AERA KU
Lead Jewelry Designer &
Product Development Manager
Fashion Jewelry · Accessories · Global Sourcing · Collection Development
LinkedIn:
Email:
About Me
My career began in Seoul, where I studied Metal Art & Design at Hongik University. I later worked in jewelry design, product development, and manufacturing in Qingdao and New York. This gave me a strong understanding of both the creative and production sides of the business.
I have developed jewelry and accessories for licensed, private-label, wholesale, and retail brands.
My experience covers the full product cycle, including trend research, design direction, sourcing, sampling, costing, factory communication, production, and final presentation. I focus on creating collections that fit the brand, meet the target cost, and connect with the customer.
Work Experience
May 2019 – Jul 2026
Jun 2016 – May 2019
Feb 2015 – Apr 2016
Jun 2010 – Aug 2012
Lead Jewelry Designer / Product Development Manager
Essence NY, Inc.— New York, NY
Led seasonal jewelry collections from concept through production, managing a team of three designers and 150–200 new styles each month. Oversaw trend research, design, costing, sample review, factory communication, and quality control. Developed key vintage, holiday, and seasonal collections, with select styles selling more than 100,000 units annually.
Jewelry Designer
Essence Collection— New York, NY
Designed trend-driven jewelry collections for wholesale and retail customers from concept through sampling. Worked directly with buyers, presented new collections, and adjusted designs based on customer needs, price points, sales feedback, and production requirements.
Jewelry Designer / Merchandiser
U.S. Jewelry House / Miss21— New York, NY
Designed and sourced trend-driven fashion jewelry for wholesale and e-commerce customers. Worked with overseas vendors on product selection, sampling, pricing, and assortment planning.
Jewelry Design & Product Development Manager
Hanshen Art Crafts Co., Ltd.— Qingdao, China
Developed jewelry and accessories for licensed and private-label fashion brands. Created original designs for each brand and season, and worked with trading agencies and factory teams on design details, costing, samples, approvals, and production.
CORE SKILLS
Collection Strategy & Seasonal Development · Fashion Jewelry Design
Direction · Trend Research & Market Analysis · Sample Review, Costing
& Quality Control · Overseas Vendor Sourcing (China) · Buyer-Focused
Assortment Development · Team Leadership & Cross-Functional Execution
Adobe Creative Suite
Photoshop, Illustrator,
InDesign, After Effects
Microsoft 365
Excel, PowerPoint,
Word, Outlook
Business Systems
N41 ERP, EDI
Order Management
RACHEL BLAKEY
Buyer, Jane Marie
“Aera has a great ability to take an idea and develop it into products that feel fresh, marketable, and true to the brand. Her attention to detail and commitment to creating a great final product were evident in every collection."
ERIC KIM
Former General Manager, Essence Collection
(2014–2019)
Founder & Owner, Water & Tree Corp.
“Aera’s designs consistently translated market trends into commercially successful products, including multiple best-selling and frequently reordered styles. She demonstrated strong ownership, excellent attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple development timelines without losing sight of quality, cost, or commercial objectives."
junjun yu
CEO, Guanruyulin Jewelry Co., Ltd.
Overseas Manufacturing Partner
"Aera understands both the creative and operational sides of the jewelry business. She communicates her design direction clearly, identifies production issues early, and balances design intent with cost, quality, and delivery timelines. Even under pressure, she makes practical decisions and works with our factory team to keep projects moving."
EDUCATION & LANGUAGES
Hongik University, Seoul
BFA, Metal Art & Design
Focus: Jewelry, Metalsmithing & Product Design
English — Advanced Professional
Korean — Native
Mandarin Chinese — Professional Working Proficiency
Japanese — Intermediate-High
AWARDS & RECOGNITION
Grand Prize
The 1st Lily Cup Jewelry Design Contest
China, 2009
Excellence Award
The 12th International Jewelry Design Contest
South Korea, 2013
Excellence Award
The 8th World Jewelry Design Contest
South Korea, 2012
Excellence Award
The 3rd Contemporary Jewelry Design Contest
South Korea, 2012