Interview with Larisa Zolotova

Jewelry was always my passion. Since my childhood, I loved to design clothes and jewelry. Later, I implemented my knowledge into designing furniture and interiors in our family business, which had mainly focused on logistics and transportation. I continued to work in a logistics and transportation field after moving to St. Petersburg until my friend and a tutor, Denis Sitnikov, turned my hobby into a profession and helped to start making jewelry in 2014 I am eternally grateful to him for help, invaluable consultations, and encouragement. After taking my first jewelry fabrication class in Saint Petersburg, Russia, I changed my life immediately and decided to pursue the art of jewelry making it a new career. I continued to develop my technical skills and knowledge for working with precious metals and gems at the School of Jewelry Arts in Saint Petersburg, Russia. After that I continued my training by learning how to create jewelry using CAD software and evaluate gemstones at the Gemological Institute of America in Carlsbad, California, where I was named the winner of a GIA Student Choice Award for creating my Marilyn Monroe Ring and was nicknamed “Lady Faberge” for designing my Fine Jewelry Egg "The Movie Theatre».

My signature in jewelry design is the connection between the function and the sculpture. I experiment with all types of shapes and natural forms of flowers, birds, animals, and people. My aim is to design beautiful, timeless pieces of jewelry while ensuring each piece has that ‘wow’ factor that people of all ages can truly appreciate. I use the latest technologies and Computer Aided Design programs in order to create dynamic, intriguing, complex and unique jewelry. Nevertheless, it is crucial to maintaining traditional hand-fabrication techniques. Thus, I constantly study and develop my skills in drawing, lapidary, carving, and hand-fabricating, Mokume-Gane technique, and other. Сomprehensive knowledge and understanding of jewelry fabrication procedures as a whole give a designer more freedom and improve the project.

I always get my inspiration from emotions when I design. It could be happiness, curiosity, sadness, wonder, amazement, frustration, or other emotions. I form necessary emotion through creating or using a story. I think it is important if a design has its own story. It adds mystery and value to a piece of jewelry or design. I am sure that people buy jewelry because of an interesting story that might be associated with this particular jewel. For example, the history of a gem set in a ring. It might be any story connected with the purchase of a ring or a bracelet. I always tell my customers about the inspiration that encouraged me to create a piece of jewelry and I see that people enjoy immersing themselves in the creative process. People always show a special attitude to pieces of jewelry that radiate special vibes and have particular attributes because people like to feel emotions and to experience it together with a designer.

First, my design skills benefited from my education in the field of education. Since I know learning strategies, monitoring, and active listening techniques together with psychology, I am able to learn information very fast, to adjust myself to new conditions and to assess the performance of myself effectively. I also give full attention to what other people are saying and pay attention to details in every step of the process. Second, my experience in management and logistics helped me to be successful as a designer. For instance, skills such as coordination, social perceptiveness, and knowledge of mathematics are important because I am able to bring the project to the end, to realize it in a timely manner and economically appropriate.

Being inspired by legendary jeweler Faberge I would like also to achieve his high level of excellence and high standards of professionalism. I would be happy if I could realize my dream of releasing a fine jeweled egg every year as Faberge did avoiding coping him and implementing new technology and contemporary design trends.

My advice to emerging designers is not to be scared of breaking new ground. No matter what you did before you started getting into jewelry business and how old you are. Passion for your job and hard work will make you achieve any goals. I wish everybody good luck and excellence in jewelry art. Develop your contacts and share your experience.

My suggestion to every designer is not to be afraid of sharing your experience, ideas, and knowledge with others. Almost everyone is faced with a violation of copyright and plagiarism, but focusing on hiding and protecting your designs and ideas would steal precious time and inspiration. The more we share our knowledge and develop our contacts the bigger social network we create around us, which will protect us from violators.

I start my day with a cup of coffee, reading design news, and reviewing my plans for the day. This morning ritual makes me happy and helps to focus on what's important for today. My every day is different and I can not call them boring.

