Her Decree Mphete by Yutong Shen is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Mphoto ya Bronze ya A' Design Award in Mapangidwe a Zodzikongoletsa Competition Category.

BronzeZodzikongoletsa· 2026

Her Decree Mphete

by Yutong Shen

Client: Yelonne Chatonne

Mphoto ya Bronze ya A' Design Award Winner in Zodzikongoletsa Category

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Verified Award Winner

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View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Her Decree Mphete

Her Decree ndi mphete yomwe ingagwiritsidwenso ntchito ngati cholembera. Kapangidwe kake kanauziridwa ndi cholembera cha nthenga (quill pen), chizindikiro chakale cha nzeru ndi ulamuliro, chomwe chinakonzedwanso ngati chiwonetsero chamakono cha mphamvu. Nsonga yake ili ndi cholembera chachitsulo chosafuna inki, zomwe zimapangitsa mphete kukhala chida chobisika komanso cholondola cholembera siginecha. Mawonekedwe a nthenga anapangidwa kudzera mu ukadaulo wolondola wa 3D modeling ndipo anapangidwa pogwiritsa ntchito njira ya lost-wax casting yaukadaulo wapamwamba, zomwe zimapatsa kapangidwe kake kusalala kwaluso komanso mphamvu. Mphete iyi ikuimira mphamvu ya mkazi kulemba tsogolo lake yekha.

The Recognition

About the Mphoto ya Bronze ya A' Design Award

Her Decree Mphete ndi mmodzi mwa opambana a Mphoto ya Bronze ya A' Design Award, kuzindikirika kolemekezeka kwambiri komwe kumaperekedwa kwa mapangidwe abwino kwambiri omwe amaonekera ndi luso lolenga, kuchenjera ndi nzeru zakuthwa. Opambana a Bronze ndi zinthu zaluso kwambiri ndi zolenga modabwitsa zomwe zimatsimikizira zochitika zazikulu, kulingalira ndi kuchenjera kwa opanga awo. Her Decree Mphete akuyembekezeka kukhala chinthu choyamikiridwa, chosirira ndi chokondedwa, chaukatswiri wapadera ndi chatsopano. Mapangidwe opambana Mphoto ya Bronze ya A' Design Award awa amaphatikiza machitidwe abwino kwambiri a luso, sayansi, kapangidwe ndi ukadaulo ndipo ndi abwino kwambiri chifukwa cha kusamala kwawo zazing'ono. Her Decree Mphete amakwaniritsa zosowa mokongola, kukhudza zilakolako, kukopa mitima ndi kudzutsa chidwi.

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