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Hi, I’m Xinyi Li, a jewelry designer and educator blending traditional metalsmithing with digital fabrication. My practice spans high-end jewelry, sculptural work, and mokume-gane, developed through RISD and Pratt training and collaborations with studios and luxury brands. Currently an MFA candidate at RISD and a faculty member in RISD’s Jewelry & Metalsmithing Department, I explore the intersection of craft, technology, and sustainability. I enjoy mentoring students, prototyping with 3D modeling, and advancing material experiments to translate concepts into beautiful, durable pieces.…Hi, I’m Xinyi Li, a jewelry designer and educator blending traditional metalsmithing with digital fabrication. My practice spans high-end jewelry, sculptural work, and mokume-gane, developed through RISD and Pratt training and collaborations with studios and luxury brands. Currently an MFA candidate at RISD and a faculty member in RISD’s Jewelry & Metalsmithing Department, I explore the intersection of craft, technology, and sustainability. I enjoy mentoring students, prototyping with 3D modeling, and advancing material experiments to translate concepts into beautiful, durable pieces.

Xinyi Li

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Hi, I’m Xinyi Li, a jewelry designer and educator blending traditional metalsmithing with digital fabrication. My practice spans high-end jewelry, sculptural work, and mokume-gane, developed through RISD and Pratt training and collaborations with studios and luxury brands. Currently an MFA candidate at RISD and a faculty member in RISD’s Jewelry & Metalsmithing Department, I explore the intersection of craft, technology, and sustainability. I enjoy mentoring students, prototyping with 3D modeling, and advancing material experiments to translate concepts into beautiful, durable pieces.…Hi, I’m Xinyi Li, a jewelry designer and educator blending traditional metalsmithing with digital fabrication. My practice spans high-end jewelry, sculptural work, and mokume-gane, developed through RISD and Pratt training and collaborations with studios and luxury brands. Currently an MFA candidate at RISD and a faculty member in RISD’s Jewelry & Metalsmithing Department, I explore the intersection of craft, technology, and sustainability. I enjoy mentoring students, prototyping with 3D modeling, and advancing material experiments to translate concepts into beautiful, durable pieces.

Available to hire

Hi, I’m Xinyi Li, a jewelry designer and educator blending traditional metalsmithing with digital fabrication. My practice spans high-end jewelry, sculptural work, and mokume-gane, developed through RISD and Pratt training and collaborations with studios and luxury brands.

Currently an MFA candidate at RISD and a faculty member in RISD’s Jewelry & Metalsmithing Department, I explore the intersection of craft, technology, and sustainability. I enjoy mentoring students, prototyping with 3D modeling, and advancing material experiments to translate concepts into beautiful, durable pieces.

Skills

Experience Level

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Intermediate

Intermediate

Intermediate

Intermediate

Language

Chinese

Fluent

English

Fluent

Work Experience

CAD Designer at XOMOX Jewelry Inc.

January 1, 2023 - December 31, 2023

Developed over 100 high-precision 3D jewelry models using Rhino and Fusion 360, ensuring manufacturability and adherence to luxury industry standards. Collaborated with jewelers to refine designs, including Cartier’s Essential Lines bracelet and De Beers’ DB Classic half-eternity band in platinum, optimizing structural integrity and aesthetic appeal. Translated conceptual sketches into detailed digital models and supported cross-functional teams to troubleshoot production challenges.

Jewelry & Sculpture Design Intern at Susan Freda Studio / Arn Krebs Studio

June 1, 2025 - August 31, 2025

Collaborated with a husband-and-wife studio known for heirloom-quality mokume-gane work and sculptural woven-wire art. Executed hand-woven wire sculptures drawing directly from Susan Freda’s signature woven-wire and tapestry approaches, translating fluid wire techniques into structured, rhythmic forms. Supported development of a floral-themed jewelry series using layered mokume-gane techniques under Arn Krebs’s guidance, integrating natural textures into metal compositions. Employed Fusion 360 to convert sketches into parametric 3D models, facilitating precise visual preview and iterative design evaluation. Designed custom prong settings tailored to gemstone cuts, balancing functional integrity with thematic floral aesthetics.

Instructor of Jewelry & Metalsmithing (Student Teaching Position) at Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) Fine Art Department

January 1, 2015 - Present

Independently teach an undergraduate Introduction to Jewelry & Metalsmithing course, providing students with hands-on training in foundational techniques such as sawing, soldering, filing, and finishing. Develop and deliver a structured curriculum, including lectures, demonstrations, and studio-based projects, fostering both technical skill development and creative exploration. Guide students through the design process, encouraging conceptual thinking and problem-solving in jewelry fabrication. Manage classroom operations, provide individual mentorship, and assess student progress through critiques and evaluations.

Assistant Professor at RISD Fine Art Department

September 1, 2024 - December 31, 2024

Provided hands-on instruction and technical support at student workbenches. Led critiques and created teaching materials to enhance design and fabrication skills.

Technical Assistant at RISD Fine Art Department

September 1, 2024 - Present

Supported technical operations across jewelry and metalsmithing studios; assisted at student workbenches and demonstrations; helped maintain studio equipment and safety protocols.

Technical Assistant at Pratt Institute, Fine Art Department

May 1, 2022 - May 31, 2023

Provided hands-on instruction and technical support in the Fine Art Department; supported students at workbenches and prepared teaching materials during May 2022 – May 2023.