Quiz: Is The Custom Design Process Right For You?

We talk a lot about our custom and bespoke design options here at Alx&Co. and we like to make this creative experience accessible to all. But, realistically, the custom design process isn't right for every single person...and that's ok! So, how do you know if you're cut out for it?

I don't like to create hard rules for people to follow because, in reality, my answer to most questions and situations is usually, "It depends." In my years of experience working with clients, though, I have found some useful factors to look for when evaluating whether we're the best fit for a client's goals. Here's a quick quiz to help get you started – circle any answer that you feel fits you well.

Now, look at your results. If you circled mostly statements in the two left-hand columns, this could be the right process for you. If you circled mostly statements in the two right-hand columns, you might want to think through what you're hoping to accomplish with a custom piece. 

A particularly worrisome start for us is when we are asked to replicate designs by other artists or jewelers. The key word is replicate. Of course, we draw inspiration and ideas from other pieces all the time – that is the nature of art and design. But when a client comes to us with a very specific end goal, we never feel ethically right about replicating that exact creative idea. Additionally, we know we probably won't get it exactly perfect anyway because we didn't make the original piece. A client will have a specific vision in their head that we know we can't meet, so it's best to pursue a creative adaptation rather than a replication.

Another major red flag is when clients want us to meet a price they have seen online for a similar concept. The fact is, undergoing a custom or bespoke individualized process should cost more. Mass production relies on scaled pricing and replicated design ideas, plus most of the labor that goes into such pieces is exported. We work under a very different model. Your project entails actioning the professional services of multiple people – your lead designer, our CAD designer, our caster, our goldsmith, our polisher – and all this labor is local. This also means that we probably cannot accomplish a custom project for just a few hundred dollars, but we could certainly walk you through whether prefabricated options could fit your goals. Not every project we work on needs to be fully designed to be beautiful – sometimes, a simple setting style or creative restoration work will do the trick. 

Of course, if you're curious to know more about the custom process and want our help in determining if we're the best fit, make an appointment! We're happy to walk you through how we work and what your idea would entail. 

Each of these designs uses either heirloom stones as a component or the client had a creative, sentimental design idea that was uniquely hers. Each design involved multiple iterations, so a patient and open mind is always key.