Innovative CAD Technologies will close for our annual Summer Re-charging Period. We will be closed as of Monday 7/4/11 and re-open on Monday 7/18/11. Our email will be checked and we can respond to questions and prepare for your projects upon re-opening.

Please look for our exciting announcement regarding the future direction of Innovative CAD Technologies. We are working on a brand new business model and will make a formal statement soon after re-opening, so keep in touch.

Thank you for your past and future patronage. We sincerely appreciate working with all of you.

Gary Bleiweiss
Innovative CAD Technologies

It seems every year is passing quicker and quicker. 2010 is coming to a close in just a few days and what a year it has been! Though a difficult year worldwide, there are many positive aspects that we can focus on to enable us to thrive and grow in the upcoming year. Those companies or individuals that perseverate on the negative experiences of 2010 are, unfortunately, positioning themselves for another year of struggle.

Basketball coaching legend, John Wooden once said: “Don’t let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do!” 2011 is the year that we all “CAN DO.” In the new reality of today, much of what life offers is something that we cannot control. We must, however, never let that fact deter us from making the most of every opportunity that does present itself. We must learn to focus on what actions we need to pursue in order to take advantage of life, present and future. We cannot dwell on the past difficulties and simply wait for conditions to improve.

At Innovative CAD Technologies, we have worked very hard throughout the year at maintaining relationships and building new ones. Our mantra had always been to focus our efforts on creating strong bonds with our clients, looking at the bigger picture and how our efforts can make a difference in another person’s life. Through the medium of Custom Designed Jewelry, we can confidently say that we have met this goal and, in most cases, exceeded our client’s expectations.

2010 was also a year of learning for our company. We are becoming fully engaged in the social media to help educate the consumers on the value of Custom Design, the awesome power of personal creative expression, and the ease of the process. Our totally revised website has received incredible positive feedback and we are very proud of what we created. In addition, it has been a truly rewarding activity to start spreading the benefits of Custom Design through our Facebook and Twitter pages. Creating interesting and informative blogs have given us the opportunity to offer our perspective of the industry and perhaps assist retailers as well as consumers on the beauty of Custom Design.

So what is ahead for us in the upcoming year? We are working daily at creating a new and exciting business model that will be unveiled in the first quarter of 2011. Our efforts will ultimately result in a completely revamped and restructured Innovative CAD Technologies. While we are not ready for the “big announcement” yet, I certainly hope you keep tuned to our social media channels for timely updates and clues to the unveiling. 2011 will be the breakout year for our company and we will definitely be making a difference in our client’s lives. Our resolve is steady and our outlook extremely positive. Always keep in mind the words of the Yankee great, Yogi Berra. He said: “If you don’t know where you are going, you’ll end up somewhere else.” At Innovative CAD Technologies, we know where we’re going and we know that we are going to be there!

At this time, I would like to thank all our past clients, fans and followers and wish each and everyone a very Happy Holiday and a Healthy and Prosperous New Year.

This design competition is open to all. The competition will take the jewelry design from rendering to the final project of a finished piece of jewelry. There will be elimination of designs through a competitive process. The finalists will have their jewelry pieces on display at The SMART Jewelry Show for final judging and a popular vote.

This is a “top chef” kind of competition pitting traditional hand rendered designs against CAD designs.

Competitors are given a choice of a 7×5 oval chrome tourmaline or a 9×9 antique square rhodolite garnet to create a size seven ladies ring. (See images and descriptions of the gemstones.) The featured gemstones will be provided by Stuller. Accent gems, design, metals and manufacturing techniques are left open to the designer.

KEY CONTEST LINKS: Overview | Rules and Regulations | Download Entry Form (PDF) | Gemstones

The goal is to see designers/manufactures show-off their skills and creativity.

• 1st entry – $75
• All subsequent entries – $50 each

Design Requirements/Description

The item to be designed is a size seven women’s ring.  The ring must include the provided 7×5 oval chrome tourmaline or a 9×9 antique square rhodolite garnet by Stuller.

