Jewellery Design and Manufacture graduate shines bright

Jana Basson ended her Diploma Studies in Jewellery Design and Manafacture on a high note - winning the prestigious 2023 PlatAfrica jewellery design and manufacturing competition's Student/Apprentice category.

On Monday she was amongst the proud graduates of the Faculty of Informatics and Design who walked the stage during the second ceremony of CPUT's Autumn graduation series.

She said winning the competition last year with her multipurpose "Unity" neckpiece/bracelet has been her biggest achievement.

Hosted annually by Anglo American Platinum, Metal Concentrators and Platinum Guild International (PGI) India, the awards contribute to showcasing local jewellery manufacturing and design flair, and to building a pipeline of talent in the South African platinum jewellery design and manufacturing industry by providing skills development among local jewellers, artisans and students.

Jana won a cash prize, media exposure, and the opportunity to participate in an all-expenses paid design workshop at PGI India to learn more about manufacturing and the designing of platinum jewellery.

It was the second time she had entered the competition.

In 2022 Jana and her classmate Thembani Gobingca managed to place in the top 10 of the competition.

"Then in 2023 we tried again and the results were outstanding. Seven out of 10 finalists were from CPUT and an eighth was a special mention. We were all ecstatic and celebrated together."

Jana said she decided on her field of study after visiting CPUT Open Day in 2019.

She said she was drawn to the display for Jewellery Design and Manufacture.

"I looked at the drawings on the wall and the jewellery pieces on display and thought that this is what I want to do. I can create and design and make what I draw. I remember people were actually worried about this being my field because it was unknown to them, however they have become a great support."

Jana, who hails from Oudsthoorn, is now working full-time completing a two-year internship.

"After the internship I will take the trades test and I'll have to wait and see where life takes me."

She thanked her classmates for the "memories" and "support", her friends in her student residence and the campus cats at CPUT "who always managed to brighten up my day".

"I thank my lecturers for pushing us to work harder and to believe more in our skills. And last but not least my family who made all this possible. I've grown to be the person I am today because of their love for me. They believed in me when I wanted to study Jewellery Design and Manufacture and took notice of my hard work while I was far away from home. All in all I've learnt from the best and met so many more wonderful people than I ever thought possible."

Public link

Please use the above public link if you want to share this noodl on another website.