TRANSFORMA: A New Dimension in Jewelry Design

KSENIA ZAGAYNOVA's Award-Winning Transformable Pendants

When asked about her inspiration, ZAGAYNOVA explained that she is consistently inspired by the simple forms and clear lines of contemporary design objects. She noticed that pendant lights often resemble jewelry artwork, which led her to experiment with creating a similar small object that could be worn on the human body. The result is TRANSFORMA, a collection of pendants that not only look beautiful but also offer an interactive experience.

What sets TRANSFORMA apart from other jewelry designs is its transformability. Each piece can change its final shape, allowing the wearer to have a slightly different pendant each time. This added function presented a challenge for ZAGAYNOVA, as it required her to create a relevant shape and mechanism in a small piece with an adequate weight. The process involved 3D modeling, lost wax casting, assembling, and finishing, using materials such as nickel silver, rhodium, and rubber cords.

The pendants' shapes can be easily changed by moving their parts, offering a new design with each transformation. The project, which started in March 2018 and finished in June 2018 in Moscow, required extensive research into pendant lights and lamps created by contemporary designers. ZAGAYNOVA's research led to the creation of three transformable pendants, each offering a unique aesthetic experience.

Despite the challenges involved in creating mechanisms that would allow such small pieces to transform while maintaining an adequate weight and parameters to make the pendants wearable, ZAGAYNOVA was successful in her endeavor. Her innovative approach to jewelry design has been recognized with a Silver A' Jewelry, Eyewear, and Watch Design Award in 2019. This prestigious award is given to designs that demonstrate outstanding expertise and innovation, strong technical characteristics, and splendid artistic skill.

In conclusion, TRANSFORMA by KSENIA ZAGAYNOVA represents a new direction in jewelry design. By combining aesthetics with functionality, ZAGAYNOVA has created a collection of pendants that not only look beautiful but also offer an interactive experience. This innovative approach to jewelry design sets a new standard for future designers to follow.