Where did the idea for this year’s Amberif Design Award theme come from?
Jewelry has accompanied people for thousands of years and therefore has fundamental importance for life and survival. The decorative role is less important in this aspect. What aspects of these values can we still consider relevant today and in what form do we communicate them? I am curious about which works will be submitted by the participants: will their aesthetics be rooted in the 21st century, archaic or perhaps more universal?
How do you view your role as the curator of this competition?
Eva Rachoń’s proposal to take on this responsible task is a great honor for me. The previous holder of this position, Prof. Sławomir Fijałkowski, during his long and fruitful collaboration with the organizers of the Amberif trade fair, with which he has been associated for 14 years, defined the principles and criteria, thus shaping them. If it proves possible to combine my network of contacts and capabilities with all that has already been developed, and reach a wider group of potential participants, I will be very pleased. The themes of each competition reflect the times in which they are created. I hope that I will also be able to contribute to the continuation of the discussion about amber jewelry in the 21st century.
In the past, you have participated several times in jury work – what were the impressions associated with that? How do you generally rate the level of the competition?
The Amberif Design Award competition enjoys great international interest primarily because it has a clearly defined guiding theme – amber. This thematic narrowing undoubtedly has a significant impact on the high level and significantly contributes to its positive perception both on the global gold jewelry scene and beyond. Looking back, it is hard not to notice that the submitted works are becoming increasingly expressive.
What can be done to further promote both the competition and amber itself even more globally?
In my opinion, amber is already quite well-positioned on the market. The actions taken in recent years, such as the opening of the Amber Museum and the publication of the Trend Book, have certainly helped in this. Thanks to this, amber is reaching a wider audience, and the effects will become noticeable in the long term. Along with the rapidly growing awareness of protecting our environment and nature, the perception of this stone and its properties is also increasing.
Barbara Schmidt: Graduate in design at the Zeichenakademie Hanau and in design management at the University of Central England in Birmingham. For more than 20 years, she has specialized in design issues, particularly in the fields of concept development, management, and education. She is a highly respected expert offering advice, organizing workshops and seminars, and giving lectures in English and German. She initiates and coordinates various exhibition and competition projects, including the Inhorgenta Innovation Prize. Since 2005, she has been head of the Design Academy (Akademie für Gestaltung und Design der Handwerkskammer für München und Oberbayern) in Munich. She also lives and works there.
Since this year she is the curator of the International Competition for Jewelry Designs with Amber from Amberif Design Award. Her duties will include proposing topics, advising on the selection of jurors, and supporting activities aimed at promoting the competition.
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