Weston Beamor Announce Winner of BCU Live Project 2018

Kai-Blu’s award was announced on the WB stand at this year’s Jewellery & Watch show. Kai-Blu impressed judges with his striking and bold ring set, commercial-focus, unique design and understanding of thickness and tolerances, demonstrated through his strong CAD modelling skills.

The annual competition is open to all BCU SoJ students in their second year of a Higher National Diploma in Jewellery Manufacturing.

Commenting on his win, Kai-Blu said, "I'm really pleased to have won first place in these prestigious awards, especially given the high quality of entries this year. I'm really looking forward to my week's work experience at WB, I'm sure I will learn alot!"

Competition for this year’s top spot was fierce, with the judges praising the high quality of all entries. The brief was to design a commercially viable ring set using Fairtrade Gold and retail-standard stone sizes and shapes. The students also had to demonstrate how they would promote their ring set, through the creation of a retail launch advert.

Winner Kai-Blu, second place winner Lorna McNaught and third-placed Hayley Jones, particularly impressed judges because of the level of consideration each finalist had given to the CAD process; each design was of such high quality in terms of manufacturing robustness, that they could have gone straight into commercial production.

WB Managing Director Andrew Morton said, “This initiative grows from strength to strength each year. The level of design submitted was exceptional. What sets a truly brilliant design apart from others is the ability to process and manufacture a product as efficiently as possible. The focus that the students had this year on the CAD models really did make a difference, so high praise is due to the tutors leading the courses. It will stand them in good stead when they graduate and seek progression within the commercial jewellery sector.”

A prototype of each finalist’s ring set was produced, overseen by WB Bespoke CAD Designer & 3D Print specialists Anousca Hume and Heather Bradbury, and exhibited on the stand at Jewellery & Watch. All finalists will receive a week’s work experience at WB, where they will engage in a structured programme designed to further reinforce CAD design, jewellery manufacturing and 3D printing processes. Kai-Blu was also rewarded with £500, with Lorna and Hayley receiving £250 and £100 respectively.

BCU SoJ Tutor Katy Tromans: HND Jewellery & Silversmithing, said,  “What an impressive year for this competition. I have to admit when we were viewing the final submissions we all found it very hard to imagine who Ed and the team would chose with so many strong designs. Kai-Blu’s design is both elegant, edgy and exuberates class with its streamline finish. Huge congratulations to the three finalists. As I previously worked with Weston Beamor, I know that they are in for a very exciting, informative week of work experience. An opportunity that we as a school are very grateful for our students to be a part of.”