My Master project explores new significances and scenarios for jewellery in our society. Specifically, how jewellery might assist people with special needs beyond its normal realms of adornment and symbolism of wealth. Can wearable objects encourage social interaction, creativity and communication among disable people and at the same time help to solve practical needs?
The interest comes from a practical experience working with people with special needs in two communities, specially learning difficulties. This experience has invited me to reflect on how jewellery can be used to improve the everyday life of people with this condition and their families. Specifically I have been reflecting on a particular crisis during the adulthood stage of the life cycle, which is having to leave the parent house, to go into a specialized community. This change involves a lot of emotional and psychological challenges as being part of a vulnerable group of people. Their adaptation to any new circumstance in life will involve a more complex emotional needs and reaffirmation of their identity. In my master project I am hoping to develop a series of jewellery pieces that will facilitate the reassertion of identity and confidence by wearable objects. These objects will trigger meaningful memories of people’s life by their aesthetic characteristics and also through technology embedded into them.
Daniela is a Chilean jeweller from Escuela de Artes Aplicadas, Oficios del Fuego (Santiago, Chile). Since 2008 she has been working making jewellery and developing workshops for people with special requirements in OCR Casa Club in Valparaiso, Chile and Newton Dee Camphill Community in Aberdeen, Scotland.
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