Shrimps Oorbellen by Nana Watanabe is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 A' Design Award in Brons in Sieradenontwerp Competition Category.

BronsSieraden· 2025

Shrimps Oorbellen

by Nana Watanabe

Client: Nana Watanabe

A' Design Award in Brons Winner in Sieraden Category

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Verified Award Winner
Verify Award Status for #161878

Visit Site View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Shrimps Oorbellen

Er wordt een papieren patroon gemaakt en het ontwerp wordt in een computer geprogrammeerd voor borduurwerk. Na het borduren op organzastof wordt het warmtegesneden en gevouwen zoals origami om een driedimensionale vorm te creëren. Het stuk is lichtgewicht maar behoudt een stevige structuur, waardoor het zijn vorm behoudt tijdens opslag en dragen. De zorgvuldige selectie van materialen en vakmanschap recreëren de natuurlijke textuur en beweging van een garnaal, met bijzondere aandacht voor details zoals de eitjes in het achterlijf. Het gebruik van verloopgekleurde rayondraad vangt de betoverende schoonheid van het zeeleven.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award in Brons

Shrimps Oorbellen is winnaar van de A' Design Award in Brons, een hoogst prestigieuze erkenning die wordt toegekend aan uitstekende ontwerpen die zich onderscheiden door creativiteit, vindingrijkheid en scherpzinnigheid. Winnaars in Brons zijn ruimschoots vaardige en opvallend creatieve artefacten die de grote ervaring, verbeelding en het vernuft van hun ontwerpers bevestigen. Shrimps Oorbellen wordt verwacht een hooggewaardeerd, bewonderd en gekoesterd object te zijn dat opmerkelijk professioneel en innovatief is. Dit ontwerp dat de A' Design Award in Brons heeft gewonnen, verwerkt de beste praktijken in kunst, wetenschap, ontwerp en technologie en is uitstekend door zijn aandacht voor detail. Shrimps Oorbellen bevredigt schitterend behoeften, raakt verlangens, charmeert gevoelens en spreekt de nieuwsgierigheid aan.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

Unique Properties: This design uses flat embroidered organza fabric, cut and folded to create a three-dimensional shrimp effect. Intricate folds, like origami, form the pattern. The design includes translucent eggs visible on the shrimp's abdomen. The structure incorporates air, making it much lighter than it appears. These unique features combine traditional embroidery with innovative folding methods to achieve a distinctive and delicate aesthetic.
Dimensions & Packaging: Dimensions: Approximately 5cm x 8.5cm x 3cm
Weight: Approximately 3g
Package: Comes in a luxurious gift box.
Technical Properties: The organza's transparency and rayon embroidery provide both lightness and durability. Extensive embroidery ensures that the soft fabric maintains its shape.
Tags: Art, jewelry, earrings, lightweight, embroidery, sustainable, contemporary, costume jewelry, Wearable art
Production Technology: My design features embroidery with rayon thread on organza, using machine embroidery. I created a pattern by hand and made a paper model. After several trials, I digitized the design on a computer. The factory then embroidered the fabric, which was heat-cut and assembled with adhesive and hand sewing. Bonding the organza was challenging, but rayon stitches resolved this. Extensive embroidery ensures the soft fabric maintains its shape.
Design Challenge: The hardest part of this design was combining the delicacy of organza with the durability of rayon embroidery. Overcoming the challenge of bonding organza involved adding rayon stitches, achieved through extensive prototyping. The project considered historical and modern jewelry techniques, eco-friendly materials, and local production possibilities. Balancing artistic vision with practical constraints required significant research and innovation.
Research: This project is a process of trial and error to design earrings with unique beauty and durability. Various materials and patterns were created, and models of different sizes were tested to find the optimal combination. Prototypes were shown to friends to gather feedback, which helped finalize the design. Through this process, it was learned that patterns and structure significantly impact the durability and beauty of the design. This design combines humor, artistry, and comfort.
Inspiration: The inspiration for this project came from the intricate beauty of marine life, specifically shrimp. I was motivated by the challenge of capturing the delicate and translucent nature of shrimp using traditional embroidery techniques. The design also incorporates elements of origami, adding a unique structural dimension. Research into marine biology and textile manipulation provided the foundation for creating a piece that is both visually striking and technically innovative.
Project Duration: The project started in September 2022 in Fujisawa, Kanagawa, and was completed in December 2022.
Operation Flow: These earrings are very lightweight despite their size, making them comfortable to wear. They combine the softness of organza with the durability of rayon embroidery, ensuring the shape stays intact even with the soft material. The transparency of the earrings brightens the face, and their artistic design brings joy to the wearer. This design offers a delicate and glamorous touch that sets it apart from other earrings.
Image Credits: Image #1: Photographer Sayuka Tanaka, Shrimps earrings, 2024.
Image #2: Photographer Sayuka Tanaka, Shrimps earrings, 2024.
Image #3: Photographer Terukazu Sugino, Shrimps earrings, 2024.
Image #4: Photographer Sayuka Tanaka, Shrimps earrings, 2024.
Image #5: Photographer Sayuka Tanaka, Shrimps earrings, 2024.