Phase 1: Submit Rendering of Original Design

Contestants will produce a rendering by hand or CAD of a women’s ring.  Renderings submitted will be placed in one of two categories:

Category 1 – Hand rendering
Category 2 – CAD rendering

Five finalists will be selected from each of the two categories by a panel of judges.  This will provide ten finalists for Phase 2 of the competition.

Judging criteria for Phase 1 rendering include:
•    Professionalism and skill of presentation
•    Creativity and design
•    Wear-ability

All entries and entry fees must be received by 5:30 PM Eastern on Tuesday, January 18, 2011.  Entries may be sent electronically to

udc@smartjewelryshow.com

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Or delivered to:
The Ultimate Design Contest
The Smart Jewelry Show   
45 West 45th Street, Suite 808
New York, NY 10036
212.981.9625

Phase 1 Judging is completed by Thursday, January 20, 2011. Finalists are notified and posted on the website www.smartjewelryshow.com by Monday, January 24, 2011.

Phase 2: Fabrication of Design

The ten finalists will be provided with the featured gemstone to create the design of the rendering they submitted.  The choice of stones is either a 7×5 oval chrome tourmaline or a 9×9 antique square rhodolite garnet. The gemstones are supplied by Stuller.

The ten finalists will manufacture the design they submitted using the provided gemstone and the metal of their choice.  (The finalists complete their selected design at their own expense. Accent stones, metals and labor costs are the responsibility of the entrant.)

Finished item will become the property of the contestant at the conclusion of the contest. 

Ship finished item to:
The Ultimate Design Contest
The Smart Jewelry Show   
45 West 45th Street, Suite 808
New York, NY 10036
212.981.9625

All finished pieces must be received by 5:30 PM Eastern on Wednesday, March 16, 2011.

The judges will select 2 finalists from the finished pieces for each of the two categories, hand rendering and CAD, to move to Phase 3 of the contest.

The four finalists will receive an expense paid trip to The SMART Jewelry Show.  (Expenses include coach airfare and provided hotel for two nights).

All finished designs will be on display at The SMART Jewelry Show, April 2-4, 2011.  Selected renderings will be on display as well.

Phase 3: Completion of Judging – The SMART Jewelry Show

Show attendees will be asked to cast a vote for the overall winner.  Votes will also determine a winner and first place in each of the two categories.

It is a combination of the judges’ pre-show selection of finalists and the show attendee vote will determine the “Ultimate” winner of the contest.

Judging Criteria of Jewelry Item Includes
•    Skill in execution of design
•    How closely the item matches the rendering
•    Technical merit of design and execution.
•    Wear-ability

Completion: Contest winner will be announced at 1 PM, Monday, April 4, 2011, the final day of The Smart Jewelry Show.  Trophies will be provided for:

• First place CAD design
• First place hand rendered design
• Second place CAD design
• Second place hand rendered design
• First place/over-all, Champion, winner from Phase 3 participants

Completed items are property of the designer at the conclusion of The SMART Jewelry Show.

First place/over-all champion will have their winning design featured on the cover of INSTORE magazine.

Today, you need to utilize every tool in your arsenal in order to nourish profitability. One of the most important industry tools with the greatest potential for success is Custom Jewelry Design. I will continue to pound away at the positive benefits of custom jewelry design because there is no better option to increasing sales, profits, customer base and prestige within your market area.

According to industry analysts, custom design and bridal are the top two categories within the jewelry industry in 2010. Therefore, custom bridal jewelry is likely to be at the top of the list of all classes of jewelry sales.

Let’s breakdown some of the most important positive results that custom jewelry design can bring to your store.

• Customer loyalty
• Increased profit margins without the cost of inventory
• Greater consumer recognition as being the place for custom jewelry
• Free word of mouth advertising
• Improved reputation within your community

While reading an article in a jewelry publication, I came across an interesting statistic that is extremely significant to this month’s topic. Did you know that if a store treats a customer well, there is a 26% chance of that customer returning? The remarkable fact is that there is an 80% chance of a custom returning if the store exceeds the client’s expectations. This is a staggering statistic! When working as a team with a professional CAD/CAM service bureau and taking the time and effort to involve your client in the design process, how could you not exceed their expectations? This is a very considerable benefit of custom jewelry design.

