Research and practice on speculative design approach to laboratory-grown diamond jewellery design

Abstract

This thesis explores the transformative potential of Speculative Design (SD) in the realm of jewellery design, a field traditionally associated with craftsmanship and aesthetics but now increasingly engaged with ethical and social considerations. SD introduces critical thinking and futurology into product design, using artifacts and scenarios for dialogue, reflection, and challenging existing values. Jewellery design community calls for a transition from intuitive-driven approaches to more structured, conscious processes, integrating design theory into practice. The study aims to apply SD methods to redefine jewellery within product design, fostering innovation and addressing complex, urgent contradictions between humans, nature, and society. The thesis includes analysing SD's theoretical foundations and methodologies, examining contemporary jewellery design practices, and developing strategies for applying SD in this field. Using laboratory-grown diamonds as a case, the thesis seeks to demonstrate how speculative approaches can reimagine the jewellery material world and industry, positioning jewellery as not just a personal adornment but a carrier of cultural, social, and technological changes.