Meet gina - Central saint martins (CSM) short course jewellery programme & Ultimate programme student

Gina is one of the newest members to join our HJI Community of resident designers. She recently completed HJI’s one year Central Saint Martins (CSM) Short Course Jewellery Programme and our signature course, The Ultimate Programme. Upon completing both programmes, she wanted to continue her newfound passion and love of jewellery craftsmanship and decided to rent a permanent bench at our workshop. We’re excited as she brings new creative talent to our HJI Community. Read on as Gina takes us through her journey and tells us how her experiences with the CSM Programme and the Ultimate Programme at HJI has helped her enter the world of jewellery.

Tell us a little about yourself…

I work as a Surgeon as a profession. I love to spend my leisure time doing handicrafts like embroidery, creating fabric flowers, flower arrangements and painting. These activities can let me focus on another aspect and submerge into my own world.

What inspired you to take the Ultimate Programme and CSM Programme together?

I wanted to broaden my knowledge in design as I am a science-based student all along. I wanted to learn about the background and theory of design and to think outside of my own box. The Ultimate Programme allows you to learn essential techniques in jewellery bench work while the CSM Short Course Programme is more design-based and is tailor-made for your own jewellery designs. In many ways, the two programmes complement each other. The Ultimate Programme focuses on excelling in jewellery making techniques, The CSM Programme focuses on finding a process to develop your designs.

Ring by Gina made in the Ultimate Programme

Why did you choose HJI?

HJI is probably one of the best-equipped workshops. I love the mentors who are always ready to help. They also allow you to go wild with your designs and provide the necessary training so you can finish your pieces.

Why would you encourage peers to join the Ultimate Programme?

You will be equipped to embark on a journey in both jewellery making and design. The programme can help you to create your own small business. Or simply, you can make your own jewellery pieces that you can’t find anywhere else! The Ultimate Programme is so flexible, it can easily fit into your work schedule.

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“Hot air balloon” locket by GIna in the Ultimate Programme

Do you have a favourite piece that you created during The Ultimate Programme?

I actually have two! One is a bracelet that was inspired by a vintage piece. It was frustrating as each piece involved a lot of detail and it took a long time to make. But I love how it turned out, it’s wearable in two ways and has my personalised initial as the fastening hook. I also love the hot air balloon locket I made as it reminds me of all my adventures.

Why did you decide to enrol in the CSM Programme?

I don’t have an art background so I wanted to learn a more systematic way of approaching design. CSM gives you a base of ideas to work with to fabricate your designs.

Two-way brooch final project by Gina in the CSM Short Course Jewellery Programme

What did you enjoy most about the CSM Programme?

I love my classmates as they all come from all walks of life. Some may be very experienced in design and some are very good at technicality. The sharing in class allowed me to see different aspects in approaching jewellery design.

What is your greatest takeaway from the CSM Programme?

I got to have a taste in making cohesive pieces in a collection
— my very first collection.

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“Estrella”, Gina’s first jewellery collection for the final project in the CSM Short Course Programme

What was your inspiration for creating your pieces in the CSM Programme?

The final project of the CSM programme was to produce a jewellery collection. At first, I believed that in the final project I’d create something related to flowers and plants as they are usually what I’m inspired by. Yet my mood board kept changing and I started to incorporate the idea of textiles. The ideas for my collection was formed from a single piece from the textile project. My final collection is inspired by “Estrella,” meaning stars in Spanish. I created a brooch, an earring and ring - all resembling that of which sparkles, expands, and rotates, just like in the solar system.

What is your favourite part of creating jewellery?

I love working with silver as it’s versatile and easy to work with. I want to explore more with incorporating different materials such as glass, porcelain and fabric into my designs.

What are your next steps since completing both signature programmes at HJI?

I’m happy to have started to rent a bench at HJI to further experiment on my previous designs and polish my skills. Hopefully one day I can make special bespoke pieces for my friends and family.