Queen Margrethe’s Jubilee Travel Grant brings new techniques into Marie’s design practice

Marie Rimmen graduated in Accessory Design from Kolding School of Design in 2017. In autumn 2023, she received DKK 25,000 from Queen Margrethe’s Jubilee Travel Grant after taking part in a group exhibition with fellow Accessory Design graduates.

She chose to divide the grant between two professional development trips. In June, she attended Fold Forming and Curve-Score Folding with Paul Wells at the Goldsmiths’ Centre in London. Later that summer, she travelled to Zurich to take part in Unpacking Spaces with Julia Obermaier at Goldschmitte.

The two courses had very different focuses. In London, Marie explored new goldsmithing techniques, while the course in Zurich centred more on the creative and artistic process.

New techniques – and the freedom to make them her own
The London course gave Marie new technical knowledge and new possibilities to explore within her own practice.

- There is a great deal of potential in what I learnt, but I need to develop it further back home so that I can make it my own. I’m really looking forward to immersing myself in that process, she says.

The experience also reminded Marie of the value of continually seeking out new technical and professional knowledge.

- It was refreshing to learn something new. New input feeds creativity and helps you develop both your visual language and your practice, and that is something I would like to prioritise more in the future.

From broad exploration to something wearable
In Zurich, the focus shifted towards the creative process. Through a series of exercises and methods, Marie was challenged to explore a subject more broadly before necessarily turning it into a specific piece of jewellery.

- The course reminded me how valuable it can be to explore a subject quite broadly before eventually relating it to the body and creating something wearable, she says.

That approach has already found its way into her work. Since returning home, Marie has begun developing a project inspired by her experiences in Zurich.

The project could evolve in several directions – both as a larger piece for an exhibition and as smaller, more wearable pieces of jewellery.

- I really like how scalable it is. It can become a piece for an exhibition, while at the same time I can see it being scaled down into jewellery that is more wearable and functional. I’m really looking forward to developing the project further.

New energy for the studio
The journeys have given Marie more than new professional skills. They have also brought fresh inspiration and energy to her practice.

- I’ve gained new knowledge, met passionate and inspiring people and come home with a real boost of positive energy. I feel inspired, and I’m looking forward to putting it all into practice in the studio and creating new jewellery.

As an independent goldsmith and jewellery designer, Marie sees continued development as essential to her practice. At the same time, finding the money for courses and professional travel is not always easy when you are self-employed.

- Continuing to develop my practice is incredibly important and rewarding, but I would have found it difficult to justify spending the money on these courses myself. That’s why the grant has been such a welcome opportunity and a real breath of fresh air, she says.