Silas Smith of Meridian Metalworks in Los Angeles has won the 2025 MJSA Responsible Design Challenge, an annual competition focused on responsible sourcing and support for mining communities.
Design Brief and Materials
Organized by the Manufacturing Jewelers & Suppliers of America (MJSA) in partnership with Columbia Gem House, the Challenge invites designers to create renderings based on a fictional client brief using responsibly sourced gemstones. This year’s fictional client was Matilda “Tilly” Cleary, an Australian scientist committed to environmental stewardship. The featured stones were Lightning Ridge opals and green and blue Australian sapphires, supplied by Columbia Gem House.
Designs were published monthly on MJSA.org, with the winner selected by public vote in October.
Fundraising and Community Support
Completed pieces were included in a fundraising raffle, which raised $6,900 (approximately $10,650 AUD) for the Lightning Ridge HQ Rural Fire Brigade, a volunteer unit serving the region where the opals were mined.
Smith’s Design Concept
Smith’s design referenced landscapes of the Australian Outback and the American Southwest. He described the piece as featuring “a red rock formation on one side, a yellow cactus on the other, and a dark sky above, punctuated by an opal moon and scattered stars.” He added, “Beneath that, a burst of yellow plant life brings in energy and balance. The colors are bold but purposeful, chosen to echo the earthy tones of the Outback while also feeling at home in the American Southwest.”
Nine designers participated in the 2025 competition, including Marilyn Brogan (Florida), Laura Deakin (Australia), Delphine Leymarie (New York City), Jiovanni Mancarella (Denver), Kelsey McQown (Michigan), Kassandra Nicholson (Los Angeles), Destené Styles (New York City) and Allison Teague (Brooklyn).
All final pieces appear in the December issue of MJSA Journal. For more information about the Challenge and previous editions, visit MJSA.org.
