POR TFO LI O Contemporary Jewellery Designer
Ying Zhan
‘
Design is an opportunity to Continue telling story,
‘
not just sum everything up. - Tate Linden
Author's letter A passionate and highly self-motivated postgraduate in Jewellery and Metalwork design from Sheffield Hallam Universality. The goal of my works are to represent thoughts, concepts, emotions through tangible jewellery. As a designer, I seek my inspirations from our lives, such as intangible culture and memories. I am fascinated by the underlying but meaningful memories or issues that happen in our daily lives, the interaction between jewellery and its wearers and viewers which are created for. I look at the aspects of communicating through jewellery. An object like jewellery has its unique intimacy with our body, could be more than just an adornment. It shows the world of who we are, delivers the message we want. I am specialized in metalsmith, particularly in silver smithing, and i am also interested in different material exploration.
Ying Zhan
www.yingzhan.wix/homepage
katherinezhan
ying.zhan@hotmail.com
Geologist intern Kyereboso Gold Mining Project, China/ Ghana 2013 - 2014 Assisting Ghanaian professionals and Chinese professors was my key role due to this was an international project between China and Ghana. I have gained more practical knowledge in the process of extracting gold from the land. And I was able to help to secure the contract before the end of my intern.
Designer Materials and Engineering Research Institute (MERI) 25th Anniversary Souvenir, 2015 This was a competitive brief to design a souvenir for guests at MERI's 25th Anniversary dinner. We created a 5 toothed cog that would both represent the company and it’s history as well as incite discussion and networking opportunities.
Jewellery designer The Contemporary Jewellery Exchange 2015 I was a selected artist and be paired with an Italian jeweller to be part of the TCJE exhibition and ‘Year book’. TCJE is an organization where 370 jewellery artists are selected from all over the world.
Experiences & Involvement
• 2009 - 2013 BA Jewellery Design China University of Geo-science, Jiangchen college
• 2014 - 2016 MA Jewellery & Metalwork Sheffield Hallam University
Education
I am a mature and comprehensive jewellery designer, with confi- dence in design and bench making after six years studying in jewellery. I have several short term industry experience in different organizations and companies; Advanced knowledge in Adobe software and Microsoft office;Knowledge in gemological; Familiar with Asian and Western jewellery trend.
About me
• Graphics Design • Model Making
• Chinese: Native speaker
• In Transit | Sheffield Institute of Art | Sheffield Hallam University, 1st - 11th March, 2016 • The Contemporary Jewellery Exchange 2015
Exhibition
• Third Class Academic Scholarship 2012, China • Excellent Prize, The 4th ‘Imagine Cup’ College Scientific Research Project, China
Award
• English: Fluent (speaking, listening and writing) • Cantonese: intermediate (listening), basic (speaking)
Language skills
Proficient with Adobe Indesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, CorelDraw and Microsoft Office. Familiar with Jewel CAD and knowledge of gemology.
• Jewellery Design • Hand Sketching
Professional skills
Sale Assistant Yin Xin Jewellery Co.Ltd, China,Jan - April, 2013 I have gained more good teamwork and communication skills, and become more confident to reach the monthly sales target. This experience helped me to be become a confident and independent worker too.
Evaluator (Volunteer) ‘Going Public’ Museums Sheffield, UK 2015 I have gained valuable insight into how public respond to the experience of art exhibitions through research role experience. I am enthusiastic about art and confident in talking people.
'Conversation with objects' Collection Communication of cultural folklores through Contemporary jewellery This collection is inspired by the Chinese folktale of 'nian beast', as a way of celebrating the culture uniqueness. The whole collection is made by fine silver and silver hard drawn rod. Cartoon and letters are photo etched. It aims to explore the potential of wearable objects as provocative vessels that evoke memory and stimulate discussion. It examines the preciousness of jewellery beyond its material and decorative value and how through symbolic and visual triggers it can be read and understand by audiences.Â
“ Because beauty is about familiarity... is constructed by family, friends, education, nationality, race, religion, politics, all these things make our idea of beauty." - Garyson Perry
'The Wisdom'
'Go Away Monster!'
'Fortune Comes'
'Lighten It Up'
“
A friend is one that knows you as you are, understands where you have been , accept what you have become, and still gently allows you to grow. William Shakespeare
The Contemporary Jewelry Exchange 2015 'Friendship Plaster' brooch was made for Valeria Rossini who is a jeweler designer from Italy. The inspiration of the design comes from one of most powerful relationships in the world -- 'friendship'. Friends are those people we laugh together, cry together, doing silly things together or even get punishment together...and whenever we need encouragement they stand behind. This brooch is a way to celebrate friendship, to cherish our friends and remember our old friends even when they are far away from us.
Photo by Valeria Rossini
25TH Anniversary of Material & Engineering Research Institute (MERI)
This was a competitive team project to design a souvenir for guests came to MERI's 25th Anniversary ceremony. Our team was consisted with two graphic designers, one interior designer and me as a jewellery designer. The requirements were to design an sustainable object that could allow the guests to keep for a long time, also represents the spirit of MERI. Our final design was a 5 toothed cog napkin holder that would both represent the five departments of the institute and it's history as well as incite discussion and networking opportunities. For more info: https://vimeo.com/138812130
Special thanks to my teammate: Elena (Yang Liu) Khue Ho Paddy Berin
Picture by Paddy Berin
Photos during the ceremony by Paddy Berin
'Life cycle' rings 2014
Made from Brass wires
'Childhood Construction' Necklace, 2014 Lego bricks, old toys
Blooming, 2013 Recycled aluminum, Swarovski crystal, Chinese oil paint (water proof)
Hand sketches (selection)
Rings & Earrings Selections
©2012.Ying Zhan
Pedants & Brooches Selections
©2012.Ying Zhan
Jewellery suite Selections
©2012.Ying Zhan
Jewel CAD (selection)
Practices
ying.zhan@hotmail.com 15927681601 Š2016yingzhan