Rising Stars: Meet Victoria Cho

Today we’d like to introduce you to Victoria Cho.

Hi Victoria, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’ve worked as an architectural designer for several years in New York, which is where the initial ideas of jewelry design, and Metalepsis Projects were conceived. Because buildings and interior spaces can take from months to years to completion, I needed to find another outlet (and scale) for some of these creative ideas while I could use much of the same design process. Metalepsis Jewelry and the more recent art objects + home goods are a direct reflection of those architectural roots, both conceptually and physically. My process starts with simple hand sketching and then I quickly move to a 3D modeling and rendering. I use 3D printing as my primary design tool for the jewelry, as well as ceramics.

I grew up in Buenos Aires and I lived in various countries and cities throughout my twenties and early thirties. So I’ve been a bit of a nomad for most of my adult life. Now that I’ve lived in LA for almost 10 years, I can finally say that it feels like home!

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
There was definitely a lot of learning to do (and still learning!) both in terms of the actual making + crafting the jewelry as well as the business aspect of it- the trade, seasons in the fashion calendar, marketing, press, etc. Every project has its own set of challenges, given by its medium, material limitations and production. So I feel like with each collection, whether it’s jewelry or porcelain vases, I’m on a whole new learning curve, which I actually love. This process often leads me to meet really great fabricators and craftsmen/women around LA.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I have a design studio called Metalepsis Projects that re-imagines the influences of art, nature, architecture, and science into exploratory conceptual jewelry, art objects, and spaces. The products I design, whether it’s jewelry or home goods, are crafted here, in Los Angeles, with the intention to be seasonless, and trendless. I hope that the designs can be appreciated for its uniqueness by people regardless of their gender or age.

I used to follow the fashion and trade calendar for the jewelry collections, but in the end that schedule didn’t work for me. I found it more fulfilling to put out a collection to the world when it came from a genuine and caring place at my own pace.

In the last couple of years, I became a mom, and this put my life and work priorities into perspective. Purely from a logistics point, as a working parent, our time is so limited that I had to make the most of it. And this made me realize that I wanted to focus on projects that inspired me and made me excited to share with the world. Recently, I had the opportunity to dive myself back into the world of interior design and architecture, which I am really excited about! I’ve always envisioned Metalepsis as a multi-disciplinary design platform so I’m pretty excited to keep pushing my design endeavors into different scales, mediums and fabrication methods.

Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
I don’t really have a mentor, but I do have a strong network of individuals in my life that inspire me and support me through a lot of aspects of my life, both professionally and personally. They are my tribe! Before the pandemic, I did more in-person events such as pop-ups, sales, etc, which are amazing networking opportunities. These are great organic ways to connect with people that appreciate what you do and the other way around. I met some of my best friends doing these pop-up sale events.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://metalepsisprojects.com/
• Instagram: @metalepsisprojects
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/victoria-cho-90633a42
• Other: victoriacho.la