Experience with GIA jewelry design program

Jewelry Discussion
1

Hi! I am wondering if there are any members who have taken the
jewelry design program at the GIA in New York. I am currently a
student at the Revere Academy and would like to know the pros and
cons of taking the jewelry design program at GIA. any information
would be greatly appreciated since I am very new at this. Thank you
for your time.

Dara

2

I don’t know anything about the GIA program, but I would be tempted
to take a class at Revere, perhaps one of the masters symposium.

cmbj

3

Dara,

As a graduate of the design program (& GG) at GIA, I would say it’s
fine if all you want to learn how to do is draw because that is the
entire focus of the class. There is no time whatsoever to develop
your personal style and the teacher I had required all our designs
to be okayed by him first. Unfortunately, his taste was very old
fashioned and dated and sometimes students would have to make 5
drawings before he okayed the designs. Since he seemed to favor
turn-of-the-century Cartier or Tiffany, quite a few of the people in
class just started copying designs from books to make it through the
class.

The teacher we had was a bit sadistic and I witnessed him not
okaying drawing after drawing of various students then announcing
daily how he was planning of “flunking” students who did not get
their work done on time. It was a terrible experience for me and
although I graduated and even won a prize for a design, I found the
teacher extremely denigrating and just plain mean. And most of it
was not directed at me. I have a masters in art and have NEVER in my
life experienced anything so un-inspiring.

I loved the GG program at GIA and it was a completely different
experience. I would recommend that you save your money or find
another program. Hope this helps!

4

Many students who taking drawing programs do enroll in our design
program to make their designs and work on their specific techniques.
Often students from university jewelry design programs attend and
complete the jewelry arts program because they just could not get
enough hands on.

On another note, our design program is integrated with jewelry arts
and generally is included in the 2nd or 3rd module. They make first
then draw and make and it works awesome.

Dee Rouse Huth,
California Institute of Jewelry Training

5 
Unfortunately, his taste was very old fashioned and dated and
sometimes students would have to make 5 drawings before he okayed
the designs.

Sounds like a good teacher, may be a bit soft for my taste.

Leonid Surpin