GIA (Gemological Institute of America) hosted its Jewellery Design (JD) commencement ceremony on July 25 at the Institute’s Mumbai campus. GIA’s JD Certificate course teaches the conceptualization and rendering of jewellery designs by combining creativity with an understanding of jewellery manufacturing. Basic principles of design and composition are taught to students to help them illustrate their ideas.

On the occasion of the ceremony, GIA alumni Prernaa Makhariaa, product development manager for Tara Jewellers, presided discussed current trends in jewellery design and shared her experiences as a GIA student and the challenges and opportunities she witnessed in the jewellery design industry. “Each one of you is very talented, but I’d like to encourage you all to keep an open mind whenever designing a piece of jewellery. I congratulate and wish you all luck,” she said. “Design is key to every piece of jewellery, and jewellery design has become a very sought after career today. At GIA, we give students the best possible platform to enter into the professional world and they leave with the confidence to create unique and exquisite jewellery. I wish them all the best,” added Nirupa Bhatt, managing director of GIA in India and the Middle East.

Manoj Singhania, director of education for GIA in India and the Middle East, and Sajiri Barve, GIA instructor, also wished the students well at the ceremony.

GIA’s campus in India is located at the Bandra Kurla Complex, Mumbai.