For my next bracelet design, I wanted to break away from my usual obsession with symmetry. While symmetry offers balance and a polished look, I found myself yearning for a more organic, out of order approach. Inspired by the natural randomness of plants in a garden, where flowers grow in their own unique patterns until they are plucked and arranged into a bouquet, I decided to take small steps toward asymmetry. For this piece, I chose to work with green and purple beads, a combination that evokes the vibrancy of nature, while still focusing on the impact of spacer beads in the arrangement. I incorporated three types of spacer beads: a barrel bead, a cross bead, and a shiny black spacer bead, to test how multiple spacers could enhance or complicate the design.
The initial layout followed my usual symmetrical pattern, beginning with the cross spacer bead. However, as I progressed through the arrangement, I introduced asymmetry by altering the placement of the green and purple beads. This shift felt unnatural at first, as it challenged my ingrained preference for order. Yet, as the design took shape, I noticed a unique charm emerging. The interplay of asymmetrical colours with the structured placement of the spacer beads created a dynamic tension that I found intriguing and worth pursuing.
When I completed the bracelet, I felt both satisfaction and unease. While the asymmetry of the colours brought a refreshing departure from my usual style, the overall design felt slightly unbalanced. I suspect this may be due to my choice of ending the design with a barrel spacer bead, which disrupted the flow of the piece. Additionally, the increased number of spacer beads might have added too much complexity, making the bracelet feel less cohesive. However, I see this as a valuable learning experience and an opportunity to refine my approach in future designs.
Despite its imperfections, I was pleased with the final result and proud of stepping out of my comfort zone. This design represents a bold step toward exploring new creative territories. I plan to revisit and revamp this concept in the future, leveraging the insights gained from this experiment to achieve a more harmonious blend of asymmetry and balance.
CONCLUSION
This bracelet design marked an important shift in my creative journey, as I ventured into asymmetry while still maintaining a structured foundation. By combining green and purple beads with three distinct spacer beads, I was able to create a design that was both experimental and reflective of natural beauty. Though the piece revealed areas for improvement, it also opened new possibilities for innovation. I look forward to further refining this approach and expanding my repertoire of design techniques in the coming months.