Spot the Designer - Catalina Geru / Romania

What did you want to be when you were a child?

I don’t remember exactly, but I loved crafting and I enjoyed doing little notebooks, boxes,  and trying to find new usees for old objects.

When have you started creating jewelry? How did this passion come about?

I started this as a hobby in college, when I did a ring and a pair of earrings, using beads. Until recently, the desire to create jewelry remained a small passion. In 2020, I took a few courses and it became clear to me that I need to follow my passion and learn more techniques.

What was your first project or significant piece for you and from what point of view?

A pendant made for last year’s exhibition, the inspiration for the collection Free&Stuck. This is how I felt, free and stuck and looking for new perspectives.

How do you charge your batteries? What other passions and creative interests do you have?

I like dancing, hiking, running.

What does the connection between manufacturing tradition and contemporary design mean to you?

I think they are very connected, so the contemporary design should be preceded by manufacturing tradition.

Is there a self-portrait piece that speaks most about you?

For now, I think the pieces that speak most about me are those who combine geometric and organic shapes. That’s where the love for perfection meets the appreciation of nature.

Which material have you not yet used is a temptation and a challenge for you?

Enamel is a material that I would like to use in the future.

How was the pandemic period for you as a jewelry designer?

During the pandemic period I started the jewelry making courses, so it was the beginning of this path. I am sure that the pandemic influenced my decision to follow this old passion, which became more than a hobby.

How do you see the future of contemporary jewelry?

I see that contemporary jewelry is getting more popular and people will be more open to tell their stories, to listen and to take further this way of expression.

Find more about the designer Catalina Geru