I follow up with world's design trends. I take about one hour every day out of my schedule to read and to review information from venerable and authoritative sources. It helps to keep pace with the times considering industry development. But I keep myself from seeing at other designers' work before starting a new project and during the realization. It helps my mind to stay pure and my imagination to create new ideas.

I evaluate my designs according to different criteria. They may vary depending on a project. For instance, if it is a custom piece or mass-produced jewelry. However, it is always important to me as a designer in a jewelry field to consider color, form, target relevance, and emotional value in design. Other very important criteria for evaluating jewelry design is usability, functionality, ease of production, and uniqueness. If a design that I created meets all criteria, I consider it as a good design and begin to produce the piece.

I consider my design as complete when it satisfies all criteria set out in the beginning. I believe that there is always a way to improve a design, sometimes this development leads to a new design which is also a great thing because creativity is a never-ending process.

The most complicated and the most fascinating project was the Marilyn Monroe Collection, and especially Marilyn Monroe Ring and Fine Jeweled Egg The Movie Theater. I was inspired by Richard Avedon picture of Marilyn with ostrich fans in 1957 and Faberge famous jeweled eggs. The Marilyn Monroe Collection is a tribute to the most charming and talented actress of our times. Marilyn is a dream woman for both men and women. I avoided deliberately turning to famous photographs to be able to reveal Marilyn’s character who was truly attractive and sensual. I found Richard Avedon's photo very interesting because of its vibes and erotic imagery.I consider the Marilyn Monroe Collection as my biggest and best work because I truly like every piece of this collection. In addition, it was my first time when I created not only pieces of jewelry but also added the object of art, Fine Jeweled Egg, which has moving parts. It was undoubtedly a challenge I threw down to myself as a jewelry and 3D designer. Every detail of the Egg is symbolic. The red gemstones outside represent the cinema stage and the red carpet, as an essential part of Marilyn's life. The white gemstones on the spinning part represent stage lights. The five stars on the top of reminders of the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The central part of the object is Marilyn, with ostrich fans performing for the audience. The sculpture of Marilyn could be removed from The Theater and stand alone on her own pedestal.

Carl Faberge was a talented jeweler, designer, and businessmen. I admire all of his beautiful and unique creations, with the highest quality. He is a legend and innovator in jewelry design. I also bow before the talent of Antoni Gaudí. His impressive masterpieces are breathtaking. His genius of the designer is close to God could not be replicated.

I consider myself cross-cultural. I get my inspiration as a jewelry designer through traveling, nature and the utilization of bright colors. Thus, I like to study a different culture and implement this knowledge and experience into my design. I like to observe people and study environment.

The majority of my projects I do by myself, beginning from the stage of designing and finishing a buffing stage. However, I can outsource part of my work, such as casting, molding, printing wax, or produce certain types of setting, for example, invisible setting. I think it is difficult and easy to work with me at the same time. On the one hand, it is difficult because my jewelry pieces with sculptures and unusual design require well-planned realization and creativity during fabrication. On the other hand, it is it is easy to work with me because I always try to plan my projects ahead and give extra time for realization.

In my opinion, it is important, not only reaching your own goals but also helping others to achieve their potential. Therefore, I have been hosting free educational workshops on CAD modeling and jewelry designing in St. Petersburg and also have been developing the concept of Jewelry Art Gallery in order to discover, cultivate, and mentor emerging jewelry designers. This Jewelry Art Gallery will offer all international designers the opportunity to receive worldwide recognition. Currently, I am looking for other altruists to realize the project.

In my opinion, A’Design Award is a great competition, which provides emerging and experienced designers being recognized for their achievements. A’Design Award does not only discover, cultivate, and promote designers, but also mentor and teach designers how to improve their designs and themselves in order to reach your targets and receive an award of excellence. I feel a great honor being nominated as the Designer of the Day because it creates an additional positive impulse to my inspiration and my movement forward. It is a great opportunity for me to be noticed and promoted.

