CSM student wins Swarovski internship

by Cher Heasmer

Central Saint Martins (CSM) student Vicky Lew has won an internship with the Swarovski design and marketing team, after a nail-biting jewellery design challenge.

The BA Jewellery Design student, 21, was awarded first place after impressing the judges, which included Nadja Swarovski, heiress to the crystal empire.

Lew said: "Winning the prize came as a pleasant surprise but also means so much as Swarovski is such a prestigious crystal supply company.

"I definitely hope that it will help in my future career as with the internship; I hope to meet many people and establish some connections in the industry.

"That in itself is invaluable and not many artists and designers will have opportunities like this."

Reflective of trends

 

For the eighth consecutive year, the world-famous jewellery company, Swarovski have asked first year jewellery design students at CSM to design and create jewellery pieces inspired by the autumn/winter Swarovski collection.

 

Authentic Swarovski crystals were provided to students to help with their designs and creations which were to reflect different Swarovski trends.

"We were split into three teams and each group was assigned a theme," said Lew.

"My group was given 'contentedness' whilst the others were given 'energy' and 'fun'."

She added: "My inspiration came from the rain as there is a saying by John Updike: "Rain is grace; rain is the sky condescending to the earth; without rain there would be no life."

"I thought it suited the theme very well as coming from a tropical country of Malaysia, one of my favourite things was the rain back home."

Nine winners

Nadja Swarovski helped to judge the competion and choose the nine winners.

Other winners included Stephanie Van Zwarm who won the £50 second prize, and Nina Van Houten, who was awarded the prize for most innovative design.

All final pieces created by CSM students will be displayed in the Swarovski London Crystallised Lounge, Marlborough Street next week, from May 8 until May 13.