About me

I recently completed the MA Jewellery, Silversmithing and Related Products in Birmingham's School of Jewellery. This was after completing the BA in Birmingham also. I thoroughly enjoyed studying there and I learnt a huge amount skills, consisting of practical making skills along side exhibition planning and working with other students from other cultures.

The course was very design led, the masters being self directed in which we would produce our own collection of work for showcase.

Throughout my university education I got involved with giving lectures and teaching workshops for the other students. During the MA course a few of us took part in teaching the second year BA students a project that we put together ourselves called 'I Have a Dream.' We worked with the students individually and as part of a big group. Also getting involved in the grading process at the end of the project. This was a very rewarding experience.

In January 2010 I went to Antwerp, Belguim to take part in a collaborative project called 'tablemanners'. It was a great opportunity to meet people and work with them in a new environment in Antwerp. The mix of cultures and ideas was great, it allowed such variation of thought, but also gave us a challenge with language. We had to work hard to make sure everyone knew the plan, therefore good communication was vital. We, the students, ran the project the way we wanted to, separating into groups to work on certain aspects. We worked very spontaneously, making lots and lots of pieces each day. This encouraged a fast working method, just making, making, making all day. This is something I believe benefitted some students who werent used to this work ethic, and after having talked to them in Munich recently they told us how much the experience has encouraged their own work. We had to design every part of the exhibition, and how it would appear from the window and in the space.

Upon return to the UK we had to give a lecture to the rest of the Jewellery School students explaining to them our experience.

Throughout the MA course I had to verbally communicate my ideas to the rest of the group, through informal and formal presentations. As well as verbally I had to write reports about my work to fully communicate my ideas.

Throughout the BA and MA I had to work under pressure when organising the final exhibition and all areas leading unto this. I was head of the exhibition team and was responsible for organising the final show, from creating plinths for the work to be displayed on to organising invites and wine for the opening night.

There were a lot of deadlines to organise. We all worked on the production of a catalogue called 'Making Treasure'. The catalogue was emailed and pasted across all craft websites to promote the show. I worked with various other disciplines inside and outside of the university, such as screen printing in the fashion department and organising photo shoots that lead to printing of postcards/business cards and the creation of a stop motion film. The multi faceted nature of my work meant that I had to be thoroughly organised and pro active.

Please find attached my CV and some images from my Masters collection.

I look forward to hearing from you,

Laura Brannon

*