I like to create things because you can enjoy the result. In addition, the process of designing objects is also very intriguing and exciting. I spent a lot of time on the right element to the composition until the outcome satisfies me.

It was my decision to make it as a profession initially as a designer of furniture and interiors, and later as a jewelry designer.

I design jewelry and will continue to develop myself in this field.

My advice to emerging designers is not to be scared of breaking new ground. No matter what you did before you started getting into jewelry business and how old you are. Passion for your job and hard work will make you achieve any goals. I wish everybody good luck and excellence in jewelry art. Develop your contacts and share your experience.

A good designer produces exactly what a client wants. A great designer, on the other hand, develops and uncover a client's needs.

I evaluate my designs according to different criteria. They may vary depending on a project. For instance, if it is a custom piece or mass-produced jewelry. However, it is always important to me as a designer in a jewelry field to consider color, form, target relevance, and emotional value in design. Other very important criteria for evaluating jewelry design is usability, functionality, ease of production, and uniqueness. If a design that I created meets all criteria, I consider it as a good design and begin to produce the piece.

Everyone should invest in good design because it positively impacts the related industry or area. Good design always adds value to the matter.

I would finish all my ideas and projects that I have been already planned. This is my dream to realize all the ideas that I have.

Being inspired by legendary jeweler Faberge I would like also to achieve his high level of excellence and high standards of professionalism. I would be happy if I could realize my dream of releasing a fine jeweled egg every year as Faberge did avoiding coping him and implementing new technology and contemporary design trends.

I believe that a secret recipe for success in design is a passion, dedication, and hard work.

Carl Faberge was a talented jeweler, designer, and businessmen. I admire all of his beautiful and unique creations, with the highest quality. He is a legend and innovator in jewelry design. I also bow before the talent of Antoni Gaudí. His impressive masterpieces are breathtaking. His genius of the designer is close to God could not be replicated.

Faberge Eggs and Antonio Gaudi’s the Sagrada Familia. The objects that were created by these two extraordinary people are fantastic.

I consider the Marilyn Monroe Collection is my greatest design, and especially Marilyn Monroe Ring and Fine Jeweled Egg The Movie Theater because I truly like every piece of this collection. In addition, it was my first time when I created not only pieces of jewelry but also added the object of art, Fine Jeweled Egg, which has moving parts. It was undoubtedly a challenge I threw down to myself as a jewelry and 3D designer. Every detail of the Egg and the Ring is symbolic.

Self-education, sharing, and collaboration

Each Jewelry has to have a story. The design is about adding value, making difference, and creating moments of happiness.

I am eternally grateful to my first tutor Denis Sitnikov for help, invaluable consultations and encouragement. He turned my hobby into a passion and helped to start making jewelry in 2014.

Dedication and commitment

I plan to release the Fine Jeweled Egg Passion Tree this year

Designers are problem solvers who are responsible for society and environment over the choices how to change society and environment. New products and new processes implemented by designers contribute to social well-being. Their professional contribution plays a huge role in economic development, livelihood, and environment.

I am currently working on Ballerina Collection.

A love all my creations.

In my opinion, designers with cross-disciplinary experience and knowledge will become more important and integrative approach to designing will dominate in the future. And the reason is that the best innovative designs have been created by the team of people from different disciplines.

It depends. There is no time frame when I will be satisfied with my new design.

I begin with creating an inspiration and a story for the project.

I think design sets the trend.

I use technology a lot for my projects. Technology is an important part of my jewelry designing process.

My favorite CAD program is Matrix and organic modeling tools Clayoo and T-Spline.

Color and gemstone material are very important in fine jewelry.

I explore it and try to understand how it was designed and produced.

I am still searching, and I do believe in codesign

My tutors in St.Petersburg and Carlsbad.

