Architect Filip Vanas moved to Dublin from his native Czech Republic in 2005 taking up employment with an Irish architecture company. In 2009 Filip’s role was made redundant and he decided to take a jewellery course at NCAD under jewellery designer Erika Marks. “For me as an architect learning the requisite skills required was important to help me find ways to get design ideas to the finished piece stage. I spend a lot of time drafting and distilling the idea before I touch any tools. I think about what can go wrong before I make it. In that regard my thinking is more industrial than craft in its process. I like high contrast, vivid colours and strong geometrical compositions. I use silver as the basic material for my work but I like to experiment with other, often non-precious material like textiles and plastics.” Filip's work comprises of three core collections; aluminium, silver and enamelled copper wire and silver with epoxy resin.