With a background in philosophy and mathematics, Completedworks artistic director Anna Jewsbury creates designs that challenge everyday perceptions
Good design often elicits a visceral pleasure spurred by both its aesthetic appeal and functionality. For Completedworks artistic director Anna Jewsbury, the English designer with roots in the Philippines takes from her background in mathematics and philosophy from Oxford University to design with a structured, highly conscious approach.
Born and raised in Yorkshire, Jewsbury’s connection to the Philippines is undeniable. “I grew up in the countryside in England but my mother is from the Philippines so I’ve always felt a strong connection to there,” she says. This dual heritage infuses her work with a distinctive tension, which she describes as “pulling from two different worlds.”
“Sometimes I think being of mixed-race heritage is reflected in the pieces somehow. There is a tension between two languages… and it’s through that mix something new is created.”
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Classic, unfussy yet subversive designs
When you explore the designs of Completedworks, you will find an artful, cohesive collection of designs, from accessories like jewelry and bags to homeware. “I think with all of our collections we’re trying to create something classic and unfussy but with subversive undertones,” Jewsbury says.
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Case in point: The “Scrunch” earrings molded in the unexpected contour of a fabric scrunchie but are now solid in sterling silver and shimmering in 18 carat yellow gold vermeil. “For these, we were interested in taking an everyday object out of context. We were looking at drapery and Renaissance paintings and using pieces of fabric to experiment with various folds and we kept coming back to hair scrunchies.”
One of Completedworks’ most striking pieces comes from the “Tied” collection. Jewsbury describes the “Thread” earrings, which feature the look of a loose knot. “[It] is about to unravel and come undone,” Jewsbury says. “I love this sense of expectation that they evoke.” The earrings were inspired by the Rapa Nui people on Easter Island, and their methods of moving the Moai statues, echoing “how we tie down objects and structures that matter to us, carry them with us and in so doing become tied down ourselves… ending up captive to our possessions.”
The silhouette of her bracelet cuffs is distinct too—strong at its base yet with elegant curvatures. This same vein is translated to her rings and necklaces, many of which are adorned with pearls or diamond-inspired designs.
Jewsbury’s newer bag collections also have the same dainty designs, with touches of femininity through silky black, coquette-like bows, or overlapping pearl strings.
On the Completedworks website, the artistic director writes a charming note that references a girlish childhood: “Dear Mum, do you remember the time you returned home from an errand to find I had glued a necklace to the outside of one of your favourite handbags? Well, a couple of the bags in this collection are a direct descendant of that initial act…”
And of course, you’ll find distinct vessels in glass, resin, and metal twisting and crumpling and conforming to the Jewsbury aesthetic.
A plate called “The Perfect Plate to Confound an In-Law” gives the experience of an optical illusion and the appearance of slightly crumpled paper.
Drinking glasses are also molded in an alchemical manner, curving at a corner and twisting at its stem, mixed in an array of colors, from magenta to leaf green. The tableware and drinkware are complemented by candle sticks, mirrors, and small boxes.
The path from mathematics to design
In her practice so far with Completedworks, Jewsbury has carved a niche in the industry, crafting jewelry and homeware that are as intellectually stimulating as they are visually arresting. Some of the wearers of her jewelry include British actress Jodie Comer and model Adwoa Aboah.
But before these heights of success as a designer, her path to design itself was anything but unconventional. With a degree in mathematics and philosophy from Oxford University, Jewsbury brings an undoubtedly unique perspective to the craft.
“There’s this mix of both precision and creativity to mathematics and philosophy but they’re also somehow about finding new ways to understand the world,” Jewsbury explains.
There was no single moment or master plan to delve into design, Jewsbury reveals, but instead, “a more general desire to create something new, a new visual language, something with a hint of social commentary.”
As she works, she always begins with her material as a starting point, evaluating its density and weight, and connecting these attributes to a specific idea. “It might start with string, fabric, a found object, toothpaste or modeling clay…”
“We’re not designing the pieces in a vacuum—they reference how we spend our days—the books we read, the art we see, the people we talk to. We look to find ideas by accident, we read and watch and listen relentlessly in the hope that something will set off a stray thought or image. Sometimes we find ourselves mining our subjects from contemporary, everyday life, sometimes from broader historical or political ideas and we use these as a process to create a dialogue between the materials we use and an idea,” Jewsbury says.
“There might not be any obvious traces of this process in the final piece but it could be there subtly. And it’s also important that the pieces are visually beautiful in their own right without needing to know or be burdened with the process that we went through to create them.”
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Ethical considerations and future projects
At present, Jewsbury continues to design while cultivating a dedication to ethical processes. “One of the biggest ongoing challenges for us is trying to be sustainably minded in everything we do,” she humbly says. “Inevitably we will always have to make compromises along the way and we’re constantly reevaluating what we’re doing and how we can improve as it never feels like enough.”
She hints at upcoming projects, developing pieces “in a completely new product category” as well as development of the new handbag collection made of deadstock leather.
As Jewsbury creates objects of design with depth, the Completedworks pieces act like conversation starters, challenging commonplace perceptions to celebrate the more complex aspects of the world. As she continues to design, the pieces begin to redefine understanding of what aesthetics design can be, reflecting beauty in all its subtle forms.
Completedworks is located on 69a Lisson St., London NW1 5DA, United Kingdom.
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