14. Award Winning Design With The Clerkenwell Jeweller Sally Costen

Today I'm joined by Sally Costen aka The Clerkenwell Jeweller. Sally started her career as a graphic designer and retrained as a jeweller at the London Jewellery School. She is an incredible jeweller who regularly enters and wins jewellery design awards. In this episode, I talk to her about her career, why she enters competitions, how you can replicate this success for your business and the value behind it.   EPISODE RECAP   Big, big welcome to Sally Costen! (3:13) To get us started, tell us a little about your business now and how you got involved in jewellery making (3:57) What was the first jewellery class you did? And at that point, did you know it was going to turn into something more? (5:01) One of the things I really love about your story is that you just go for stuff (7:17) So you did the class and then what happened? You went on to apply for and win some amazing awards. Take us on the journey (8:21) Even the process of applying for these awards and competitions helps you to work on your design and your business (14:59) Like you said, perhaps the biggest thing it does is boost your confidence (15:58) It’s also the contacts that you make in the industry (17:05) I want to talk a little about design now, because I know it’s something you’re really passionate about. How important is design to you in your work? (17:30) Sometimes the pressure to design in a way that is unique is counterproductive, isn’t it? (19:07) Where do you start with your design? (19:34) How do you take sketches to reality? What’s your process? (20:07) Do you have a different process if you’re making a collection versus an individual piece? (23:05) Do you write down what you’re doing at each stage? Do you have a process for that? (25:19) What would you say to jewellers out there who are struggling with design? (28:11) One other topic I wanted to ask you about is being part of the mastermind. Can you tell people listening what it is and why you got involved? (30:32) Thank you for sharing a bit of your experience. How can people connect with you? (33:58)   RESOURCES The Clerkenwell Jeweller Sally Costen Instagram The Jewellers Academy