Brian Bergeron has been studying jewelry since completing an arts apprenticeship in high school in southern Maine. He continued his studies by getting a BFA in Metalcrafts and Jewelry at the Rochester Institute of Technology, where he worked as a studio assistant to Department Head Leonard Urso, making hollow-ware, jewelry and large copper sculptures. He moved to the Providence area and worked as a production silversmith and product developer for three and a half years and began working at RISD as a technical assistant in August 1999.
Bergeron has been teaching students to develop and utilize jewelry CAD/CAM systems since 2001. His company, Tire Rings®, sells thematic jewelry to auto, motorsport and cycling enthusiasts through his website, brianbergerondesigns.com, and his products have appeared in many blogs and magazines.
Academic areas of interest
Bergeron's research and areas of interest mix fine art, industry and manufacturing for businesses and consumers. He never tires of exploring how things are made.
Courses
Fall 2023 Courses
JM 4406-01 - ELECTROFORMING
LevelUndergraduate
UnitJewelry + Metalsmithing
Subject Jewelry + Metalsmithing
Period Fall 2023
Credits 3
FormatStudio
Mode In-Person
Start date
End date
JM 4406-01
ELECTROFORMING
LevelUndergraduate
UnitJewelry + Metalsmithing
Subject Jewelry + Metalsmithing
PeriodFall 2023
Credits3
FormatStudio
ModeIn-Person
Start and End2023-09-06 to 2023-12-13
Times: F | 8:00 AM - 1:00 PMInstructor(s): Brian BergeronLocation(s): Metcalf Building, Room 215CEnrolled / Capacity: 5Status: Closed
SECTION DESCRIPTION
This class is an intensive investigation of the processes of electroplating and electroforming copper metal by covering objects of various modeling materials to create new metal objects. All aspects of this technical application are discussed. Students are required to maintain an accurate logbook of their investigation while developing a body of work.
Please contact the instructor for permission to register; registration is not available in Workday.
Elective
Spring 2024 Courses
JM 4437-01 - JUNIOR JEWELRY: FROM CAD TO CAM
LevelUndergraduate
UnitJewelry + Metalsmithing
Subject Jewelry + Metalsmithing
Period Spring 2024
Credits 3
FormatStudio
Mode In-Person
Start date
End date
JM 4437-01
JUNIOR JEWELRY: FROM CAD TO CAM
LevelUndergraduate
UnitJewelry + Metalsmithing
Subject Jewelry + Metalsmithing
PeriodSpring 2024
Credits3
FormatStudio
ModeIn-Person
Start and End2024-02-15 to 2024-05-24
Times: W | 11:20 AM - 4:20 PMInstructor(s): Brian BergeronLocation(s): Metcalf Building, Room 214; Washington Place, Room 024Enrolled / Capacity: 15Status: Open
SECTION DESCRIPTION
With a focus on digital technologies, this class will explore new material processes related to digital fabrication methodologies. The goal is to form a set of skills which build a designer's creative potential through 3D modeling, 3D printing, 3D scanning, laser cutting and possibly CNC cutting. This course actively applies programing learned in prerequisite CAD class Digital 3D Modeling and Rendering to explore various manufacturing process specifically applicable to jewelry. Research, models and innovative approaches are in direct response to questions of inquiry brought forward through design problems in the class. Students are encouraged to utilize CAD and CAD/CAM to explore designs in other classes.
Majors are pre-registered for this course by the department. Enrollment is limited to Junior Jewelry + Metalsmithing Students.
