Metals and jewelry professionals create body ornaments, small scale sculptures and metal home goods, applying contemporary art, craft and design in a historical context. They focus on functional and nonfunctional objects, emphasizing conceptual thinking, innovation in design, and refined craftsmanship.

Cultivating creative and independent-minded individuals, the metals and jewelry department at SCAD emphasizes career preparation through competitions, collaborative projects and exhibition opportunities. 

Students prepare portfolios from the onset of their study, incorporating contemporary issues from the field. Strong faculty and a rigorous curriculum reinforce the program of study and emphasize critical thinking, innovative design and the production of distinctive work.

A dedicated facility and studio space allow students to sharpen their ideas, focus on studio practices and experiment with alternative materials and processes.

Students explore a wide range of technology in facilities for precision casting, laser welding, finishing, enameling, lapidary, anodizing, CAD/CAM, forming and stone setting processes. Students work with state-of-the-art computer and rapid prototyping technology and facilities. Resources include a laser welder and microscope system, a Stratasys Dimension SST 1200 printer for ABS plastic, two Solidscape T66 wax printers, and two Roland JWX-10 milling machines. Advanced modeling tools include SensAble pens with Claytools software.

The department regularly invites practicing professionals and leaders in the field to offer insights, experience and opportunities for students through lectures, workshops and critiques.

Visiting designers have included Gijs Bakker, Ted Noten and Omar Torres; Anthony Camargo and Nak Armstrong of Anthony Nak Jewelry; Robert Lee Morris; Chi Galatea Huynh,  of Galatea Jewelry; jewelry designer Barbara Heinrich; studio production artist Donald Friedlich; independent curator Gail Brown; metalsmith and writer Tim McCreight; studio jeweler Hongsock Lee; gallery owner/critic Charon Kransen, and others. Technical workshops have been conducted by silversmith and sculptor Leonard Urso, granulation specialist Douglas Harling, and Komelia Okim, pioneer of the Kum-Boo Technique.

Students participate in prestigious design competitions including Inc. magazine’s Bernard Goldhirsh Entrepreneur of the Year competition, the Swarovski student design competition, the McGee Group eyewear competition, the Baccarat Blue Sky design competition and the Rado Women and Design competition. They also participate in industry-sponsored projects with companies such as Fossil and Spectore Corporation.