This summer, Tiffany & Co. and the CFDA announced the Tiffany & Co. x CFDA Jewelry Designer Award, a first-of-its-kind award recognizing outstanding American jewelry designers who are committed to driving inclusivity within the design industry.

In early October, the selected 10 participants gathered in New York City as a group for the first time for the program’s kick off and an immersive three-day orientation, which included breakfasts, lecture series, and tours of Tiffany Landmark and the House’s Jewelry Design and Innovation Workshop. They also received their design challenge, which they will work on between now and the final showcase presentation January 2025.

Get to know the 10 talents who just embarked on a new journey in their jewelry careers.

Symoné Currie

Hometown and where you are currently living now.
My hometown is Kingston, Jamaica. I’m a bit of a rolling stone, currently splitting my time between Miami, New York, and Kingston.

What three words would you use to describe yourself?
Adventurous, Driven, Curious

How and why did you get into jewelry design?
After my brother passed away, I found myself reflecting on what I truly wanted from life—what I wanted, not what others expected of me. I’ve always been drawn to creative expression, so I made a promise: if a creative idea lingered in my mind for more than three days, I’d act on it. No matter how wild or simple, I would see where it took me and what magic might unfold.

That journey led me to jewelry design, almost unexpectedly. It started with a personal need—I had this delicate set of childhood bangles that I accidentally broke. They meant a lot to me, and I wondered, “How could I redesign them in a way that felt more like me?” That question lit a spark. I had no experience in jewelry making, but I didn’t let that stop me. I ventured to the Seybold Jewelry Building in Miami and started figuring it out from there.

Ian Delucca

Hometown and where you are currently living now.
I was born and raised in Long Beach, California. I currently rent the same house I was brought home to as a newborn.

What three words would you use to describe yourself?
Artist, Thoughtful, Kind

How and why did you get into jewelry design?
I first sat at the jeweler’s bench around age eight—it runs in the family. After exploring other paths, I felt a creative pull in my mid-twenties and returned to jewelry. I launched my first project under my own name in 2019, so I’m five years in now.

What’s inspiring you lately?
Love letters, gardening, leather, lace—all the classical elements that connect past and present. I try to capture moments more than objects.

Marvin Linares

Hometown and where you are currently living now?
I am from Palmdale, California and currently live in Los Angeles, California.

What three words would you use to describe yourself?
Resourceful, Strategic, Curious

How and why did you get into jewelry design?
My grandmother stumbled upon the jewelry industry in the ’80s, and through that industry, she was able to bring my family to the United States from El Salvador, which sparked a personal connection and love for jewelry. Wearing jewelry and being frequently asked about where I found my pieces while working in a retail setting made me realize that I could turn my passion into a business. This got me into jewelry design because I realized there is a likeminded market to share my specific style and taste for unique jewelry.

How does your background or personal identity play a part in your design process?
My jewelry design process is inspired by my family’s heritage from El Salvador, which up until recently has often been negatively portrayed in the media. I feel a responsibility and drive to promote its beauty through my designs. I also combine this with the experience of growing up in a small desert town like Palmdale, where I found charm in the desert terrain and the solitude. Both of these elements influence my designs, and my process is about seeing beauty where others may not. Yellow gold is especially significant within my Latino heritage: seeing it worn by my family and culture, passed down as heirlooms, and wearing it myself sparked my passion.

Angie Marei

Hometown and where you are currently living now.
I was born in Harlem and raised in Queens. I spent almost 10 years living in Dumbo, Brooklyn, where my current studio is, but now I’m back living in Queens.

What three words would you use to describe yourself?
Enigmatic, Passionate, Transcendent

How does your background or personal identity play a part in your design process?
Creating timeless and beautiful jewelry that people can cherish for generations resonates deeply with me. My unique Egyptian-Dominican cultural heritage, together with growing up in New York City, my love of mythology and my spiritual journey, profoundly influences my design process. This makes my jewelry not only unique but also deeply personal for both myself and my clients. For me, it’s not just about designing; it’s about storytelling through art form and connecting with people on a deeper personal level.

What’s inspiring you lately?
I find immense inspiration in the time I share with my 11-year-old son—whether we’re playing sports, discovering new music, or embarking on spontaneous adventures together. Being a newly single mom and entrepreneur has profoundly transformed me, awakening both my inner child and my inner goddess. This journey has not only strengthened my resilience but has also enriched my spirit, reminding me that we each possess a unique inner power waiting to be tapped into. Embracing this power is essential for our personal growth and fulfillment, and I hope to inspire others, especially women, to harness their own potential and thrive.

My passion for music continually brings me joy and sparks new ideas that influence my designs. Writing has become a significant outlet for me, allowing me to explore my thoughts and emotions, further enriching my creative process.

Additionally, I’ve been diving deeper into my spiritual practices, particularly kundalini meditation, which has deepened my connection to myself and the world around me, ultimately fueling my creativity in so many ways.

Malyia McNoughton

Hometown and where you are currently living now.
I was born in the Bronx, and Brooklyn is where I call home now.

What three words would you use to describe yourself?
Artistic, Innovative, Bold

How does your background or personal identity play a part in your design process?
My background and personal identity play a significant role in my design process. Growing up, my love for jewelry was sparked by cultural traditions, like receiving my first gold bangle as a child. That early connection to adornment shaped my understanding of how jewelry can carry meaning and tell a story.

