Smiley Spiked Momolinqui Matzopilcactli by Maria Kotsoni

Smiley Spiked Momolinqui Matzopilcactli by Maria Kotsoni is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 Mahuizolli A' Design Award Iztacteocuitlatl in Cozquitl Tlachihchihualiztli Competition Category.

IztacteocuitlatlCozquitl· 2025

Smiley Spiked Momolinqui Matzopilcactli

by Maria Kotsoni

Client: Maria Kotsoni

Mahuizolli A' Design Award Iztacteocuitlatl Winner in Cozquitl Category

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Colors

The Design

About Smiley Spiked Momolinqui Matzopilcactli

In Huetzqui Huitztic momolinqui matzopilcactli, se tehuiltic pilcactli para nochi tlacatl, cemilhuitl quitquitica. Chicahualiztli ihuan atoctli quinamictia, huitzmeh quinnextia - huehuetqui teixpantilizmeh pampa yolcame - ihuan tlacayotl inepapanyan motlalia. In U-nepaniuhqui huitzmeh tlatlaliloh matzotl icuitlapan, ixtoqueh manga itec inon ceceya cah; auh in obalado, momolinqui oyotl icuitlapan chicahualiztli quichihua, amo ohuitica quitquitica, ihuan cualli motlalia chicahuac. Huel icel quitquis, tlatlakiloh nozo nepantla cahuitlapohualoyan.

The Recognition

About the Mahuizolli A' Design Award Iztacteocuitlatl

Smiley Spiked Momolinqui Matzopilcactli ca in quicuic in Mahuizolli A' Design Award Iztacteocuitlatl, hueyi tlamahuizoliztli tlen momaca in huel yectli, tlanextic ihuan mahuiztic tlachihualli. In quicuicah Iztacteocuitlatl ca cenca cualli ihuan cenca yancuic tlachihualli in quinextia in tlamatiliztli, toltecayotl ihuan ixtlamatiliztli intlachihuanime. Ca quinequi in Smiley Spiked Momolinqui Matzopilcactli ca cenca cualli, cenca motequiuhtia ihuan yancuic. Ni dizayno in quicuic Iztacteocuitlatl quihuelitia in toltecayotl, tlamatiliztli, dizayno ihuan teknolohia. Smiley Spiked Momolinqui Matzopilcactli quiyolchicahua in tlacah, quipaquiltia ihuan quitlamahuiztiltia.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

Unique Properties: The Smiley Spiked Flexible Cuff Bracelet is a casual, everyday statement piece for men and women. Blending structure with fluidity, the design draws from architectural lines and organic spikes, ancestral elements of protection. The articulated, U shaped spike formation adorns the back of the wrist usually exposed under a sleeve even in a relaxed position while the oval-shaped, flexible double tube back ensures easy wearing, comfort, and a secure fit. It can be worn alone, stacked or paired with a watch.
Dimensions & Packaging: The bracelet is made in 18K gold, hallmarked by the Cyprus assay office, a member of the international assay offices association. It weights 16.5 grams and measures 62 mm x 50 mm x 22 mm.
Tags: Smiley, bracelet , flexible cuff, flexible bangle, articulated bracelet, gold bracelet, spiked, unisex, statement, Maria Kotsoni
Production Technology: The bracelet is hand crafted in 18K gold and assembled using a combination of traditional techniques like tube forming, casting, soldering and 3D digital design and printing. The articulated U shaped spiked part with box and tongue closure was digitally designed using Rino then 3D printed and cast. After being assembled, it was soldered to the flexible tube made with traditional equipment, then hand formed and adjusted to an oval shape.The last spike, box, was soldered on one end of the tube while the rest, articulated part with tongue, on the other.
Design Challenge: The hardest part in the realisation of this project was like I mentioned above the coordination of the articulated U shaped spiked part with closure in the front and the flexible, depth wise, yet rigid, width wise, tube at the back. I also had to make a few adjustments to the joining of the spiked part to optimize movement so that it’s U shaped formation would be maintained even in an inverted positioning of the arm.
Research: The design theme and point of reference is the Spike, an ancestral element on sensitive life forms: plant, marine, insect or animal that I explored through research by putting on paper and developed by sketching and hand-sculpting wax model prototypes. Careful attention was given to soften the spike to a degree where it is visually recognized as such yet being muted as per its aggressive nature. A series of test models had to be made in order to coordinate the articulation of the spiked part with the flexible rigidity of the tube.
Inspiration: The idea about this design was to create a versatile, bold yet easy to wear bracelet for everyday use. I drew inspiration from organic shapes; spikes in particular, which I perceive as ancestral elements in nature, serving as guardians and preserving the delicate essence of life. Sensitive life forms manage to survive because of the spike’s protecting properties.
The structure is a combination of articulated movement in the front U shaped spike formation and the memory in resuming position property of the flexible double tube at the back which easily bends to allow the arm through yet maintains and supports its original oval shape.
Project Duration: The project started in September 2024 in Cyprus and finished in November 2024 in Nicosia. It is part of my Spiked collection which I have been developing since 2017.
Operation Flow: The bracelet is oval shaped to better maintain its position around the wrist and consists of two parts each of which has different properties: The articulated U shaped spike formation in the front with a secure box and tongue closure and the flexible double tube back which easily bends to allow the arm through and automatically springs back in place. It is designed to adorn the back of the wrist, worn lower than any other wrist bracelet and interacts nicely with a large watch or other bracelets. It is visible below the sleeve in a relaxed position.
Image Credits: Image # 1: Photographer Nicos Louca, Smiley Spiked bracelet
Image # 2: Photographer Harris Kyprianou, Model: Kateryna Kremer, Smiley Spiked bracelet worn with assorted pieces from Spiked collection
Image # 3: Photographer Harris Kyprianou, Smiley Spiked bracelet worn on a man
Image # 4: Photographer Maria Kotsoni, Smiley Spiked bracelet worn with a watch and assorted bracelets
Image # 5: Photographer Maria Kotsoni, Smiley Spiked bracelet worn with watch and assorted bracelets