Kristin Urup Design: Where geometry meets creativity

By Heidi Kokborg | Photos: Kristin Urup Design

Defined by clean geometry, minimalism and meticulous precision, Kristin Urup’s jewellery has a distinctive simplicity. Every piece is handmade by the Danish designer, whose work balances carefully considered proportions with the freedom to experiment. From necklaces and earrings, her jewellery shows how even the simplest forms can offer endless possibilities.

Kristin Urup was just 13 years old when she began experimenting with silver wire and creating her own jewellery. Soon afterwards, an aunt took several pairs of her earrings to Iceland to sell and, shortly after, Kristin was earning money from her one-of-a-kind jewellery made from silver wire and glass beads from India.

Although jewellery was already a significant part of her life, Urup chose to study architecture. The education developed an understanding of form and structure that sits naturally alongside the geometric language of her jewellery. After years of combining jewellery with architectural work, she made jewellery her full-time profession in 2012.

Every item that leaves Urup’s studio is handmade. “I make every single piece myself. The process is important because you suddenly see something new while you have it in your hands. You turn it slightly, and another idea can emerge from what you are already working on,” explains Urup.

Her aesthetic is minimalist and stringent, with simple, geometric and often three-dimensional forms. Yet creating that apparent simplicity demands considerable discipline. Individual components are carefully measured and weighed to ensure the proportions are exactly as Kristin intends.

That same precision carries through to her rings, which are made individually to fit their wearer. Existing stones can also find new life in her designs, including stones taken from inherited jewellery and incorporated into a new piece.

Kristin Urup Design: Where geometry meets creativity

Urup’s jewellery has travelled far beyond Denmark. In 2017 Urup was invited by Bryna Pump to bring 65 pieces to New York, joining around 50 participants from across the world for the event MAD, at the Museum of Arts and Design in NY. Today, her work can also be found at Galerie MiniMasterpiece in Paris, while exhibitions remain an important part of her practice. Over the years, she has exhibited in numerous settings, including the National Bank of Denmark.

Kristin Urup Design: Where geometry meets creativity

For Urup, the appeal ultimately lies in creating something individual: jewellery that is carefully made by hand rather than mass-produced. Those wishing to see her jewellery in person can find Kristin at selected markets in Copenhagen throughout the year. Otherwise, pieces can be purchased by contacting her directly via email.

Kristin Urup Design: Where geometry meets creativity