Post-war design education and the jewellery industry in yorkshire: Drawing on the experience of designer-maker ann o'donnell

Abstract

Ann O'Donnell, a designer-maker of jewellery, was educated at Leeds College of Art and the Royal College of Art during the 1950s. Her experiences of undertaking her work placement at Charles Horner Ltd are analysed to discover how successful 'educating designers for industry' was in practice. O'Donnell's story reveals a disconnect between her creative education and the conservative jewellery manufacturing context. In the 1970s O'Donnell started her own small jewellery making, retailing and exhibiting business. She also taught the jewellers in her locality of Leeds. It is argued she created curricula that were responsive to the needs of the local industries, whose workers needed training in skills. She also encouraged her students to be creative and imaginative, giving opportunities to those who could not access full-time education.