Sofie Boons is the Crafts Council Research Fellow at the Centre for Print Research at the University of the West of England where she is currently completing a PhD investigating the design implications, possibilities, and limits of utilising man-made crystals in the development of jewellery designs. As an award winning self-proclaimed Alchemical jeweller her work has been shown globally at a range of galleries/exhibitions, and pieces have been included in permanent collections. Boons is also well-known for her work at the British Academy of Jewellery, where she was the Head of Academy for several years before joining the CFPR at the University of the West of England for her Research. 

This is what Sofie says about her Alchemical project: 

With crystal growing techniques having been around for many years, bespoke man-made gems now drive innovations in a range of industries. This has however not translated into the jewellery industry, where innovations with man-made gems have remained limited, and most are still produced to replicate mined gems. My PhD study is investigating the design implications, possibilities, and limits of utilising man-made gems in the creation of jewellery. As part of the research, and whilst conducting experiments and developing planned collaborations, the changing role of the designer is explored in relation to the amount of control and input the designer has had in the material development stage. Furthermore, the appreciation of these man-made gems and the context in which they are appraised is explored as part of the contextual review.