Although formally trained as a graphic designer, Seb Brown’s interest to Jewellery design began at just 4 years old with his grandma’s clip-on earrings. Seb’s aim to remind the viewer of time passing and the ritual of adornment are perfectly captured through his raw and classically finished products. In this interview we reach out to Seb to discuss his inspirations, processes and Melbourne’s creative scene.

If you could choose 3 words to describe your creative practice, what would they be?
Fast, mashed, interrupted.

What was your introduction to Jewellery design?

I used to clip my grandmothers clip-on earrings all over my ears and face when I was four years old.

Your jewellery has a distinctive style that could be described as a classical rawness. Could you tell us a bit about your design process?

I reference ancient shapes and common jewellery tropes (i.e. the solitaire, signet, eternity rings etc.) and mess with them a little. I want to remind the viewer of time passing and the ritual of adornment.

You studied Graphic Design at University. Do you feel you have carried any of those teachings into your jewellery design practice?

Yes definitely. I use negative space and hatching (via file marks) which come from design basics, like what you would teach a child. I also do my own packaging, website and stationary design. I come up with a new logo every year.

Has living in Melbourne, Australia’s creative capital influenced your aesthetic?

Absolutely. When I first started making things (2009), Melbourne was a lot cheaper and all of my friends were artists, designers, photographers, musicians, etc. It was very free and pre-instagram. Also Melbourne people were obsessed with the next new thing that no one else had. We have become more Gucci-fied but there’s still a strong vein of creativity.

Australia has it’s own abundance of natural resources and landscapes. Do you think this has had an effect on your work and how you source materials?

The landscapes here are so unique - especially the desert, alpine regions, coastlines, it’s breathtaking. A lot of people see the landscapes as brutal and barren but they’re so rich with life and diversity found nowhere else on earth. We also produce a lot of gold, pearls, diamonds and gemstones (92% of the worlds supply of Opals come from here) and a lot Melbourne’s wealth was generated by the gold rush of the 1850’s.
This has a dark side because the land was stolen by colonialists from the indigenous people. It’s a contradiction of insane riches and a very grim colonial history. It doesn’t really affect how I choose materials, as I source gemstones from all over the world, but I think the roughness and majesty of the landscapes inspired my earlier work.

What do you hope to see more of in the jewellery world in the coming years?

It’s already happening but younger designers having the ability to sell their work to a wider audience online. We also need to look more into the provenance of gemstones, and environmental degradation caused by mining.