by Gerrit Bester
Lisa Henn (21), a third year Jewellery Design and Manufacture student at the Tshwane University of Technology’s Faculty of Arts and Design, has won third place in the 2024 De Beers Group Shining Light Awards, a jewellery design competition aimed at encouraging the next generation of designers from countries where De Beers mines diamonds, including Botswana, Canada, Namibia and South Africa. She won R250 000 for her exquisite jewellery collection, which includes a ring, necklace, earrings, bangle and bracelet.
This year’s winners were announced at an event hosted at the Leonardo Hotel, Sandton, Johannesburg on 5 December.
Originally launched in 1995, the Shining Light Awards are part of the De Beers Group Designers Initiative, a youth skills development initiative aimed at cultivating world-class jewellery design and manufacturing skills in De Beers Group host countries.
The competition runs every two years and is open to jewellery designers aged 18 to 35 who are in their final year of a jewellery design programme, have already graduated or who have relevant experience in jewellery design.
This year’s design theme, “Luxury Redefined”, invited entrants to present innovative, authentic and inclusive visions of luxury, while celebrating diversity. Each entry included designs for a complete jewellery collection featuring a ring, necklace, earrings, bangles and bracelets, of which some were manufactured. A total of 104 entries were submitted this year, from which 22 finalists representing each country were selected.
When asked about the inspiration for her entry, an excited Lisa said: “I designed this range based on my current position when I was faced with the idea of redefining luxury. I was inspired by the sun as a constant. The sun is available to all of us, but when you work day in and day out, the sun seems luxurious. This range represents the luxury of the sun for the working class as a means of redefining gold in the golden feeling and light of the sun after a week's work."
"Sunlight is the overarching theme. I was inspired by my idea of the working-class chasing wealth – working themselves to the bone, missing out on family time to afford simple luxuries. I realised that I had a fortune in wealth at that moment, not in money, but in being on holiday with my family, spending time in the sun, with people I care about. My inspiration came from a place of reflection on my privilege to have what people work their whole lives for," Lisa added.
Moses Madondo, CEO of De Beers Group Managed Operations, said: “The Shining Light Awards are a testament to De Beers Group’s commitment to beneficiation in the countries where we recover diamonds. By creating accessible opportunities within the diamond sector, we are actively investing in local talent, with a particular focus on supporting youth in our host countries to benefit from the diamond industry. Through the Shining Light Awards, we provide a platform that not only nurtures and develops emerging designers but also highlights the value of skills transfer, entrepreneurship and creativity along the diamond value chain. We are truly inspired by the level of talent and innovation showcased by this year’s finalists.”
The Shining Light Awards are a cornerstone of De Beers’ youth beneficiation strategy, designed to create an environment for growth, skills transfer, entrepreneurship, global experiences and mentorship in the jewellery design sector.
An international panel of judges representing the four countries, led by CEO of De Beers Jewellers, Céline Assimon, evaluated and selected this year’s winners.
“The Shining Light Awards provide a platform to spotlight young talent and open doors within the diamond sector and global markets. This year’s theme inspired a range of creative interpretations with designers exploring sustainability, natural elements and cultural heritage as sources of inspiration, reflecting how luxury is shaped and defined by individual lived experience. It was an honour to be part of this year’s competition, and congratulations to our winners and all applicants for their exceptional submissions,” said Assimon.
In congratulating Lisa, Dave Newman, Acting Head of the TUT Department of Fine and Studio Arts, said: “In an increasingly competitive industry, talent and creativity is supported hugely by hard work and perseverance. Lisa has shown all of those, and it’s a pleasure to see her being rewarded for her work that she’s done and the achievement that she has strived for.”
The 2024 Shining Light Award prizes are designed to advance each winner’s career by further developing their skills and equipping them with essential tools for success. The prizes include business support, a structured skills development programme and tuition assistance, all aimed at empowering winners to build sustainable careers in the jewellery industry and contribute lasting value to their communities.
