CALLING ALL COLOUR LOVERS…
This month we welcome Lynne MacLachlan to lovedazzle. Lynne’s work plays with light, space and colour; vibrant geometric forms reveal ephemeral, shimmering optical patterns, crossing the boundaries of design, art and fashion. She has a passion for experimenting with the latest digital technology, using the latest tools and materials in combination with traditional techniques to find creative applications to intrigue and delight the viewer.
After a degree in aerospace engineering Lynne returned to education at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design, Dundee, to study jewellery and metalwork design, which was then followed by a Masters degree at the Royal College of Art.
Her work has been awarded many prizes including gold awards from the Goldsmiths Craft and Design Council, the Scottish International Education Trust Visual Art prize, a Dewar Arts Award to fund her studies at the Royal College of Art and most recently a bursary from the Inches Carr trust.
She has exhibited widely in the UK and Europe, including with the Crafts Council, the Victoria and Albert Museum Dundee, the National Centre for Craft and Design, and London Design Festival, and participated in live projects with Tiffany & Co and Swarovski. Alongside her design work Lynne is currently undertaking a PhD with the Design Transformations group of the Open University, researching the role of tools in creative designer-maker practice and has been a visiting lecturer at University for the Creative Arts.
Describe your work in 3 words?
Sculptural, colourful, super-contemporary
What made you decide to be a jewellery designer?
I was seduced by the metalwork workshop, the idea of actually making something physically, directly with tools and materials really caught my imagination. My obsession with making, experimenting and being inspired by tools began there, although has crossed over to the digital realm.
Image: Gego Bangles
Who or what has been the biggest influence on your work?
It’s hard to say one person or thing, little bits of influence and inspiration come from so many different places, and becomes combined into your own design and making language, I think that’s where creativity comes from, casting your net widely but recombing all the little bits you like into your own thing. I am privileged to have had a lot of good education, and this is the main thing that got me this far, alongside healthy curiosity and at times some delusions of how difficult some things ended up being!
Image: Klein Pendant & Earrings
If you weren’t a jewellery designer what do you think you would be?
I think I’m possibly a frustrated architect, I’d love to scale up, but in some ways jewellery is the best bits of architecture, finding beautiful forms to fit the body rather than a site and being closer to the making.
What’s the most exciting piece you have ever made?
I’m currently working on some larger scale pieces for performance after being awarded a bursary by the Inches Carr trust, which I’m very excited about. They will be bigger, more complex and incorporate more dying techniques, watch this space!
Image: Large scale pieces by Lynne from Dundee Design Festival
What tool can you not live without?
It’s my computer and 3D software, the potential for new forms still fascinates me, I continue to spend many hours pushing the potential of software tools and little algorithms I make myself to try and discover interesting patterns in the geometric flux.
How do you relax after a day in the studio?
I have two young children, so not that much time to relax really! But we spend time as a family, nice food, nice wine and maybe a quick look in my garden and greenhouse.
Image: Mondrian Ring
If you could choose anyone to wear your jewellery, who would it be?
I’d love to see my pieces on Tilda Swinton or Bjork, people that really embrace new ideas and create amazing imagery. I’m also proud to say Zaha Hadid once bought one of my rings from a stockist. I really like to see my pieces on all my clients, starting to use 3D printed nylon was partly a decision to offer something striking with an accessible price point in comparison to precious materials. I even have a few male clients who embrace the bold and colourful pieces, which I love as well, I’d like more of these! Image of Bjork from own website
If you could own a piece by another maker in any discipline, no price limit, what would it be?
I covet many a maker’s work! Currently top of the list is probably one of Heather Woof’s slinky necklaces or something by Emmeline Hastings or Nan Nan Lui, all these jewellers’ attention to detail is amazing and the forms very considered. From other disciplines I love work by Silo Studio, Cody Holt and Ladies and Gentleman Studio, to name just a few, I could write a very long list given the chance!
Image: Necklace by Emmeline Hastings
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Unique and beautiful jewelry! I always love when someone thinks outside of the “box.”
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