Karin Jacobson’s jewelry shows a touch of science fiction, a hint of animation, and a lot of playful motifs. Jacobson, the grand-prize winner in the American Jewelry Design Council’s New Talent Competition, uses clean lines, bold shapes, and some surprising sources of inspiration.

The sculptural jewelry is largely in sterling silver and maintains an affordable price point thanks to accents in cubic zirconia and lab-created colored gemstones. The designer says using such stones allows her to focus on form and create innovative designs that are accessible to more people.

Jacobson cites comic books, mechanical toys, and Japanese animation as some of the inspirations driving her designs. The result is such pieces as the Glamrocket ring and the Pink Alien ring.

“Play is a central theme in my work,” she says. “I like pieces that make a bold statement, so I use big shapes, clean lines, and bright colors.”

Jacobson was trained at the University of Minnesota and launched her first line in 1999 at the Walker Art Center museum store in Minneapolis.