As a Black woman, I often noticed a lack of representation in the fashion and jewelry industries—pieces that truly reflected my culture and identity were missing. This drove me to take matters into my own hands, starting with creating my first body chain because I couldn’t find one that resonated with me.

My design process is rooted in this desire to create what I don’t see in the world. Heritage is so important to our personal identity and self expression. Travel has deepened my understanding of the intersection between heritage and self expression. It’s important to me that my work empowers others, particularly people who, like me, may not have always seen themselves reflected in the world of fine jewelry. Through Made by Malyia, I aim to create pieces that tell our stories and celebrate our identities, providing adornments that allow us to express ourselves confidently.

What’s inspiring you lately?
Lately, travel has been my biggest source of inspiration. I’ve recently visited Botswana, Johannesburg, Cape Town, India, England, and Paris, and each place has sparked new creative ideas for my designs. From the intricate architecture to the vibrant colors, diverse craftsmanship, nature and even the way people dress, each destination has left a lasting impression on me.

These experiences have pushed me to reflect more deeply as a designer, finding connections and contrasts between cultures that fuel my creativity. Travel has taught me to embrace both the unique and the universal elements in my work, allowing me to blend global influences into jewelry that tells a powerful story.

Jameel Mohammed

Hometown and where you are currently living now.
Hometown is Chicago, Illinois, but now living in Bushwick, Brooklyn.

What three words would you use to describe yourself?
Contemplative, Visual, Inventive

How and why did you get into jewelry design?
I started in jewelry after a necklace I designed caught the eye of the executive team at Barneys New York, resulting in an internship at the company. I have always sketched across categories from ready-to-wear to furniture and accessories, and jewelry was an accessible way to start to bring my visions to life. I also think it’s an incredible way to make pieces which will stand the test of time in peoples lives and families, in a way that has always been an important goal of my work.

What’s inspiring you lately?
Lately I’ve been very inspired by architecture, and the built environment around us.

David Perry

Hometown and where you are currently living now.
Hometown is Boulder, Colorado, but living in Los Angeles, CA.

What three words would you use to describe yourself?
Measured, Steadfast, Grounded

How and why did you get into jewelry design?
I got into jewelry design because of a personal ritual I developed during my career as a professional runner with Adidas. After each marathon, I’d buy myself a gold chain—a way of marking the achievement and investing in something lasting. That simple tradition became the foundation of my brand’s ethos: #youareyours, a reminder to celebrate milestones and prioritize self-investment.

What’s inspiring you lately?
Lately, I’ve been inspired by the intersection of sport, history, and design—specifically, the art and architecture surrounding ancient athletic achievements. The Temple of Zeus in Athens, for example, reminds me how sport has always been a source of cultural significance. I’m also drawn to the artifacts gifted to Olympic champions in Ancient Greece, not just for their beauty but for what they represent—moments of triumph immortalized in objects. These inspirations fuel my work, encouraging me to create pieces that carry meaning, honor personal victories, and embody a sense of timeless craftsmanship.

Maggi Simpkins

Hometown and where you are currently living now.
Hometown is Portland and currently living in Los Angeles for 18 years now.

What three words would you use to describe yourself?
Creative, Funny, Curious

How and why did you get into jewelry design?
I have been making jewelry since I was a kid. I fell into it professionally when I was 20 after dropping out of college. I have continued down the path of jewelry making because I love the stories and sentimental moments tied to jewelry and the pieces we wear.

How does your background or personal identity play a part in your design process?
My process is unconventional and intuitive. I don’t have any formal training so my process is tied to curiosity, experimentation, and play.

Hi Vu

Hometown and where you are currently living now.
Born and raised in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. I moved to Miami at the age of 14, and for the past four years, I have been living in New York City as a jewelry student and designer.

What three words would you use to describe yourself?
Sarcastic, Strategic, Rational

How and why did you get into jewelry design?
I grew up thinking I would be a programmer. I love math and physics, and I was quite good at it too. But a very random encounter with an art gallery turned me into a fine arts student and I have never solved another math problem ever since. The same thing happened to me with jewelry after thinking I would major in fashion design. Looking back at it, it’s the best decision I’ve ever made, and I could never imagine myself doing something else other than jewelry.

What’s inspiring you lately?
My works have always been human-centric. I focus a lot on people: what they think, how they feel, what they see, and what they view. I like to learn about philosophy and different ideologies and the art of understanding how people work, communicate, and interact. Because of this, my works are constantly inspired by the people surrounding me, and lately, my main inspiration sources are the other talented program participants that I’m fortunate enough to meet. I imagined myself collaborating with them, understanding their background, trying to see how they create and the meaning behind their works, and using that to incorporate it or inspire my creative design.

Pamela Zamore

Hometown and where you are currently living now.
I grew up in Woodbridge, Connecticut, but I now live in Boston.

What three words would you use to describe yourself?
Curious, Intuitive, Artistic

How does your background or personal identity play a part in your design process?
I was raised among strong, creative women and this has no doubt informed both the style and the boldness of my pieces. Later, I developed a curiosity and interest in Buddhism, and found that knowledge and inspiration flow from a calm mind rather than one that is restricted, and this has greatly shaped my design process and approach to my work in general. Finally, having grown up in New England, I have a natural leaning toward things that are well made and that will stand the test of time. This speaks to my focus on quality and craftsmanship, and an admitted aversion to trendiness and things superficial.

What’s inspiring you lately?
The history of jewelry, ancient artifacts, and modern sculpture are my greatest inspirations.