Hannah Jewett challenges traditional jewelry design

Hannah Jewett makes jewelry for a post-pandemic world: a Terminator part, all dripping with metals and menace, and a Blade Runner part, where inorganic materials meet deeply sensual forms. These are jewelry leaning to the side, for buyers open to the unexplored dramatic potential of the gold “Thorn” ear cuff, which wouldn’t seem out of place in an unusually avant-garde episode of Star Trek, or earrings. “Desert Hideaway” ears that could double as religious items. “The work is definitely a bit rebellious”, says Jewett, who is based in New York. “My take on design has always been motivated by a desire to question the traditional appearance of adornment. “

Jewett studied sculpture at California College of the Arts in San Francisco and worked in an architectural firm before launching her jewelry line in 2017. Both disciplines are evident in her work, especially in her confident handling – and its control – of the space around the body. “My work has evolved a lot over the past two years, which has mainly accelerated thanks to the experimentation of new techniques and new materials. says Jewett, who now almost exclusively uses solid sterling silver and gold vermeil plating. “When I look at my first collections, I still see my point of view. I think each artist filters their influences and experiences through their own lens, and the work will always have an identifiable signature.

The latest collection looks like an evolutionary leap forward, not least thanks to its new Squarespace website featuring a collection of images created in collaboration with artist Carol Civre. In them, human forms crash into futuristic domestic stages; tiny human shapes nestle in the crook of one ear (while reading a book!), right above a pair of sterling silver Desert Hideaways, while another uses a pair of Wet Look hoops as a swing . Jewett’s work is super versatile – a different artist could have placed his pieces in a myriad of environments – but the collaboration here is particularly inspired. “Carol is a true artist – she brought the countryside to life to the fullest”, Jewett said. “Our collaboration was fluid and natural – we’re both quite obsessed with whimsy and shine, so it made for some funny pictures.”

With those images in hand, Jewett adapted the theme of his Squarespace website to show them to their full potential: vibrant, luxurious, and super high-tech – one result the designer said was a product of the website’s built-in flexibility. “Despite the jewelry and marketing giving off a very technological vibe, my web design skills are basic at best,” she says. “The design patterns make me feel like a hacker, even though I know next to nothing about building websites. “

Small businesses really depend on their websites to continue to thrive these days as many stores face major IRL hurdles. Even before the pandemic, Squarespace was a tool that helped me serve a wider audience and share my work with more people.

With good reason, the largely self-taught designer has used Squarespace’s educational video library extensively: “I love the tutorial videos! Most of my jewelry and 3D modeling skills are self-taught through YouTube, so I’m a huge fan of the Squarespace Knowledge Library. Jewett will advance this knowledge as she looks to the next horizons of her work. “Every day I have a timer on my phone that rings at 3 p.m., reminding me to take a break, and I usually go for a walk around my neighborhood in the financial district,” she says.

Normally influenced by travel, outings and visits to art exhibitions, Jewett found herself seeking inspiration elsewhere during the pandemic. The little things in life started to mean a lot more and ended up influencing his latest designs. “I have just started to design new parts for the first time since the start of the pandemic”, Jewett said. “Abstract forms of everyday life, such as light reflecting off a car door, could be the starting point for a new piece of jewelry.” Look for new work with stones – and anything that caught her eye in the months to come.

Ready to share your vision or brand with the world? Take the first step today with your own website with Squarespace. Start your two week free trial (no credit card required!) And use promo code DESIGNLAIT when you are ready to get 10% off.

Diana Ostrom, who has written for Wallpaper, Interior Design, ID, The Wall Street Journal and other media, is also the author of Faraway Places, a travel newsletter.