Investigating the use of digital technology in Jewellery Design: A thematic analysis

Abstract

According to Brynjolfsson and McAfee (2012), digital technologies are one of the most important driving forces in the economy today, thus an understanding of these phenomena and a discussion of their influences has to be developed. Brown (2009), notes that one of the technologies that can be seen as an important innovation in this era is Computer Aided Design (CAD), which has revolutionised the creative capabilities available to designers and engineers worldwide. Nonetheless, there is a distinct lack of questioning in regards to what influence digital technology has on the creativity of designers. As a field, jewellery design is heavily associated with traditional handcraft values such as labour, material and complexity. And such values are being challenged by digital technologies. MacLachlan, Earl and Eckert (2012) suggest that, in the case of designer makers, tools are embodiment of rules working alongside more conceptual rules and conventions, in order to transform a design problem towards a creative design
solution.