Rising RMUTT Product Designer Creates Jewelry Made with Fish Scales

Rising RMUTT Product Designer Creates Jewelry Made with Fish Scales

Contemporary jewelry made with eye-catching details, primarily fish scales and seamlessly blended with brass is a creative take on making valuable handmade art.

Ms. Suthisa Muangsin, a fourth year student from the Art Design and Technology program, Department of Product Design, Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts at RMUTT said that she thought of this idea because she needed to make something creative. She aspired to create a product that was based on science and technology, but has artistic uses. She attempted to find suitable and interesting materials to be used as a core material in designing her jewelry, and eventually settled on applying fish scales, considered waste from fishes, which were usually not consumed. Fish scales contain unique features as they are shiny, lightweight, flexible, and can be dyed in various colors. Jewelry made from fish scales are an alternative fashion accessory that helps promote the use of natural materials and reduces the dependence on imported materials.

Ms. Suthisa Muangsin’s jewelry, targeted for working women, includes a necklace, bracelet, and ring. The jewelry maintains its natural shape, has geometric patterns, and bright toned colors such as red, blue, and purple. The jewelry’s core is made from brass as it is easily molded, reasonably priced, and popular. The bezel is smooth, shiny, and is decorated with fish scales by embedding the fish scales on the bezel using a fancy setting technique. Batik is used to dye the fish scales due to its long-lasting effects as it does not result in discoloration; instead it makes the jewelry color more vibrant.

Moreover, Prof. Sornsilp Sophonsakulwongse from RMUTT’s Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts was Ms. Suthisa Muangsin’s advisor. She also received support from entrepreneurs in the jewelry industry, jewelry design and production specialists, product design experts, and jewelry consumers, whom shared comments and suggestions that were beneficial, and led to positive responses from audiences and success in the recently held 25^th Do I-DEA art exhibition.

When asked about how to enter the market as a professional product designer, Ms. Suthisa Muangsin commented that “Foundational knowledge of design, inspiration from the environment, and fresh ideas are crucial in creating one’s own portfolio. Thailand has numerous talented and successful product designs that have received awards and are well-renowned in their field. One can learn from them and use them as a guide to develop one’s own creative works. Personally, there is much for me to learn and improve in order to progress and be recognized in this field.”

In addition, those that are interested in sharing their knowledge about product design or have any business inquiries may contact Ms. Suthisa Muangsin by emailing eplapla@hotmail.com or calling 082-797-0612.