Increasing profit margins is always a primary goal of business, of course. When working with custom jewelry design, there can be no direct price comparison shopping. Mass merchandising outlets and online jewelry megastores do not offer the level of customization that a retail jeweler can produce, nor can they offer the personal touch of the face-to-face experience that is necessary to exceed a client’s expectations. In the sales arena, this experience is a key factor that stores can benefit from when competing with the overseas, price only, mass merchandise sector of our industry.

You have heard my concept of creating a “CUSTOM JEWELRY DESIGN CENTER” in a prominently visible portion of your store several times. It is of vital importance to start building your center by utilizing props of past custom models and posting a “wall” of custom renderings for clients to browse while they are “just looking” or awaiting a repair. The more substance you put into your Custom Jewelry Design Center, the greater the potential to have your store recognized as the place for custom jewelry.

A client whose expectations have been exceeded will return again and again for their jewelry needs. They will gladly provide the word of mouth advertising that is essential in expanding your clientele base. Provide each Custom Jewelry Design client with an album of photorealistic renderings that tells the story of their design, from conception to perfection. Place your store logo on each page and watch how the word will spread that your store is a Custom Jewelry Design expert. A client who is more than satisfied will eagerly show the story of their design to family members, friends, co-workers, etc. This sort of personal recommendation is invaluable.

All these benefits will increase your bottom line as well as your reputation within your retail community. Once the word is out that your store has a Custom Jewelry Design Center, it will be at the top of the list for clients, organizations, institutions and other businesses that might think of having a custom design piece created for themselves, as a gift or as logo or emblem jewelry. The potential is enormous and being an expert in custom design will bring you increased potential for new and expanded markets.

Working with an experienced and highly qualified CAD/CAM service bureau has become easier than ever. Prompt response time places profits into your store quickly and efficiently. With today’s level of technology, it is unnecessary to provide a service bureau with overly detailed sketches or mechanical drawings. A quick sketch and a simple array of important information transmitted via email or fax will get the process moving ahead. Without going into a lot of detail, a retailer needs only to supply the required information such as finger size, any dimensional preferences (shank thickness, bracelet width, etc.,) metal type and stone information. It is unnecessary to worry about prong thicknesses, shank dimensions, or other details since a qualified CAD service bureau knows from years of experience which elements are necessary, visually pleasing and structurally sound. Any additional relevant information that is not provided will be discussed before a project moves forward.

To sum up, Custom Jewelry Design is a win-win situation for both the retailer and the consumer. The retailer needs no investment in advance and has a tremendous opportunity to increase their profits, reputation and standing within the community. The consumer receives a “one of a kind” item for which they personally played an important role in the design process.

Next month, we will expand on the “CUSTOM JEWELRY DESIGN CENTER” and how it can help get the message out to your customers and equally important potential customers. Process is quite simple, but a few suggestions can streamline the procedures and make it easier to communicate the client’s preferences.

Also, check out our totally revamped website: www.innocadtech.com We are very proud of the new look and will be periodically updating our site to keep it fresh and informative.

Every custom design tells a story. It is the story of taking a raw concept and creating a piece that exceeds everyone’s expectations. Once in a while, a special story emerges from a custom design. This is such a story. It illustrates the evolution of a complex concept into a true masterpiece. The story also exemplifies the importance of the teamwork ethic that occurs when the CAD artist and the retail jeweler put their respective talents together to solve issues of design, structure, assembly ease, stone setting issues, and the necessary finishing techniques that are required to bring the beauty of the design to light.

In this example, one of our favorite customers, David Liska of Custom Bridal Jewelers in Milwaukee, WI., had a client that was interested in having something made that was totally different, unique and with lots of “pizzazz”. David came up with a very intricate and distinctive concept and sent the sketch to us for creation. The design called for numerous stone sizes, types and colors, as well as being comprised of several different metals types. Therefore, the design would be created with many separate parts. We had to create a model that would allow for the easiest and most effect method for David to assemble. Each part needed the ability to “snap” into place to alleviate any problems associated with trying to solder small elements to larger elements of the design. Consideration to the degree of polishing for each part, prior to and after assembly, was a prime focus as well.