I spend a lot of time on studying, practicing, and developing my skills.

Carl Faberge, Antonio Gaudi, and Leonardo Da Vinci

It is only hard when a client says: " You are professional, right? Create something amazing for me I have any idea what."

Red is my favorite, color of pigeon's blood rubies

Some of the Clients have difficulties with explaining what they what, or they do not have time to discuss. This creates challenges and funny situations at the same time. I would not probably, give an example since they can recognize themselves.

I did not experience the lack of motivation. I am ready to work anytime and anywhere

I will be honest, I did not have any wish to become the great designer. I simply felt enjoyment when I was making jewelry, pleasure when I was finishing a piece, and great satisfaction when I saw the happy eyes of my customers.

Very difficult to predict.) I am sure that we will print every item for our household.

Our company focuses on CAD jewelry design, custom jewelry design and 3d modeling of paintings of famous artists in conection with projects for blind and visually impaired people

Each Jewelry has to have a story. The design is about adding value, making difference, and creating moments of happiness.

I like to experiment with all types of shapes and natural forms like flowers, birds, animals, and people. My vision is to create dynamic, intriguing, complex and unique jewelry. My signature is a jewelry with elements of sculpture.

Russian ballet and my affection for Saint-Petersburg inspired me to create this piece of jewelry. For me, this city, Russian theatre and Russian ballet represent an integral whole. And I am so happy that Europe noticed my Ballerina ring and dully appreciated it. When creating the design, I did not want to use the traditionalmodes of bezel setting to secure the big stone and tried to find a morespectacular and unusual way. This is how the bezel in the form of a floating ballerina was born. Out-of-the-box thinking is an important quality for a designer. So, I am trying to translate it into each of my work. In addition to the ring and the pendant, I am planning to create a classical style collection dedicated to Russian ballet.

It was silver bracelet The Sun of Khakasia. The whole bracelet was braided by hands with a big center stone surrounded by fire flames like flower petals.

My favorite material is gold, and it is not only my lрast name means «gold» but also for its beauty and unique properties. My favorite CAD program is Matrix and organic modeling tools Clayoo and T-Spline.

I like to create at the moment of silence, especially in front of a big window in a brightly lighted room or during the night when all family sleep. At this moments I am free of worries and able to focus on a single task.

I focus on different aspects during the designing process. For instance, criteria for designing custom piece is different from mass-produced jewelry. Thereby, I adjust my criteria according to a specific project. However, it is always important to me, as a designer in a jewelry field, to consider color, form, target relevance, and emotional value in design. Other very important criteria for evaluating jewelry design is usability, functionality, ease of production, and uniqueness.

I feel deep enjoyment during the process of making or designing jewelry. And this enjoyment always connects with a specific motion. I always get my inspiration from emotions when I design. It could be happiness, curiosity, sadness, wonder, amazement, frustration, or other emotions.

After my design has been realized and a piece of jewelry has been finished, I feel pleasure and a great satisfaction when I see the happy eyes of my customers.

The universal criteria for successful design are originality and one of a kind appeal. However, a designer always has to consider the purpose of a creating a design. If this design is for a client then your design should meet client’s criteria. If design creates for a competition, he/she has to check the evaluation criteria of the competition. If it is for his/her own brand, then it should be considered your own target audience and characteristics of the final product.

I evaluate my designs according to different criteria. They may vary depending on a project. For instance, if it is a custom piece or mass-produced jewelry. However, it is always important to me as a designer in a jewelry field to consider color, form, target relevance, and emotional value in design. Other very important criteria for evaluating jewelry design is usability, functionality, ease of production, and uniqueness. If a design that I created meets all criteria, I consider it as a good design and begin to produce the piece.

Designers are problem solvers who are responsible for society and environment over the choices how to change society and environment. New products and new processes implemented by designers contribute to social well-being. Their professional contribution plays a huge role in economic development, livelihood, and environment.

