JEWELLERY CAD DESIGNER COURSE

Get the lay of the land. Meet your instructor, see what’s coming up, and get clear on what you’ll do — and create — in this course. It’s the kickoff that sets the pace for everything ahead.

• Instructor intro
• Course objectives & key learning goals
• Course structure & expectations
• Assignments & capstone project
• Housekeeping rules & participation guidelines

Get comfy with Rhino — learn the interface, try out basic commands, and start navigating like it’s second nature. It’s your first step toward building cool stuff without getting lost.

• Rhino’s interface intro
• Understanding & using basic commands
• Navigating the workspace 

This session’s all about making things move, stretch, and snap into place. You’ll learn how to tweak sizes, shift objects, and actually enjoy using those commands.

• Working with primitive shapes
• Moving & manipulating objects
• Drawing & editing curves
• Creating & refining surfaces

Assignment #1: Intro to Rhino
Set up your Rhino account and build a simple model (like a house) using basic shapes. 

Learn how to turn curves into something cool — like a signet ring. We’ll break down the basics, play with key commands, and shape your first 3D form without the pressure.

• Intro to the signet ring project
• Building the basic form: Breaking it down into curves
• Key commands & techniques: Drawing curves, blending, duplicating edges, & more

Take your base ring design up a notch — learn how to smooth edges, add custom artwork, and carve in patterns that could make it truly yours. We’ll be refining the form and making it personal.

• Key commands & techniques
• Fillet edges for smooth, refined transitions
• Incorporating artwork

Assignment #2: Design a Signet Ring
Create your own custom signet ring in Rhino, using your references and exploring shape, style, and proportion.

Learn how to take a solitaire ring from sketch to 3D-print-ready — with clean geometry, solid structure, and all the tiny details that make it manufacturable. Basically, it’s showtime for key digital jeweler skills.

• Importing gemstone
• Ring structure formation
• Prong & shank design
• Finalising the model for manufacture

Get your ring render-ready — clean up the layers, refine the prongs, and dial in materials for that photo-real finish. It’s about making your model look as good on screen as it would in a showroom.

• Layer management
• Refining the setting
• Material application

Assignment #3: Model a Solitaire Ring
Build a clean, cast-ready solitaire ring optimised for rendering.

Let’s design a fancy ring that’s all you. From gemstone to shank, you’ll bring together everything you’ve learned to create something bold, polished, and uniquely yours.

• Importing gemstone models
• Prong & shank design
• Ring structure formation

Learn how to set stones — cut, shape, and fit gemstones into your design with precision. We’re talking curves, cutters, and clean final assemblies ready for production.

• Gem cutting profiles
• Detail refinement & final assembly

Assignment #4: Advanced Ring Design
Design a detailed, manufacturing-ready ring with functional elements and precise settings for gemstones.

Learn how to twist, sweep, and flow your way into bangle design. You’ll experiment with curves, create spiral rails, and shape a torque bangle that’s anything but basic.

• Bangle shape creation
• Curve analysis
• Creating a twist pattern
• Detail extraction

Get hands-on with surface modeling by designing a flat bangle from scratch — unroll it, pattern it, and wrap it back up. You’ll be turning curves into wearable design with a few smart moves.

• Bangle shape creation
• Surface development
• Pattern integration

Assignment #5: Create Two Bangles
Design two bangles — a twisted torque style and a flat one ready for patterns — using advanced curve and surface tools.

Lesson 11 is all about designing a pendant from concept to 3D form — curves, cuts, and clever details. By the end, you’ll know how to create a render- and print-ready model that already looks like it belongs around someone’s neck.

• Conceptualising the pendant
• Building the pendant base
• Detailing & enhancements
• Finalising the model

Learn how to design custom chain links that work — whether you’re rendering slick visuals or prepping for real-world production. We'll check out chunky, stylish examples (like Vitaly) and show you how to make your chains curve like they mean it.

• Creating a link profile
• Arraying along curve
• Making a chain look natural for rendering
• Case study: Reviewing fashion jewellery chains

Assignment #6: Chain & Pendant Model
Model a full chain and pendant set that’s production-ready and render-optimised, showcasing both technique and style.

Get to know the plugins that make Rhino work harder — so you don’t have to. This session teaches you how to speed up your jewellery design workflow and make plugins like Grasshopper Gold work for you.

• Understanding plugins
• Installation & configuration
• Demo #13: Grasshopper Gold Plugin demonstration
• Workshop #1: Exploring the Grasshopper Gold Plugin & running basic commands 

Get hands-on with Rhino plugins to clean up your workflow, prep models for 3D printing, and make your designs factory-ready without the manual grind. You'll turn a mock jewellery model into a streamlined, production-worthy piece — faster, cleaner, smarter.

• Automating repetitive tasks
• Optimising models for manufacture
• Integrating plugins into your design process
• Workshop #2: Applying advanced plugins to optimise an existing jewellery model
• Best practices for maintaining a smooth workflow

Assignment #7: Applying a Plugin for Design Optimisation
Apply a Rhino plugin to check your model’s integrity, analyse meshes, and prep your file for 3D printing using a design of your choice.

Get a grip on parametric thinking with Grasshopper — learn how to build more flexible designs that respond to change. We'll revisit your signet ring, plug it into Grasshopper, and watch it come to life with real-time updates.

• Recap of the signet ring project
• Introduction to Grasshopper
• Demo #14: Setting up a basic Grasshopper definition

Get comfy with parametric modeling — tweak one thing, watch everything shift. This class will show you how to set up smart systems that speed up your design flow and make iteration less of a slog and more of a superpower.

• Advanced parametric adjustments
• Workshop #3: Setting up a complete Grasshopper definition
• Benefits recap: Multiple design variations & potential

Assignment #8 (Extra Credit): Parametric Design in Grasshopper
Use Grasshopper to build a simple parametric ring model.

Time to bring your designs to life. In this session, you’ll learn how to light, style, and render your ring in KeyShot so it looks like realistic jewellery, not just geometry: shiny metals, sparkly gems, and real-time magic.

• Introduction to KeyShot: Interface, rendering engine, import & export
• Demo #15: Applying materials in KeyShot
• Workshop #4: Applying materials to a ring in KeyShot

Make your render look like it belongs in a magazine — learn how to light, frame, and fine-tune your jewellery scenes for that polished, photorealistic finish. Pick up tips to speed things up without losing quality.

• Setting up HDRI environments
• Camera & composition tips
• Optimising render settings

Assignment #9: Render with KeyShot
Use KeyShot to apply materials, lighting, and rendering settings for polished, professional jewellery visuals.

Time to stake your claim in the jewelry design world — define where you're headed and build a website that shows what you’re all about. Think of it as your digital storefront, not just a portfolio.

• Career paths in jewelry design
• Understanding your target audience
• Creating a portfolio & website
• Demo #16: Reviewing instructor’s professional websites

Finally, learn how to market your brand— from making your socials work smarter to nailing interviews and building real connections. By the end, you'll have practical tools to stand out and get noticed for all the right reasons.

• Social media & advertising your brand (TikTok, Instagram)
• CV & interview tips 
• Networking & industry events

Assignment #10: Capstone Project: Thematic Jewellery Collection 
Design a themed collection of at least 3 jewellery pieces. Submit your models and a presentation that ties your designs together conceptually and stylistically.