There were several revisions necessitated by the overall complexity of this concept. That closely knit relationship between our company of CAD artists and David at Custom Bridal was easily handled back and forth by emailing series of working renderings depicting solutions to structural and aesthetic issues that arose. On a ring as elaborate as this design, we sent work in progress , plastic resin models to David so that he could visualize our suggestions in a physical, scale form. As the process evolved, the design took on a life of its own.

With all the technical issues and visual elements solved and approved, we were able to produce the prototype models and cast the various parts in the desired metals. This one design was comprised of a palladium base and bezel, 18K rose gold halo, and 18K royal gold side bezels. We were very proud of the result and just how practical we had made it for the jeweler to assemble, set and polish. In addition, we were given permission to utilize this piece in a two page article written about “Detail Work” in the January 2008 issue of MJSA Journal. The story of this design and its creation was the highlight article in that issue dedicated to “Dream Makers, Turning Design Ideas into Reality with CAD/CAM”.

It is ironic how CAD artists working on multiple projects can sometimes overlook the beauty of a piece of jewelry due to being involved in the details. Only upon seeing a finished product and hearing of the joy of the recipient, do we actually experience the elation that we have helped create through our efforts. As this particular piece was in progress, we didn’t anticipate just how lovely the design would end up and, in fact, we had all been skeptical of the result. In the end, David was extremely pleased with our work and he did an excellent job with the assembly, stone setting and finish which resulted in a very happy client.

While this story is that of turning a complex process into a workable, beautiful and totally unique item, the reality is that most requests for CAD work is much less involved. The concept of working closely together as CAD artist and retailer that this story illustrates is a key to success in general. Through the constant evolution of CAD software and rapid prototyping equipment, the custom process runs very smoothly, efficiently and results in a level of satisfaction that was not possible a few short years ago. So let your imagination run wild and keep pushing the envelope on custom design and, as your CAD/CAM service bureau, we will work closely with you in the pursuit of moving from conception to perfection!

Please feel free to comment on this article

Today’s incredible rendering software creates excitement within a client when they see their custom design for the first time. It never fails; customers believe that they are viewing a photograph of a finished item, only to discover that it is an attractive virtual creation. Besides the obvious “WOW” factor that showing a series of renderings brings to your customers, you can also utilize your catalog of renderings as a tool to help get the word out that your store is an expert in Custom Design

This simple concept can provide your store a tremendous competitive advantage over competitors. Many CAD service bureaus take extra time and effort to create a series of beautiful 3D photo-realistic renderings for the jeweler and the client to review prior to the actual prototyping of the physical model. Since most renderings can be attached as an easy to open .jpg format, the result is a simple process showing a model to the client. There are many inexpensive, “photo only” printers which produce eye-catching pictures on 4 X 6 glossy paper and others which print in larger sizes as well.

Why not utilize each rendering series to provide a simple, yet elegant, presentation album gift for your client when they arrive to pick up a finished piece? With the use of a picture editing software, such as Photoshop, you can also enhance any rendering by adding your store logo to each image.

What does offering a complimentary package like the “Designed Just For You” album say about your business and its relationship with your customers? It certainly shows how proud you are to present beautiful custom jewelry along with a small token of appreciation. This, in turn, creates a scenario in which the already ecstatic customer proudly displays their album to family, friends, coworkers, etc. Having your store logo on the album cover and each printed rendering will result in unparalleled “word of mouth” endorsements which have great potential impact on prospective new clientele.

A quality CAD service bureau puts in the effort to create a series of renderings that is worthy of inclusion into a gift album. They should include several “glory” shots along with views from different reference points. The latest version of rendering software has many choices of resolution, quality and lighting conditions, as well as different props that help enhance the result of the rendering. If your current service provider is not taking the time to provide your store with this incredibly useful sales tool, you must insist that they do.

