Matt Mackeson Designer/Maker

Buddhist Pendant

2012-01-21T15:01:00.003+01:00

I was asked by a friend to make a medallion pendant for her boyfriend who is a follower of Nichiren Buddhism (and in the band The Rifles.. http://www.myspace.com/therifles). The brief was that it should somehow contain the chant 'Nam Myoho Renge Kyo'

I decided to base the design on an ancient Japanese coin and have the chant circling round the medallion and then repeating, as one would when chanting.

After some issues with casting I was pleased with the result and more importantly so were they!

It has been a long time..

2012-01-20T13:58:00.010+01:00

...since I updated this blog. I have been pretty busy in the last two years. I moved to Germany to learn German and study under a master goldsmith in Hamburg. (http://www.spreckelsen-carnevale.de/) I can't believe how much I learnt in that time. I moved back to London just before Christmas and am now interning in the workshop of the internationally celerbrated and multi award winning jewellery designer Shaun Leane ( http://www.shaunleane.com/ ) where I am continuing to hone my skills in the workshop and in the design room using CAD.

Here is a small sample of the things I made whilst in Germany:

I am also starting work on my first coherent collection and a new website so please check back soon for updates!

Update on Gaga

2009-12-04T16:30:00.005+01:00

After Lady Gaga got her hands on the 'Orbit' headpiece I made for Nasir Mazhar (see below) she asked him to create a body piece in the same vain. Unfortunately I didn't get to make this one as Nasir only got the call the week before I was leaving for Berlin but I helped to design and project manage the making from afar.

Polygon ring

2009-12-04T16:11:00.005+01:00

Carrying on from previous work and my recent love of triangles I have been looking at 3D renders in their wireframe stage. I find it fascinating how such complex forms can be constructed out of millions of polygons.
This ring was constructed slightly differently to the other version as it is made solely out of silver and 18crt yellow gold square wire.

Crystalline forms

2009-12-03T20:51:00.004+01:00

A necklace and a ring inspired by crystalline forms. I very much like the idea of encapsulated something in the piece which can freely move but not escape. Silver with hollow gold bead.

Engagement ring

2009-12-03T20:44:00.004+01:00

A while ago I was commissioned to make an engagement ring for someone who saw my work at the London Design Festival. He gave me a rough idea of what he wanted but the design changed and we agreed on this design. This was my first time using both rose gold and platinum but I very much enjoyed the change from silver. The faceted bead is sold platinum and can be spun in the mount.

Future 80's Glamour shots.

2009-12-03T20:23:00.005+01:00

These were some initial test shots while I was setting up a test photo shoot. I quite like the 'Futuristic 80's' glow the rings seem to have from the light levels, the honeycomb background just adds to the effect.

Work for Miliner Nasir Mazhar

2009-08-24T15:02:00.005+02:00

I made this piece for the miliner Nasir Mazhar. It was part of his Autumn/Winter collection for London Fashion week. I very much enjoyed using brass at this larger scale, working with movement and working out the technical aspects of the piece.

What is not so obvious about the piece from the pictures is that all the rings move independently of each other so that when the wearer moves the rings swing around in a smooth, graceful motion. The piece has been shot for many fashion publications and was recently worn by Lady Gaga on the Ellen show in America, and in the V magazine shoot seen below. The first two images are from Mazhar's look book.

Commission - Triangle cage ring

2009-08-24T12:55:00.007+02:00

This ring evolved during the making process. I had a rough idea of what I wanted to make, inspired by bridges, cranes and wireframe renderings, but no final design. I made the silver half first using 1mm silver sheet and 1mm square wire. It took a bit of editing to get to its final shape. I then used 1mm 18crt Gold square wire to form the other half of the cage and soldered it into place.

Crystal growth

2009-08-20T16:37:00.003+02:00

A little side project- Crystals made from polyester resin, cast with a Neodymium magnet at each end. They can be stuck together in a free standing, free form fashion or can appear to grow out of steel structures. I intend to make more of them and leave them scattered around the city in strange crystalline clumps.

Grid ring

2009-08-19T16:16:00.004+02:00

This is the first Cube Grid ring I made, unfortunatly I haven't got photos of the other three as they were lost on my old computer, though I am trying to get some pictures of them from their new owners!

2009-08-19T14:38:00.008+02:00

My interest in jewellery started at university, where I made a jewellery collection for my final project. The collection was 'Architecture for the body' a theme I plan to expand on in the future, inspired by industrial architecture and structures.

During this project I formed an interest in using unusual materials in my work. Inspiration came form the materials often found on building site, this led to the use of concrete and steel combined with more traditial materials like silver.