When most people think of fine jewellery, they imagine shiny gemstones behind a boutique window. What they often don’t see is the personal story, cultural heritage, and years of precision and practice that go into designing each piece. For Canadian International School (CIS) alumna Daniela Volschenk, jewellery design is her form of storytelling, a celebration of identity, and a career she’s building on the world stage.

A rising talent in luxury design, Daniela has been making her mark over the years from being awarded the CIS Legacy Scholarship, to earning the prestigious Cartier Scholarship, and the Annoushka Award for Outstanding Design. She has collaborated with the Louis Vuitton’s Women’s Fine Jewellery team, and is now interning at one of the world’s most iconic jewellery houses, Tiffany & Co. in New York City.

Discovering her path in jewellery design

“I always knew I wanted to pursue something creative,” she shares. Initially drawn to architecture, she began to explore other creative fields after receiving a spot at Central Saint Martins, one of the world’s leading art schools. It was there she discovered jewellery design, and found the best of both worlds: sculptural beauty combined with technical problem-solving.

Her time at CIS played a formative role in nurturing this path. “Being able to experiment so many creative disciplines in the IB programme and Extra Curricular Activities (ECAs) like pottery really sparked my creative curiosity,” she says.

A design language rooted in heritage

What sets Daniela apart as a designer is not just her skill, but the depth of her work. Her pieces are inspired by her nomadic Afrikaans heritage, drawing on the history and materials of her South African roots.

She works with mopane wood, metal hardware, and citrine gemstones, incorporating the shapes and mechanics of cattle-drawn wagons used by her ancestors. Her aesthetic is bold and sculptural, often reflecting the form and function of industrial tools. “I focus on strong form and an intentional use of line,” she explains.

One such piece, the Statement Mopane Neckpiece from her graduate collection Bound, holds a special place in her heart. “Achieving a piece of that scale in my collection really brought the story of family and my home together,” she shares. The piece helped her earn the Annoushka Award for Outstanding Design, a milestone in her young career.

Earning her place among luxury designer brands

That wasn’t the only recognition she earned. Daniela was also awarded the Cartier Scholarship for her exceptional portfolio, presented by the Duke of Wellington, Chairman of Richemont Holdings. The award not only validated her work but helped open the doors to internships and industry experience, including renowned London house Shaun Leane.

A defining moment in her academic career was a collaborative live project with Louis Vuitton Women’s Fine Jewellery. Tasked with designing a collection inspired by South Africa’s diamond mining industry, she explored unconventional stone setting techniques and integrated tools and mining motifs into her designs. The experience offered her a close-up view of designing at a global luxury brand and helped sharpen her technical skills using industry-standard software like Rhino3D and Adobe Photoshop.

Today, she is interning at Tiffany & Co. in New York, a role she describes as the culmination of years of effort and learning. “My experience at Tiffany & Co. has really solidified my technical and design skills. I’ve developed a professional proficiency in digital rendering and CAD, which are essential in today’s jewellery industry,” shares Daniela. She adds that the internship has deepened her understanding of the full design process and sharpened her eye for luxury commercial design.

Looking to the future 

The road hasn’t always been easy for Daniela. The jewellery design industry is fiercely competitive, and building a professional portfolio requires constant reinvention and research. “It takes a lot of work to create something so small,” she says. But the rigorous academic environment and the foundation in creative research she built at CIS continue to support her as she navigates complex design processes at the highest level.

With such an impressive foundation, it’s no surprise that Daniela has big plans. She hopes to secure a full-time Associate Designer position at a top luxury jewellery or watch house and continue her education in gemology at the Gemological Institute of America. Her dream? To one day design high jewellery, watches, bespoke pieces, and even runway accessories.

To aspiring young artists and designers at CIS, she offers this advice: “Do your industry research, focus on your technical knowledge, and don’t stop experimenting!”

Thank you for sharing your inspiring journey, Daniela.