Diana’s Biography

Diana Dugina has been creating glass beads and incorporating them into her eclectic jewelry designs since 1998. Her inspiration evolves from patterns found in the natural world and design approaches from the Arts & Crafts Period and ancient Central Asian and Eastern European Motifs. Studying sculpture and design at the Ivy School of Art and The Art Institute of Pittsburgh, Diana then received a BA degree in graphic design from La Roche University. Her professional life toggles between communications design and the glass art world. Diana served was a board member for the International Society of Glass Beadmakers (ISGB) for over 6 years. She was responsible for initiating the organization’s advertising program, catalog designs, publications, educational materials, and promotional items. Additionally, was the editor-in-chief and designer of “The Glass Bead,” the quarterly publication of the ISGB. Diana’s glass beads have appeared in Jim Kervin’s, “More Than You Ever Wanted To Know About Glass Beadmaking” and Lark Books’ “1000 Glass Beads.” In 2006, her work was juried into the ISGB’s Metamorphosis exhibit which debuted at the Heinz History Center during the 2005 Glass Art Conference. The exhibit toured nationally thereafter. As a juried member of the Pittsburgh Craftsmen’s Guild, Diana exhibits her work each year at the Guild’s Fair In The Park in Mellon Park. Additionally, she served on the Guild’s committee in the creation of ‘A Tryst with Glass’. The exhibit invited craftsmen working in a variety of mediums to incorporate glass into their primary materials. Additionally, as past-president, vice-president of the 3 Rivers Glass Beadmakers she was instrumental in conceiving and assisting with the organization of “Embodiment” – a juried wearable art glass exhibit at the Pittsburgh Glass Center.