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The Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY, has partnered with Platinum Guild International USA (PGI-USA) to create a new design competition, the Platinum DNA Awards, for its jewelry design students.
The competition invites students to submit designs that will be judged on originality, creativity, viability and manufacturing engineering, and market appeal. Designs should be designed as full platinum pieces, although there is an option to include gemstones.
Prize winners will have the opportunity to work with New York-based manufacturers to produce their designs.
“Our students design a platinum piece of jewelry during their first year, during which they are introduced to the qualities and peculiarities of metal,” Prof. Pratt Katrin Zimmermann explained in a prepared statement. “In their final year, they deepen their understanding by submitting designs to this exciting new competition, which winners can see come to life in collaboration with industry. It really allows us to significantly expand our education in the use and appreciation of platinum. We couldn’t be more thrilled with this new program.
The panel of judges for the awards is made up of both professors from the Pratt Institute and experts from the jewelry industry, who will collectively select the first, second and third place designs.
The contest judges are: Professors Pratt Zimmerman, David Butler, Russell Jones and Patricia Madeja; Zoltan David by Zoltan David; Marion Fasel, jewelry expert and editorial director of the Aventurine; Deirdre Featherstone of Featherstone Designs; Michelle Graff, Editor-in-Chief of National Jeweler; Patricia Gumuchian of Gumuchian; Michael Pollak, former CEO and co-founder of Hyde Park Jewelers; and John Carter of Jack Lewis Jewelers, who is also the outgoing president of the American Gem Society.
The three winning designs, to be announced in January, will be showcased at the annual Pratt Design Show, scheduled for May 2021, as well as virtually on a new online exhibition platform.
PGI-USA will feature the winning designs in its digital marketing campaigns and potentially offer them for commercial sale, according to the same statement (proceeds from any sale would benefit the Pratt Jewelry Design Program).
“We are delighted to partner with the Pratt Institute on this exciting new program,” said Kevin Reilly, vice president of PGI-USA. “Our hopes are to offer young designers the opportunity to work with platinum early in their careers, we will see a new generation of talented and platinum-focused ambassadors in the years to come. “
Top: Platinum Jewelery (Courtesy of Platinum Guild International United States)
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