Students receive prestigious awards at
‘Jewellery Oscars’

Talented jewellery students from University for the Creative Arts (UCA) have received prestigious awards at the annual Goldsmiths’ Craft & Design Council competition, affectionately known as the ‘Jewellery Oscars’.  

06 Mar 2025

Coming from UCA’s partner institution in China, Xiamen University, Jingchen  Zhang is now studying MA Jewellery. She won a Silver Award in the Conceptual Jewellery 2D Design category with her entry, The Portable Extension Frame, a concept that transforms stains on clothes into art. 

Jingchen designed a frame, which can be fastened with a magnet onto stained garments that surrounds and preserves the imperfection. The frames come in various materials and styles, letting the wearer choose a frame that complements their style, making each stain an intentional and personal expression. 

She said: “I often find myself staining my clothes but also notice that these stains sometimes create beautiful colours and textures. This led me to wonder whether they could be preserved and appreciated in a new way. This curiosity shaped the concept of my work, where I explore the idea of capturing and transforming these accidental marks into meaningful jewellery.” 

Céline Munisso, who is in her final year of BA (Hons) Jewellery & Silversmithing at UCA, won Bronze in the 3D Craft Junior Modellers category with her entry ‘Untuk Ho-ting’ a Malaysian word meaning ‘for the casque’.   

“Being awarded in this category is very special to me because it’s the field I am most interested in and explore through my practice. It is very reassuring, and I feel honoured to be recognised and awarded for my passion. This has now motivated me even more to push forward in this direction,” said Céline. 

Her work has been inspired by the sombre narrative of the Rhinoceros Hornbill, Malaysia’s national bird. Sadly, it is hunted for its casque, feathers and meat, to use in traditional medicine, as food or in costumes as well as their habitat threatened by deforestation.

Céline aimed to capture the bird’s serene beauty and spark curiosity and wonder. She intricately carved the bird and inside its belly sits a baroque pearl. Her design also uses Anjun wood, which is native to the bird’s natural habitat.

Lastly, Michael Bousfield, also studying BA Jewellery & Silversmithing, won Silver in the Junior Chasers category, for his design ‘Who Nose’.

As well as UCA’s talented current students, there was also success for UCA’s alumni community. Suzanne Seed, who graduated in 2015, won Silver in the 2D Design category; Rachael Plassard, who graduated in 2024, won Silver in the Mixed Metals & Patina category; and Grace Honeybull, was also recognised at the awards ceremony.

To learn more about studying Jewellery & Silversmithing at UCA, visit its course pages.