elevator pitch

Eilidh Marshall

University of Dundee: Product Design

Product: Tyvek Jewellery: To Adorn

Elevator Pitch: Many products today are simply mass-produced, standardised objects that do not give the user a sense of ownership. I wanted to create a product that could be adapted by the user to give a sense of individuality; making a unique product that the user could adapt and personalise as they wish.

To Adorn, Tyvek Jewellery, uses material not typically used for making luxury items such as jewellery. I wanted to create an affordable yet desirable item for people to wear, giving a high-end product on a low budget. Tyvek is waterproof and tear proof to ensure that the jewellery is durable, as well as being recyclable.

Each sheet contains one length of jewellery for the user to remove and wear where they desire. There are six designs in the range, all based around tattoo imagery. Each sheet acts as a piece of art in itself before the images become abstract when worn as jewellery. The designs can also be layered together however the wearer wishes to fashion different looks.

user testing

For testing my finished product, I asked a number of people including, clothing boutique owner Kirsten Dunnet at Missy La Las boutique, the owner of Boo Vake, a designer maker shop and Lorraine Law, a contemporary jewellery designer maker and shop owner. Lorraine gave me the following feedback:

"The product itself is innovative and imaginative, the use of Tyvek as a
material shows you have taken the idea of paper as a material and expanded
it to using something with more flexibility which is less disposable giving
it a longer wear life. This in addition to the price point would make it
appeal more to the fashion/costume jewellery/accessories market.

The appearance of the product draws you in, makes you curious particularly
when displayed as jewellery but has the appearance of a poster. Images
printed on the Tyvek allow you to see what the shapes are but being printed
at odds with the shape it's less obvious when popped out. It created a
nostalic feeling for me of child hood scrap dolls where you took a figure
and created a look using the materials supplied. When a product invokes
emotion it's half way to being sold.

I feel as a concept and design it's great. As a jewellery product it will
appeal to the more creative individual wearer. I see finished product it
being offered for sale in a wider accessories market via boutiques,
galleries and accessories shops rather than retail jewellers. With this in
mind it could be further developed by introducing the use of colour with
dyes and fabric pens. This would bring it more into todays current trend of
creating your own jewelleryto fit with outfits. At the moment the 'big
thing' is beads and charms, 'To Adorn' marketed effectively could fit into
this area."

press release

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

Paper Jewellery: To Adorn

To Adorn is a unique form of jewellery that can be adapted and customised by the wearer to promote a sense of individuality. The product comes packaged in sheet form to allow the user to remove the jewellery and wear it where they want, cutting and customising as desired. The jewellery uses tyvek, a material not typically used in luxury products, however it is durable as it is tear-proof and waterproof, as well as being recyclable. The product acts as a high-end product on a low budget.

The inspiration for this product came from the insight that making things yourself gives you a sense of achievement and empowerment. The designer, Eilidh Marshall wanted to combine her love of tattoos with products that promote creativity. She felt that being creative should be made easier as not everybody has the confidence to make and wear things they have made themselves.

To Adorn is made by firstly screen-printing tyvek in six different designs and three different colours, gold, silver and black. Each sheet is then laser cut with a design that matches the prints. The designs were inspired by tattoo imagery and include swallows, stars, cherry blossoms, anchors, chains and butterflies.

Retail Price: £10 per sheet

-Ends-

Notes to Editor:

Eilidh Marshall is a keen product designer with a background in illustration. She enjoys designing unique and creative products aimed at bringing fun and enjoyment to the life of the user. Her values and design philosophy are based around social and environmental awareness, fun, creativity and honesty: creating useful products that are light-hearted and aesthetically pleasing.

Product Design at Dundee University gives its students knowledge of human-centred design as well as an understanding of technology and engineering. The course works with changes in society and technology to create informed designs and gain knowledge of the design world and business.

Press Enquiries:

Eilidh Marshall

T: +44 (0) 7885 264199

eilidhmarshall@googlemail.com

www.emarshalldesign.com

video

The video of my project 'To Adorn' Paper Jewellery is a stop motion of each of the designs being removed from the sheet and being put on. It can be viewed on my website: www.emarshalldesign.com or

http://vimeo.com/11633410

photo shoot

Here are the photos of my final product being displayed in a shop, the anchor pattern being removed from the sheet and the jewellery being worn. The jewellery can be experimented with and worn in different places... as necklaces, bracelets, belts or headwear.