The designer behind JewelBird, Julia Murphy, sees a close link between her previous career as a therapist and jewelry design. She explains that just as a therapist hopes to shed light on each client’s inner world, jewelry “acts as an agent of personality and soul.” In designing her pieces, she seeks to convey emotions and spark a connection with the natural world that her collectors can use to express their individuality through adornment.

A creative throughout her life, she says that making jewelry represents her spirited, poetic and imaginative side. She gains inspiration for her designs from the beauty and variety in nature, and is also deeply influenced by her international upbringing, the many travels that have contributed to her world view, architecture and furniture design. Working in 14k gold and ethically sourced gemstones, she designs pieces from her Los Angeles-based studio, relying on input from her filmmaker daughter, Louisa, to help keep the brand fresh and young.