Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) lecturer Nina Newman has become the university’s first recipient of a Doctor of Art and Design in Jewellery Design and Manufacture, marking a significant milestone for jewellery research and education in South Africa.
The degree was conferred at TUT’s Faculty of Arts and Design graduation ceremony on its Pretoria Campus on 13 October 2026.
Newman has lectured in TUT’s Jewellery Programme since 2000. A qualified goldsmith and award-winning jewellery designer, she has built a career spanning jewellery practice, academic teaching and research.
Her doctoral dissertation, Unveiling Artistic Narratives: Exploring the Contemporary Jewellery Praxis of Selected South African Women, investigates how women’s lived experiences and identities shape their contemporary jewellery practices.
Her research explores the influence of family, education, culture, gender and nationality on jewellery design, including the materials, techniques and themes selected by practitioners. The study also contributes to a field that Newman identifies as relatively underexplored within South African academic research.
Beyond this historic academic achievement, Newman hopes to continue advancing research into contemporary jewellery in South Africa, with ambitions to develop further research outputs and potentially publish a book documenting the country’s contemporary jewellery practice.
Her achievement highlights the importance of academic research, creative practice and the recognition of South African jewellery designers and their contributions to the wider arts and design landscape.
Source: Tshwane University of Technology
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