Ola Shekhtman

After I understood my economics high education is boring for me, I started to study goldsmith. Because I always loved to make something by hands. Especially something tiny. So I found Jewelry School in Saint Petersburg, Russia, where I lived since 2008 to 2013. So I learned how to melt metal, roll it, saw, solder and used microscope which was the most exciting for me. After I moved to USA, I didn’t have any tools with me and decided to learn how to make everything on my laptop. I finished software course for beginners in NYC and next year I spent educated myself with videos on youtube, showing how to make different shapes. So I’ve never learned design. My opinion is to generate ideas it is not necessary if you was born with different view of common things. Of course you can develop yourself, watch how others do and of course learn tools to turn your ideas to life. What exactly I did.

I never decided to do it. I just can’t to NOT do it. It goes from the inside. This is my realization.

I did not choose nether I was forced. I just am. This what I do all my life. It is one of the characteristic of me.

My passion is Architecture. I think I could become a real architect but when I was young it seemed to me like something tremendous and too hard. So, designing architectural jewelry I feel satisfied my passion to be an architect and remove my fear of being that.

“If you want to have you’ve never had - do what you’ve never did.” Stay brave to share forms from your head even if it seems to be too absurd. I always put an example with impressionism - which was not accepted immediately. However new style played a role in the development of the art. Now we can’t imagine learning pictorial art without Claude Monet. I want to highlight one more thing. You can study design, but if you’re not designer from inside, you risk to stay in shadow. You will have success if you feel you just can’t to NOT create. Otherwise - go to learn economics or law :)

I think answer is in feelings, you creation awakes in people. If they are amazed - good designer. If they have a heart attack - you’re great designer.

I think it’s emotions and knowhow. The more design touches my feelings, amazes with its originality, the stronger this design is for me.

Designer - it’s like progress, like evolution, like motion in the future. It take resources. It can’t be cheap.

I’m going to realize and prefer to keep the secret to stay pioneer.

I’m going to realize and prefer to keep the secret to stay pioneer.

Emotions. Knowhow. I try to create things that touch my feelings, amaze me with innovations and originality. When my head deliver a new idea that I’ve never seen before I get so much excitement and energy to realize it - it’s simply a bomb of inspiration! So my recipe is - searching such a bombs.

Antoni Gaudi. He was so brave to express his fantasies to publics. And now many years after he is so loved by many people. I admire his creations, I admire his personality.

Actually I don’t follow any designers. Especially in jewelry. I think it makes sense because in that case you don’t compare yourself with anybody. The same for painting. I don’t learn any painting technique because I want to come up with my unique one, which characters me only. New materials always catch my attention. I love to see how designer use wood and glass in fantastic ways.

Each time I unbox new cityscape ring I am so excited and each time I think this is the best ring inmycollection. But it happens each time :) I am fan of Antoni Gaudi and I think Barcelona ring shows all the uniqueness of his architecture masterpieces. I wear New York ring almost 24/7. This city takes special place inmyheart. I turn the ring and feel myself there. Also I lovemy bridges rings. It is not obviously bridge. It looks more like some industrial designed ring. It catches your attention and amazes when you realize it is Golden Gate.

Try, create, take out what you have inside. Don’t be afraid to look awkward. If the idea looks not worthy, looking at it you can evaluate.

Zoo Worker. I love animals. It’s still my dream. I always volunteer in shelters to close this gestalt.

Design in common it is a way to step further from just function. Design let us see something completely new. Or recognize familiar but from different view. It’s esthetics, it’s amazedness. How many creative people we have around! With different minds and views. What did the creator think about, how did he feel while creating and after? How did he come up with the idea? I’m trying to guess answers when I look at any designed thing. For me personally design as a process it’s fun. Realization. Satisfaction. Self confident and self respect. This is happiness.

Every day I receive messages from my customer who share with me their stories, why they love cityscape rings. Somebody was born, studied, felt in love in cities they left. They still miss these places and very happy to have such a reminder on their finger. The stories fill me up and I want to make more and more cityscapes.