It All Started with a Beaded QR Code
What happens when a robotics engineer discovers bead weaving? In my latest Come Bead With Me podcast episode, I sat down with Alex Monneret, founder of PlanBead™, to talk about his unexpected journey into beading software and the technology he’s developing to make designing jewelry easier.
Alex didn’t discover beading through a jewelry class or a visit to a bead shop. His introduction came during a robotics competition.
He was studying software engineering in Germany and needed a QR code to represent his team. Rather than printing one, he decided to make it out of beads.
There was just one problem: he knew absolutely nothing about beading.
He ordered enormous quantities of black and white beads, bought a loom, stocked up on needles and thread, and set to work. He even ordered size 15 beads because he assumed a larger number meant a larger bead!
The finished QR code was only about an inch to an inch and a half across. Although very few visitors could actually scan it, the reaction to his tiny beaded creation was enough to get him hooked.
That first project led him down the beading rabbit hole—and eventually changed his career.
Why a Robotics Engineer Decided to Build Beading Software
As Alex began experimenting with beadwork, he naturally wanted to design his own patterns. But finding software that worked the way he wanted proved surprisingly difficult.
One program crashed after he’d spent two hours creating a design. Other applications weren’t available on all his devices or hadn’t been updated in years.
For someone accustomed to working on robotics and autonomous-driving technology, the experience was frustrating.
Alex began imagining something different: a beading design program that would work across phones, tablets and computers, synchronize patterns between devices, and make sophisticated design tools accessible to beginners as well as experienced beaders.
That idea became PlanBead™.
Eventually, Alex left his work in autonomous driving, moved to a Greek island and committed himself to developing PlanBead full-time.
And he didn’t want to build it in isolation. From the beginning, he chose to develop the application publicly, incorporating feedback from the beading community.
“I wanted to make my own pattern. I need an application for that.”
The Problem Every Beader Understands: Beautiful on Screen, Disappointing in Beads
The portrait on the left is the 3D rendering in PlanBead™. The portrait on the right is the beaded project.
This was the part of our conversation that really caught my attention.
Have you ever converted a photograph into a bead pattern, spent a small fortune buying all the recommended Delicas, and then discovered that the finished beadwork looks nothing like the original image?
I certainly have. Check out this blog post where I outline the frustrations of beading a pattern converted from an image. Click here.
A computer might select a transparent turquoise bead because its digital color matches the photograph perfectly. But once you actually weave that bead into your project, the transparency changes everything.
The same problem occurs with metallic, silver-lined, satin and other specialty finishes.
A flat color chart simply cannot tell the whole story.
Alex has spent considerable time tackling this problem through PlanBead™’s color-matching and visualization tools.
MatchBead™: Choosing Actual Beads, Not Just Digital Colors
During our interview, Alex demonstrated PlanBead™’s MatchBead™ feature.
Rather than simply assigning a flat color to a pattern, the software analyzes colors and suggests actual bead colors that may produce the desired result.
You can compare alternatives and consider how different bead finishes will affect your design.
Alex also demonstrated how the software can work with your bead inventory. Instead of designing an entire project and then discovering you need to order dozens of new colors, you can explore possibilities using beads you already own.
For anyone with a substantial bead stash, that’s a particularly appealing idea.
Seeing Your Beadwork in 3D Before You Make It
Another feature Alex demonstrated was PlanBead™’s 3D visualization.
He showed me a folded-leaf earring pattern. On the flat design screen, it looked like an ordinary bead pattern. But when he switched to the 3D view, I could see the shape of the finished earring and how its beads reacted to light.
He changed the bead finish, and the preview changed with it.
We also looked at bracelet designs using combinations of transparent, opaque, metallic and silver-lined beads.
Being able to preview those combinations before committing hours—or days—to a project could make a real difference in the design process.
Of course, a computer preview is still a preview, not a guarantee of exactly how your finished jewelry will look. But it’s a considerable step beyond a flat pattern.
What About Artificial Intelligence and Handmade Jewelry?
We also talked about a subject that’s becoming increasingly relevant to artists and designers: AI.
Alex comes from an AI and robotics background, so I was particularly interested in his perspective.
He sees opportunities for AI to help jewelry designers visualize their work. For example, an artist might create a realistic mock-up of a finished necklace or show a pair of earrings on a model without arranging a separate photo shoot.
But we also discussed the ethical questions surrounding AI, including the use of artists’ work to train AI systems and the importance of protecting original designs.
Alex’s goal is to use technology to support the creative process without losing what makes beadwork special.
After all, generating an image of a beautiful bracelet isn’t the same as sitting down and actually making one.
Someone still has to choose the beads, thread the needle and bring the design to life.
His Promise to Beaders: Focus on Creating
“I want you to dedicate your time for beading, for this innovative process.”
One thing that stood out to me during our conversation was Alex’s commitment to the people using his software.
His approach is straightforward: he wants beaders to spend their time designing and creating rather than fighting with technology.
He talked about the importance of customer support, especially on weekends, when so many of us finally have time to sit down with our beads.
He also shared how feedback from the community has helped shape PlanBead™, from its original peyote, loom and brick-stitch tools to additional designs and more advanced features.
Whether you’re a beginner creating your first pattern or an experienced designer exploring complicated shapes and color combinations, it’s interesting to see what happens when someone approaches our craft from an entirely different background.
And to think—it all began with a tiny black-and-white QR code.
Watch My Full Interview with Alex Monneret/PlanBead
There’s much more in our conversation, including live demonstrations of PlanBead, examples of beadwork created with the software, and Alex’s thoughts about the future of beading technology.
If you’ve ever struggled to find the right bead colors, wondered what a pattern would look like when finished, or simply enjoy hearing how other people discover our wonderful craft, I think you’ll enjoy this interview.
You can also explore the software at PlanBead.com.
Watch the full interview here: