Summer Started in Nicole’s Sketchbook: Notes From Our Senior Design Director
“I wanted this collection to feel like that. No pressure, no plans, just play."
Meet Nicole, our Senior Director of Jewelry Design. She’s been channeling carefree coastal vibes into pieces that look the way summer feels.
From the Coastal Collection to our recent Found Objects drop, here’s what went into it–straight from Nicole's sketchbook.
Q: What’s it like bringing an idea to life?
Depends on the project. Sometimes it starts with a feeling. Sometimes it’s a shape that won’t leave me alone. I usually begin by working with my hands—and clay, wire, or rope—to see how things loop and come together. I know it’s ready when it feels fully formed and clear enough to translate [into something physical].
Q: What inspired the colors, shapes, and vibe of your summer pieces?
I kept landing on sun-warmed colors. Joyful yellows, soft greens, sandy neutrals. And it wasn’t just one place really. I thought of seashells, old glass buoys, beach pebbles, paracord from swim trunks. Even a road trip I took when I first moved to the U.S. made its way in—with matchbooks, roadside jewelry, anything that felt like a little souvenir from that time.
Q: Okay, if you had to pick—what’s your current favorite from the collection?
It’s almost impossible to choose—especially since the pieces are made to play together. Mixing and matching charms across chains and beaded necklaces is half the fun. But if I had to pick a few favorites, the Sardine Brooch and the Cheers and Perfect Match Charms to swap onto the Maya Caged Pearl necklace. I’m also loving the lab-grown emerald, especially paired with a narrow enamel ring.
Q: How do you want people to feel when they wear this collection? What’s the vibe?
More than anything, just joyful. Like they’re wearing something fun and a little unexpected. And I hope it feels personal too—like it sparked something when you saw it, and now it just makes you smile. I want these pieces to remind people that you don’t always have to be in go-mode. You can actually just… feel good.