Diamond industry banking veteran Paul De Wachter will take on the role in January 2026.
NYJDI to Offer Class for Aspiring Jewelry Designers
Award-winning designer Kristin Hanson will teach the four-session course that focuses on creating a signature collection.

New York--The New York Jewelry Design Institute is offering a new course for up-and-coming jewelry designers that focuses on establishing a recognizable design signature.
“Create Your Own Signature Collection” will be taught by jewelry designer Kristin Hanson over four Tuesdays in March and April at the NYJDI campus in New York City’s design district.
The course will cover finding inspiration to create a trademark look and development of that concept in the design process, plus how to express a signature via a portfolio. Students will utilize different mediums in exploring their creative signature: drawing, painting, photography, collage, video and sculpture.
“Become a jewelry architect,” advises Hanson to aspiring and up-and-coming designers. “Learn techniques that will generate your next trend-setting collection by focusing on the art of your own style. Create a portfolio that will become the blueprints of your brand.”
Hanson is an award-winning fine jewelry designer who has studied under master jeweler Harold O’Connor in Colorado and at the Alchimia jewelry school in Florence, Italy, where she apprenticed with Giampaulo Babetto.
Today, Hanson’s namesake designs are stocked in Neiman Marcus stores around the United States.
Jenine Lepera Izzi, Creative Director of NYJDI, said, “Kristin adds a layer of sophistication to designing jewelry. She brings expansive knowledge to our classroom, and our students will greatly benefit from her worldly experience as an award winning jewelry designer, teacher and entrepreneur.”
“Create Your Own Signature Collection” will take place on four Tuesdays beginning March 28, with the last session held April 18. Each session is from 6 to 9 p.m. at the NYJDI campus in Manhattan.
The course is $650 plus tax.
For more information visit NYJDI’s website or e-mail info@nyjdi.com.
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