Studio ZWARD is located in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and was founded by jewellery designer Kirsten Spuijbroek and illustrator Jelmer Noordeman. They are both fascinated with neglected and worn-out objects. The stories behind these objects, the specific details and the emerging liveliness all drive the designers to create with a taste of bitterness.
During the Dutch Design Week 2011, ZWARD presented their brand spanking new jewellery collection inspired by toys.
Toys are a blend of fantasy, romanticism and nostalgia. They constitute a link between childhood and adulthood. Once adulthood is reached, playtime is considered to be over, but nostalgia continues. The designers studied and dissected toys to gain knowledge about the design, the use of materials and the underlying stories. All of these elements are incorporated in the collection by ZWARD: handcrafted jewellery made from resin, precious metals and gemstones.