South SFV Today

David Durand, a senior product design major at Stanford University, has created a unique class ring that encapsulates his personal journey at the institution. Designed and produced as part of an independent study, the ring features references to university landmarks significant to Durand's experience. These include the twisted Corinthian column of Xu Zhen’s Hello sculpture on Meyer Green, which he and his friends call “the Churro,” Palm Drive, Memorial Church's three arches, and the Oval.

Amanda Knox Sather, a lecturer in the Stanford Product Realization Lab, praised Durand’s design for its ability to present Stanford landmarks in a refined manner. “The late Stanford design professor Matt Kahn said, ‘It’s a ring, not an essay,’ and I really love that idea,” Sather remarked. She added that the ring holds enough content without words to be appreciated by anyone with a connection to Stanford.

Durand created two variations of his final design: one cast in silver with a garnet and another in gold with a lab-grown ruby. While he considered producing rings for everyone in his capstone class, he is currently content with having his own unique piece.

Durand's interest in jewelry was sparked by attending an annual gem show in Tucson, Arizona. Encouraged by a professor who noticed his bracelet during an introductory sketching class, Durand pursued jewelry design through courses offered by Sather and Sara Shaughnessy in the Department of Mechanical Engineering.

Despite initial challenges in gaining entry to these popular courses, Durand participated in a pilot program for silver pendant making before completing further studies. The mechanical engineering context of these courses emphasizes materials and manufacturing processes alongside aesthetics.

Sather noted that many engineers are drawn to jewelry design due to its blend of state-of-the-art and ancient techniques. Under Sather and Shaughnessy's guidance, Durand honed his skills through iterative design processes and computer-aided design (CAD) modeling.

Reflecting on his learning journey, Durand acknowledged how the process improved his engineering skills. “I’d show Sara the janky way I did something, and she’d say, ‘No, do it this way.’ And I wouldn’t even have known that was an option,” he said.

Durand aspires to work for Tiffany & Co., but also recognizes potential opportunities beyond this goal. “They tell me there’s value in doing my own thing,” he stated. His ring design and other works can be viewed on his online portfolio.