Heart in Bloom Mōwhiti by Yi Xiong is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award Hiriwa in Hoahoa Whakakai Competition Category.

HiriwaWhakakai· 2026

Heart in Bloom Mōwhiti

by Yi Xiong

Client: Aris Fine Studio

A' Design Award Hiriwa Winner in Whakakai Category

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Colors

The Design

About Heart in Bloom Mōwhiti

He mōwhiti a Heart in Bloom i hangaia ki te koura 18K, ā, kua whakauruhia ki tētahi hāpaira tae pītiti āhua-ngākau, 1.1 karati te taumaha. Mā te hanganga tuwhera, hangarite-kore hoki e taea ai te whakauru i ngā rahi maihao maha, ā, ka noho pūmau mā te tautika o te tohatoha taumaha. Kāore te hāpaira i te whakatauhia hei pūtahi arotahi pūmau, engari ka puta ake i roto i ngā hanga peka e karapoti wāhanga ana i te kōhatu. Ka toro atu ngā peka whakairo ki waho, ā, ka hanga hononga paparanga e whakaputa ana i te āhua māmā. Ka nekehia te tirohanga, ka rerekē ngā hononga mokowā i waenga i ngā peka me te kōhatu.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award Hiriwa

Ko Heart in Bloom Mōwhiti te toa o te A' Design Award Hiriwa, he whakaaetanga tino whai mana e hoatu ana ki ngā hoahoa taumata teitei rawa, ātaahua me te whakamīharo. Ko ngā toa Hiriwa he mahi tino kanapa, tino auaha e whakaatu ana i te mātanga, te pūmanawa me te mōhio hōhonu o ā rātou kaihoahoa. E tūmanakohia ana ko Heart in Bloom Mōwhiti he mahi whakamīharo, he tauira, he tino ngaio, he auaha hōhonu. Ko tēnei hoahoa i toa i te Hiriwa he hanganga rongonui, whakamīharotia e whai wāhi ana ki te whakawhānui i ngā rohe o te toi, te pūtaiao, te hoahoa me te hangarau. Ko Heart in Bloom Mōwhiti he mahi e hae ana te tini, e whakaara ana i ngā hiahia, e kawe mai ana i ngā kare-ā-roto pai, ā, e whakaoho ana i te mīharo.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

Unique Properties: The open structure accommodates a range of finger sizes while maintaining stability through controlled balance. The heart shaped peach toned sapphire is not treated as a fixed focal point but emerges within the branching structure, partially enclosed through layered relationships. As the viewing angle shifts, spatial relationships evolve, creating a dynamic visual effect. The asymmetrical composition disrupts a singular viewing path, allowing the act of wearing to become part of the experience.
Dimensions & Packaging: Ring size: US 6.25 (inner diameter approx. 16.7 mm)
Center stone: 1.1 ct peach toned sapphire
Material: 18K gold, total weight approx. 6 g
Custom sizing available upon request
Tags: Organic Growth, Symbiotic Relationship, Asymmetrical Structure, Open Construction, Spatial Hierarchy, Fluidity, Sense of Suspension, Branching Forms, Sculptural Metal, Contemporary Femininity
Production Technology: Materials: 18K gold, 1.1 ct heart shaped peach toned sapphire
Craftsmanship: This design reinterprets botanical jewelry through structural abstraction. Controlled asymmetry maintains balance, with weight distributed across an open form to create a subtle sense of suspension. Sculptural metal integrates with precise setting, where the heart-shaped gemstone is not a focal point but is partially enclosed within the branching structure. Color functions as a structural element rather than decoration.
Design Challenge: The core challenge lies in achieving stability and visual lightness within an open, asymmetrical form. The heart shaped peach toned sapphire is not a focal point but a structural node, partially enclosed by branching elements serving as both extension and support. Through adjustments of metal thickness, connections, and placement, the structure remains stable. Controlling weight and density ensures a balance between sculptural presence and everyday wearability.
Research: This design translates the principle of organic growth into a non centralized structural system. Through open and asymmetrical construction, directional flow and spatial hierarchy define the composition, allowing elements to balance within the whole. The gemstone is not a visual center but a structural node, shifting from a center dependent hierarchy to a multi-generative structure. Spatial relationships and layering translate natural rhythms into a structural expression.
Inspiration: From a center based composition to structural generation, this ring translates organic growth into a wearable system of spatial relationships. Within a non centralized framework, directional flow defines the composition. The heart shaped peach toned sapphire, echoing the peach of longevity, is not a focal point but emerges within layered branches. The piece unfolds continuously, transforming jewelry into an expression of growth, renewal, and spatial relationships.
Project Duration: The project started in March 2025 in New York and was completed in June 2025 in New York.
Operation Flow: The open structure accommodates a range of finger sizes while maintaining stability through the distribution of structural weight. As the wearer moves, the spatial relationships between branches and the gemstone continuously evolve, creating a state of visual transformation. The asymmetrical composition disrupts a singular viewing path, allowing the act of wearing to become a dynamic experience. By controlling structural complexity and weight, the piece maintains spatial layering and sculptural presence while balancing everyday wearability.
Team Members: Yi Xiong
Image Credits: Aris Xiong (Yi Xiong)