PROGOL3D® Design for Additive Manufacturing Contest is back: the international competition for jewellery design students conceived and promoted by Progold S.p.A., the company based in Trissino (Vicenza) that is a key player in the production of semi-finished jewellery through direct additive manufacturing (3D printing) in precious metal and a producer of alloys and master alloys.
Now in its eleventh edition, the Contest is a laboratory that combines talent, technology and experimentation with a clear purpose: to show tomorrow’s designers what direct additive manufacturing in precious metal makes possible, and to challenge them with a real project – one that is, as such, subject to the constraints and opportunities of production and communication.
This year’s creative partner is VFS, the jewellery brand founded by Valentina Ferragni. A contemporary label that sees jewellery not so much as a status symbol but as a means of expressing one’s personality.
Confirming the contest’s strong global appeal and VFS’s natural ability to connect with younger generations is the record level of school participation: 25 schools (+80% on last year) from 12 countries around the world.
The schools
Seven Italian institutions answered the call – IED Rome, IED Turin, IED Milan, LAO Le Arti Orafe in Florence, Galdus in Milan, FOR.AL. in Valenza and CPV Gold Academy in Vicenza – joined by seven European schools: Hochschule Trier (Germany), Haute École de Joaillerie in Paris (France), Akademia Sztuk Pięknych in Gdańsk (Poland), Birmingham City School of Jewellery (United Kingdom), JORGC Escola de Joieria in Barcelona (Spain), Escuela Atlántico in Vigo (Spain) and HEAD Genève (Switzerland). Eleven from the rest of the world. FIT – State University of New York, Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) and Massachusetts College of Art and Design will represent the United States. From Asia and the Middle East come three schools from China – GIC Gemmological Institute in Wuhan, Guangzhou Polytechnic University and Shenzhen Polytechnic University – three from Thailand – Srinakharinwirot University, Burapha University and the Faculty of Decorative Arts at Silpakorn University – one from Hong Kong, Hong Kong Design Institute, and one from Dubai, Dubai Design Academy.
The 2026-2027 Contest
Worn alone or as an asymmetric pair, taken apart and reassembled: the earring takes centre stage in the new edition of the PROGOL3D® DfAM Contest. Students will respond to the brief "Wear It Your Way: Reinvent the Earring with VFS", which asks them to reinterpret the identity of Valentina Ferragni’s brand, whose most iconic piece is the earring. The piece of jewellery must be produced in 9-carat yellow gold, in 950 platinum, or in a combination of both metals.
The choice of 9-carat gold, the organisers explain, is a strategic one. It is a material that stays true to the brand’s target audience and consistent with its style, positioning the jewellery within VFS’s audience segment.
The projects will be brought to life using L-PBF (Laser Powder Bed Fusion) technology – direct additive manufacturing (3D printing) in precious metal – Progold’s distinctive know-how.
The stages
As always, the competition will unfold in several stages. Each institution may submit up to 30 individual projects, one per student, in the form of sketches. The technical jury, made up of Progold and brand partner VFS, will assess them according to four criteria: consistency with the brand identity (30%), smart use of the possibilities offered by additive manufacturing (30%), ergonomics and wearability (20%) and the ability to convey the idea behind the project (20%). Up to three projects per institution will advance to the second stage, dedicated to digital 3D models, which will undergo a technical check against measurable parameters, including minimum wall thickness, build angles and the distinctive features of designing for additive manufacturing.
This selection will produce a single finalist for each school. The finalist projects will be announced in early December, after which all their presentation videos will be published on the Progold website, also opening the online voting.
Presentation and awards at Vicenzaoro
Progold will produce all the finalist projects, which will then be finished by Fratelli Bovo – the edition’s technical partner, a goldsmith company based in Trissino (Vicenza), founded in 1977 and specialising in the design and production of gold jewellery. In January, Progold will invite the young finalist designers to Italy as its guests at Vicenzaoro (15-19 January 2027). There, at the show organised by Italian Exhibition Group that every year brings together the leading names of the gold and jewellery industry, the pieces will be exhibited and presented.
During the show, the award ceremony will be held on Sunday 17 January at 2:00 pm in the splendid setting of the Teatro Palladio at Vicenzaoro – Fiera di Vicenza.
In addition to the technical jury’s award, three further prizes will be presented during the event: the online jury prize, the “live” prize from the audience in the room, who will vote for their winning project, and the Platinum Special Prize, awarded by sponsor Platinum Guild International.
Prestigious collaborations
Once again this year, the PROGOL3D® DfAM Contest is supported by Platinum Guild International, the organisation that promotes the use of platinum in jewellery and supports the development of the most advanced technologies in the sector. The edition’s technical partner is Fratelli Bovo, which will be responsible for finishing the finalist pieces.
In previous editions, the Contest has partnered with prestigious maisons such as Chaumet, Bulgari, Crivelli and Pomellato.
Press contacts
Elisabetta Prosdocimi
press@elisabettaprosdocimi.it
M. +39 338 354 8515
Veronica Paganini
paganini@meneghinieassociati.it
M. +39 327 261 5762