Clairely Upcycled Jewellery Upcycled Jewellery by Claire Requa

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DI: What is the main principle, idea and inspiration behind your design?

CR : Clairely upcycled jewellery was started as a way to use the wasted acrylic from the production of Claire de Lune Chandelier.

DI: What has been your main focus in designing this work? Especially what did you want to achieve?

CR : The focus was to design a marketable product upcycled from the waste acrylic. To present a product that is comparable to other jewellery brands. To provide pieces that empower.

DI: What are your future plans for this award winning design?

CR : To expand production and grow the brand.

DI: How long did it take you to design this particular concept?

CR : Many months of consideration over what the products could be. But it is an organic line. The collections grows all the time, and suddenly a number of pieces make up a collection.

DI: Why did you design this particular concept? Was this design commissioned or did you decide to pursuit an inspiration?

CR : The inspiration to repurpose/recycle/upcycle the extra material from the production of Claire de Lune Chandelier

DI: Is your design being produced or used by another company, or do you plan to sell or lease the production rights or do you intent to produce your work yourself?

CR : At the moment I am producing it myself, but am interested in leasing the production.

DI: What made you design this particular type of work?

CR : Jewellery, the adornment of the body is something that enriches the soul.

DI: Who is the target customer for his design?

CR : The target customer is a person young at heart, with a young spirit.

DI: What sets this design apart from other similar or resembling concepts?

CR : The pieces in the collections tell stories. They create conversations. The wearers can be inspired and empowered.

DI: How did you come up with the name for this design? What does it mean?

CR : Clairely, obviously. (a pun on "clearly"). The material mostly used is clear, transparent acrylic, resounding my life philosophy to have clarity and transparency in my life.

DI: Which design tools did you use when you were working on this project?

CR : Laser-cutting machine.

DI: What is the most unique aspect of your design?

CR : Where the designs originate. The inspiration, some of them from my own childhood, from my travels. All very personal sources of inspiration

DI: What is the role of technology in this particular design?

CR : Laser cutting technology.

DI: What are some of the challenges you faced during the design/realization of your concept?

CR : The packaging was, and still is a big challenge. To satisfy the customer, the satisfy the retailer - these are difficult criteria to be able to unite. And with re-purposing the CD tray, I have solved many of the practical criteria, but also my own (hippie) conscience is clear with this choice.

DI: How did you decide to submit your design to an international design competition?

CR : As my designs are a bi-product of my earlier submitted design - Claire de Lune Chandelier - this was the perfect next product to submit.

DI: What did you learn or how did you improve yourself during the designing of this work?

CR : I had many challenges in solving sourcing of materials, taking photos of the work, and marketing this new product.