Today, we launched our 2020/2021 De Beers Group Designers Initiative (DBGDI)-Shining Light Awards, inviting young jewellery designers to showcase their talents by designing an innovative diamond jewellery line, to embody this years’ theme: “The Evolution of Love and Life.”
The prestigious jewellery competition aims to inspire, ignite and enable young jewellery designers, aged 18-35 from our partner countries of Botswana, Canada, Namibia and South Africa. In doing so, it provides life-changing skills development opportunities for the next generation of talented designers and promotes youth and diversity within the diamond jewellery industry.
The launch represents the start of our ‘roadshows,’ which for the first time will be run virtually with colleges, academic institutions and politechniques across southern Africa and Canada, encouraging eligible students to apply, when the applications open between 30 January and 30 March 2021.
Prizes will be awarded to winners from each country next year, ranging from a 12 month post graduate programme at Politecnico di Milano in Milan Italy, to a 12 month goldsmith training in South Africa and a three month internship at a De Beers Group business unit.
DBGDI has been enabled through partnerships with Governments, Universities, Technikons, Sightholders, media and Forevermark for over 23 years in South Africa, 11 years in Botswana and Namibia and two years in Canada. Since then there have been over 30 beneficiaries, many of whom have gone on to open jewellery stores, establish game-changing brands and work for world renowned jewellery companies.
“As a company we are passionate about enabling and empowering youth with skills in jewellery design. We are always awestruck by how these young jewellery enthusiasts interpret the theme to make gorgeous designs that are relevant to today’s consumer. The designs are truly unique, thought provoking and celebrate the rarity and timelessness of Forevermark diamonds” said Pat Dambe, Vice-President of Corporate Affairs and Government Relations, De Beers Global Sightholder Sales. “I urge all who meet the criteria, to apply and stand a chance to be awarded a once in a lifetime opportunity to enhance their jewellery design skills.”
For more information, guidelines and inspiration, please visit www.shininglightsawards.com