Her Decree Mōwhiti by Yutong Shen is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award Parahi in Hoahoa Whakakai Competition Category.

ParahiWhakakai· 2026

Her Decree Mōwhiti

by Yutong Shen

Client: Yelonne Chatonne

A' Design Award Parahi Winner in Whakakai Category

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Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #181981

View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Her Decree Mōwhiti

Ko Her Decree he mōwhiti ka taea hoki te whakamahi hei pene. I ahu mai te hoahoa i te pene huruhuru manu, he tohu hītori o te mātauranga me te mana, kua whakamāoritia anō hei whakaaturanga hou o te kaha. Kei te pito he mata pene konganuku kore waituhi, e taea ai te mōwhiti te noho hei taputapu hainatanga huna, tōtika hoki. I hangaia te āhua huruhuru mā te whakatauira 3D tino tika, ā, i mahia mā te whakarewa waihanga wākihi-ngaro taipitopito nui, e hoatu ana ki te hanganga te rere whakairoiro me te kaha. E tohu ana te mōwhiti i te mana o te wahine ki te tuhi i tōna ake haere.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award Parahi

Ko Her Decree Mōwhiti te toa o te A' Design Award Parahi, he whakaaetanga tino whai mana e hoatu ana ki ngā hoahoa kōeke e tohua ana mā te auaha, te mahi mōhio me te whakaaro hōhonu. Ko ngā toa Parahi he mahi pukenga e rite ana, he auaha mīharo, e whakatūturu ana i te wheako nui, te whakaaro me te mōhio-ā-ringa o ā rātou kaihoahoa. E tūmanakohia ana ko Her Decree Mōwhiti he taonga whakanuia, whakamīharotia, aroha nui, he ngaio, he auaha hoki. Ko tēnei hoahoa i toa i te Parahi e whakauru ana i ngā tikanga pai rawa i te toi, te pūtaiao, te hoahoa me te hangarau, ā, he tino mīharo ki ngā taipitopito. Ka whakatutuki a Her Decree Mōwhiti i ngā hiahia, ka pā ki ngā hiahia, ka whakaoho i ngā kare-ā-roto, ā, ka kume i te pākiki.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: A ring that can write. A pen that can be worn. Inspired by the quill pen, this piece transforms a historic symbol of knowledge and authority into a contemporary expression of power. The tip incorporates an inkless alloy pen tip, allowing the ring to function as a subtle and precise signing instrument. It represents the power of a woman to define, declare, and write her own destiny.
Dimensions & Packaging: 26mm x 22mm x 28mm
Tags: quill pen, female empowerment, wearable design, functional jewelry, symbolic design, contemporary jewelry, inkless pen
Production Technology: The ring is developed through precision 3D modeling and produced using high-detail lost-wax casting. The feather structure is digitally engineered to maintain both sculptural fluidity and structural strength.
Design Challenge: The primary challenge of this project was translating the symbolic meaning of the quill pen into a contemporary ring form without reducing it to literal decoration. The design required balancing sculptural elegance with structural durability. Integrating an inkless writing mechanism within a fine jewelry scale presented technical constraints related to precision, material strength, and wearability. Additional challenges included maintaining aesthetic refinement while ensuring functional reliability. These obstacles were addressed through iterative digital modeling, structural reinforcement strategies, and material testing to achieve both conceptual integrity and practical feasibility.
Research: This project investigates the historical symbolism of the quill pen as an instrument of knowledge and authority from the sixth to seventh century onward. Research focused on the relationship between writing, power structures, and gender identity in European history. Methods included historical literature review, visual analysis of royal documentation artifacts, and material experimentation through digital modeling and prototyping. The design integrates symbolic abstraction with functional innovation by incorporating an inkless writing mechanism within a wearable object. The result is a ring that reinterprets authorship as a contemporary expression of female agency and personal sovereignty.
Inspiration: This ring is inspired by the quill pen, widely used across Europe from the sixth to seventh century onward. In that era, knowledge was inseparable from divine authority and writing symbolized power and order. Reimagined as a ring, the flowing feather express grace and softness while the pen represents intellect and discernment. It embodies a balance of elegance and wisdom and symbolizes a woman writing her own power.
Project Duration: The project started in Dec 2025 in New york and finished in Feb 2026
Patents: Yutong Shen
Image Credits: Yutong Shen