to |
| and innovation. Just remember that the judges change | | | | give you feedback and their best advice. I also |
| and thus the taste and design opinion vary. Stay true | | | | recommend that you get on-going support from and |
| to your own designs and ideas. | | | | expert mentor. |
| Redundancy. Avoid redundancy, judges get tired | | | | Mail: Give yourself plenty of time to get the piece |
| of seeing the same piece or variation thereof.. The | | | | to its destination. Pay for insurance and proof of |
| judges are looking for innovation and new ideas. | | | | receipt. You work hard and you want to make sure |
| Avoid Trends: Keep up with jewelry design trends | | | | your work is not lost in the mail. |
| and avoid entering something that is already out in the | | | | Even though the following guidelines do not guarantee |
| market. | | | | that you will win, at least they will help you get |
| Rules: Read the rules carefully and follow every | | | | organized and to enjoy the process. Just knowing that |
| requirement without exception. | | | | you entered a jewelry design contest can boost your |
| Joy: Enjoy every step of the process; take the | | | | self esteem. Now, if you win, it will be great! |