Interview with Cristina Lucia



"...a little colorful party"

We spoke to Cristina, the designer behind the brand Cristina Lucia, who creates playful and colorful jewelry. She talks about how inspiration from the seasons, art and nature grows into digital sketches, 3D printed tools and finally handmade crafts in her studio in Sweden.

Your jewelry feels both playful and very well thought out. Where does your inspiration come from?

I always start from the emotions and colors of the season, those moods that are unique to a certain time of year. At the same time, I am greatly inspired by shapes, patterns and textures in art, architecture and nature. It is the meeting of the everyday and the unexpected that often leads to new ideas.

 

 How do you take the inspiration further into actual shapes and patterns?

 I start digitally. In Adobe Illustrator I draw clean, repeatable shapes. This allows me to experiment with proportions and scale before I start working with the materials.

 

You also use technology in the manufacturing process itself, is that correct?

Yes, absolutely. I 3D print my own tools and dies from my Illustrator files. That way I get precision and can maintain a high level of consistency, while still being free in the design process.

 

 The colors in your jewelry really stand out. How do you work with them?

 I mix my own color recipes in polymer clay. I often build up shades by layering pigments until I find the right tone. There are always small unique batches, which means that each piece of jewelry has a handmade and personal color palette.

 

How does the craft itself work?

Once the colors and shapes are ready, I cut, bake and process everything by hand here in Sweden. For assembly, I use stainless steel components that are tested for nickel and lead – both for durability and comfort.

 

And those final details, what is important to you?

That the jewelry feels light, balanced and comfortable to wear all day. I deliberately choose a matte finish, because it highlights the intensity of the colors without dazzling with shine.

 

What do you want people to feel when they wear your jewelry?

 I want them to feel joy and confidence. My jewelry is created to invite playfulness and self-expression – every time you wear it, it should feel like a little colorful party.

Here you will find everything from Cristina Lucia!

 

*The interview was conducted in English and is here translated into Swedish.