In my opinion, designers with cross-disciplinary experience and knowledge will become more important and integrative approach to designing will dominatein the future. And the reason is that the best innovative designs have been created by the team of people from different disciplines.

My last exhibition was in Fallbrook, CA, USA. If we speak about the USA, I would like to hold my next exhibition in New York.

I get my inspiration as a jewelry designer through traveling, nature and the utilization of bright colors.

I consider the design style of my jewelry as contemporary classic where elegant classical elements merge with decorative contemporary details.

I am originally from Russia, but I currently live in the United States. I consider myself cross-cultural. I have been traveled a lot around the world and I like to study a different culture and implement this knowledge and experience into my design. I like to observe people and study environment.

The majority of my projects I do by myself, beginning from the stage of designing and finishing a buffing stage. However, I can outsource part of my work, such as casting, molding, printing wax, or produce certain types of setting, for example, invisible setting.

First of all, companies should have the idea of the final result. Second of all, a good designer will ask you question and will try to understand your need.

First, I try to define what kind of object I create and for whom design will be done. Second, I do research if necessary and specify requirements. Then I create a "mood board" and create different variations of the project.After that, I choose the best solutions and develop them deeply. Later time to coordinate with a client. Finlay, I build a prototype of a new design, test, and create a final model.

It is difficult to allocate five favorite. Everything that I buy or create tends to be multifunctioning. I like different products with different functionality and the ability to transform. For example, jewels that could be used as pendants or brooches or clothes that could be transformed and worn differently.

I start my day with a cup of coffee, reading design news, and reviewing my plans for the day. This morning ritual makes me happy and helps to focus on what's important for today. My every day is different and I can not call them boring.

My advice to emerging designers is not to be scared of breaking new ground. No matter what you did before you started getting into jewelry business and how old you are. Passion for your job and hard work will make you achieve any goals. I wish everybody good luck and excellence in jewelry art. Develop your contacts and share your experience.

From the day when I choose to change my career to become a jewelry designer, I see only positive sides. Starting with the creation process and ending with presenting finished products to clients.

One of the more important rules in design for me is to keep in mind the question “who am I designing for?” Every design has an intended audience, the people that will be viewing the design and receiving the communication.

The most important skills for any designer are out of the box thinking, time management, problem solving and communication skills. These are the main characteristics that will lead a designer to the success.

I often use Pinterest for creating my mood board, plain paper with a pencil for drawing sketches, also traveling and nature for inspiration.

First, I try to reduce random interruptions such as email checking or doing small tasks. In addition, I schedule my meetings and my design time. Finally, I manage my time for researching and exploration because they are usually time-consuming.

It depends on a project. Some projects last only one month, others could last couple years.

Where does the design inspiration for your works come from?

I had a great experience working at the Laboratory of Science Restoration of Precious Metal at The Hermitage. The name of the project was “Invisible Paintings” I created a 3D model of Self-portrait with shaded eyes by Rembrandt for blind and visually impaired people. That was the first painting that helped blind people to explore Art. The project was connected with an exhibition of Dutch masterpieces from The Leiden Collection founded by American collectors Thomas S. Kaplan and Daphne Recanati.

2017, Economic online strategy "Age of Clones", Dragon Ring, SAINT MARTIN/DOMINICAN REPUBLIC2017, PavLove Jewelry, Skull Collection, TEL AVIV/ISRAEL. 2018, Research in the field of restoration sculpture and jewelry using 3D modeling together with The State Hermitage Museum, CAD Designer, ST.PETERSBURG/RUSSIA

CAD Modeling is what I enjoy the most. It gives you the freedom to realize almost any idea for your jewelry project.

I plan to realize my dream of releasing a fine jeweled egg every year as Faberge did avoiding coping him and implementing new technology and contemporary design trends.

I usually work alone and develop my designs by myself.

I am currently working on Ballerina Jewelry Line.

The best way to contact me by email. lzolotova@outlook.com