In addition to providing the album for your client, you should proudly display a rendering each of the designs created by your store on a wall or other area within your Custom Design Center. This will create a library of custom designs that customers can readily view. Use your imagination when creating your custom design renderings wall or area as it will become a focal point within your store. Utilizing high quality renderings in this manner will bring additional interest to clients who are “just browsing,” as well as those waiting for repairs. There is nothing more interesting to clients than seeing how Custom Design can work for them. Building a story board with your renderings in conjunction with the use of “Designed Just For You” albums will help your custom design business to flourish and increase your profits, customer base and overall reputation as “the place for custom design.”

Please feel free to comment on this article

T-Splines, Inc.’s Model your organic designs in CAD Contest (the “Contest”) is designed to promote the creation of new and innovative 3D content using T-Splines, or using T-Splines in combination with other software.

Create a distinctive portfolio piece, get lots of free publicity, and win one of three iPads with iRhino 3D and other great prizes with T-Splines’ design contest: Model your organic designs in CAD.

See contest rules for details at tsplines.com

What to do?

Make a mold of an old ring to reproduce it or use the CAD system to make a model?

We’ve all been there at one time or another. A client comes in with an heirloom ring that has years of wear and tear and they want you to make a new one for them exactly like the original.

We’ve been hearing a lot of discussion lately, in print and internet media, about Custom Jewelry Design. But not all Custom Design is equal. There are differences between true customization, customized jewelry and companies which claim to offer clients a custom choice but, in reality, no custom work is involved.

There has been a lot of fanfare, within the industry lately, of new entries into the world of custom jewelry offering the ability of web users to create custom designs directly on the internet. Whereas some mass merchandising companies claim this ability for the consumer, the reality is that their marketing concept is nothing more than providing a graphical choice of the customer’s preferences in stones colors and metals. These variables can only be changed on an array of previously designed, stock items. There is no actual customization involved in these web based transactions, despite the manufacturer’s assertions.

Other companies offer fancy, “point of sale” customization software in which the retailer and consumer can tweak the design to their liking. While this looks impressive, the scope of customization is quite limited and basically the choices are constrained to a catalog of pre-designed models. It is an attractive way of taking a picture from a catalog and explaining to the customer how it will look with various stones and possibly a revised shank. These programs, however, are quite expensive, have long learning curves, and limit the overall collective creativity between the retailer and the consumer.

True Custom Jewelry Design starts with a concept, an idea, photo, or even just a wish. With genuine customization, the retailer and client work closely together to express the emotional connection of the design with the recipient. In conjunction with a quality service bureau, the retailer is free to concentrate upon the growing relationship between store and customer rather than overburdening themselves on the design process itself. With true customization, the customer plays a direct role, with the retailer, in ensuring that the ultimate result will represent the culmination of all that they desired in a piece of jewelry. This guarantees the overall satisfaction of the client and leads to all the additional benefits explained in the July newsletter, such as increased customer satisfaction, word of mouth advertising, etc.

Service bureaus, such as Innovative CAD Technologies, are the enablers of the design and manufacturing process that allows the retailer to offer themselves as Custom Design Experts without having to purchase expensive software, go through months and months of training in order to be minimally proficient, and also, have no expenditures on very expensive, high maintenance prototyping and casting equipment. We pride ourselves as purveyors of fine design and of the highest quality models and castings. Our choice of the latest and most advanced prototyping and casting technology reflects our desire to offer the finest results of the CAD/CAM process. But expensive hardware is only part of the story. At Innovative CAD, it is our staff that are rally extraordinary. They are detailed oriented and consistently maintain the machinery to factory standards, accepting nothing less than exceptional results. Where some service bureaus will cut corners in production to save money, at Innovative CAD, we feel strongly that our consistency in ultra fine quality will result in long term, positive relationships with our family of clients.

By treating your service bureau as that part of your team, involved with the processes of 3D design, model making and casting, it will allow you to advertise your “Custom Jewelry Design Center” with great confidence and pride. This will add increased customer interest, greater profits, and high degree of prestige to your business.

