On Friday 3 July 2026, the Gemstones and Jewellery Campus at Trier University of Applied Sciences is hosting an Alumni Day at Saarstraße 2 in Idar-Oberstein. From 11.00 am, graduates of the campus will give a series of short talks offering insights into their career paths and the development of their artistic work since graduating. The event is open to the public and will be held in English; admission is free.
Alumni Day highlights the wide range of opportunities available to graduates of the Gemstones and Jewellery Campus after they complete their studies. The talks showcase a broad spectrum of professional and artistic paths – from roles in the jewellery industry to setting up their own studios and platforms, right through to international teaching and exhibition work. In talks lasting around 30 minutes each, the alumni share their experiences, challenges and current projects.
Elena Gorbunova will kick things off at 11 am. In her delicate, meditative pieces, the jewellery artist combines recycled plastics with gemstones and precious metals. Her work has been exhibited internationally and has won numerous awards, including the Image and Form Award in St Petersburg and the INHORGENTA Munich Award at the Legnica Silver Festival. After completing her studies, she remained in Idar-Oberstein and gained extensive experience as a jewellery and graphic designer for various companies in the regional jewellery industry.
Katharina Reimann will follow at 11.30 am. After working for several large jewellery manufacturers, she set up her own studio and goldsmith’s workshop in Vienna, where she creates bespoke jewellery with a personal touch for her clients. Her final-year project already explored the themes of home, memory, kitsch and the retelling of personal stories.
At 12 noon, Yuxi Sun will speak about her career path, which spans the jewellery industry and digital curation. As well as working for jewellery companies in Idar-Oberstein and, more recently, in Pforzheim, she founded the online platform ‘UcIc – You See, I See’, which makes contemporary art jewellery accessible to a wide audience through virtual exhibitions, in-depth features and international networking.
Following the first talks, there will be a lunch break at 12.30 pm.
At 2 pm, Azhar Malik will continue the programme. As a gemstone cutter from Pakistan who obtained his Master of Fine Arts degree at the Idar-Oberstein campus and has been working for a jewellery company in Idar-Oberstein for many years, he has extensive practical experience in working with high-quality gemstones. In his talk, he will provide insights into the interplay between traditional craftsmanship, modern precision and the demands of international jewellery production.
At 2.30 pm, Birgit Thalau will talk about her unusual educational journey, spanning craftsmanship, art and teaching. Following an apprenticeship in goldsmithing, study visits to the Netherlands and Estonia, and many years working as an art teacher in Luxembourg, she completed her Master of Fine Arts in continuing education at the Edelstein und Schmuck campus in 2021. In her artistic practice, she explores contemporary jewellery as a starting point for works in various media and is actively involved in workshops and collaborative projects. For her artistic work, she has been awarded, amongst others, the Munich Talent Prize, the Danner Honorary Prize and the Rhineland-Palatinate State Prize for Arts and Crafts.
The final specialist lecture will be given by Katharina Dettar at 3.00 pm. The jewellery artist and university lecturer is a Senior Lecturer and Year Coordinator on the BA Jewellery Design programme at Central Saint Martins in London and also teaches at the Royal College of Art. Her works, which have been exhibited internationally, explore material cycles, sustainability and the relationship between humans and nature, and have been honoured with awards including the Munich Talent Prize and the Rhineland-Palatinate State Prize for the Arts and Crafts.
From 3.30 pm, all guests are invited to a joint Q&A and discussion session. This will be followed by an alumni party organised by the students in front of the building, providing an opportunity for socialising, conversation and networking.
The Gemstone and Jewellery Campus expressly invites not only students and alumni, but also all interested members of the public from Idar-Oberstein and the surrounding region. Alumni Day offers the opportunity to discover the diverse professional and artistic prospects that open up after studying at the Campus, and to speak to graduates in person. The talks and discussion sessions will be held in English.
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