Dust Studio is an independent design brand, focusing on high quality handmade jewellery. The brand was founded in 2018 by artist and maker Ishbel Mackenzie, and is based in Glasgow, Scotland. Dust Studio provides carefully designed wearable objects that are handmade from polymer clay.

Dust Studio pieces reflect a simple, sculptural aesthetic alongside a playfully bold use of colour. Having studied Fine Art, Ishbel takes inspiration from art and design history, such as the geometry of the Memphis design movement and Minimalism. Influence also comes from the natural world: the Horizons collection expresses the beautiful saturated gradients of the sky.

The making process involves working in small batches, carefully blending each bespoke colour of clay. The gradient pieces are very slowly blended together over and over, and are sculpted into the their final shapes completely freehand. This intimate process between hand and material creates a unique, high quality finish to each piece. Hypoallergenic surgical steel is used for jewellery findings to create comfortable pieces that can be worn every day.

The name for the brand is inspired by Dust from Phillip Pullman’s His Dark Materials. In the story, Dust is the name given for elementary particles associated with human consciousness – it represents love, kindness, and curiosity. Dust is passed from humans to objects if enough care and attention is imparted in their making. The intention for Dust Studio is that the love and care put into hand making each piece is imparting it with Dust.