Last month, I left off with a statement of a business being “Proactive rather than being Reactive.” Just what did I mean by this? In simple terms, do not to wait until the door swings open at your store and a prospective client walks through. You must go out and actively seek Custom Work within your community. There are many large corporate business that can offer their employees achievement awards, holiday gifts, logo jewelry, etc. There are Fire Departments, EMS stations and Police Departments where custom replicas of personal shields are very popular. There are charitable organizations which need custom pieces as loyalty awards, gifts, contest prizes, etc. These categories of custom jewelry items are practical to create and quite affordable when ordered in quantity production runs. Chances are, however, that these organizations will not walk into your store, so be Proactive and go after them. The time you spend cultivating leads will eventually payoff great dividends as you will not only increase your business in the present, but the quality of your work will also be exposed to many new prospective clients within these various organization and corporate business types.

In next month’s newsletter I will discuss, in greater detail, the win-win situation of working in Custom Jewelry Design and how to get the best results when working with a quality service bureau. The process is quite simple, but a few suggestions can streamline the procedures and make it easier to communicate the client’s preferences.

Also, check out our totally revamped website: www.innocadtech.com We are very proud of the new look and will be periodically updating our site to keep it fresh and informative.

CAD/CAM technology has brought custom jewelry design to anyone willing to add this incredible tool to their sales strategy. But for many, the expense of the software and the very long learning curve necessary for approaching mediocrity, is daunting. In addition, how many retailers are willing to use their precious resources for the huge cost of a quality rapid prototyping system and the work to maintain it?

These alone are reasons to rely upon an experienced service bureau for your CAD/CAM needs.

But how does one ensure a smooth transmittal of expectations when dealing with some of today’s more complex custom designs? That is the topic of today’s blog. There are quite a few hints and techniques that a retailer can employ to make the entire process run like clockwork. Some of the information must come directly from the customers so that they are also part of the overall development of their designs. The remaining majority of specifications are then conveyed by the retailer to the custom service bureau as the initial step in the process.

Luckily, there is no need for great artistic talent to express a basic concept of the project to the CAD artist. With a rough hand sketch, a photograph, a magazine clipping, or even some verbal descriptions, an experienced CAD service bureau will understand the general scope of the project and communicate any questions regarding the design. Once the general understanding is relayed, dimensions and project needs are specified to avoid confusion, time delays or a design that was not what the client had envisioned. Project Needs which must be provided include:

Dimensions Rings require a finger size and any known specific measurements or constraints such as width, height, thicknesses, etc. Some measurements may not be critical for certain projects since an experienced jewelry CAD artist understands proper proportions for a visually pleasing and structurally proper design. Other optional specifications may also include shank shape (rounded profile, flat profile, Euro-shank, etc.)

Metal types Regardless of who will ultimately cast the project, this is necessary for the series of photorealistic renderings depicting the design as well as determining the structural needs for constructing the model.

Stone types Shapes, sizes and colors are important for the overall design creation and rendering processes.

The important focus point is that, through providing a relatively minimal amount of specifications, the project can be off to a flying start.

Fact: Did you know that the CAD process can actually approximate a final metal weight prior to being physically prototyped or cast? This also applies to stone weights. Knowing approximated weights offers a retailer the ability to estimate costs and make changes to suit a budget.

The beauty of the CAD process is that, when following these few and easy guidelines, the efforts saved provide ample time for adjustment, tweaking and bringing the design to the point where the client is completely satisfied. This makes for happy customers, happy retailers and happy service bureaus.

A general word of caution: Reputable CAD/CAM service bureaus, within the jewelry industry, will respect the intellectual property of the “name brand”, “designer community”, and will not create duplicates of such works. As such, trustworthy service bureaus will only utilize copyrighted designs as inspiration to offer their clients the ability to create a custom piece which expresses the flavor and feel of the brand name item being requested. A service bureau with integrity will opt to turn down requests to create an exact duplicate of a copyrighted design. Exact duplications are not acceptable custom projects. This should be carefully explained to the consumer whenever a retailer is faced with such a request.