Her Decree Reng by Yutong Shen is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Moputso oa Boronse oa A' Design Award in Moralo wa Mekgabiso Competition Category.

BoronseMekgabiso· 2026

Her Decree Reng

by Yutong Shen

Client: Yelonne Chatonne

Moputso oa Boronse oa A' Design Award Winner in Mekgabiso 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 Reng

Her Decree ke reng e ka boetseng ea sebelisoa e le pene. Moralo ona o susumelitsoe ke pene ea lesiba, e leng letshwao la histori la tsebo le matla a bolaoli, e hlalositsoeng bocha e le pontšo ea sejoale-joale ea matla. Ntlha ea eona e kenyelelitse ntlha ea pene ea motsoako oa tšepe e sa sebeliseng enke, e leng se lumellang reng ho sebetsa e le sesebelisoa se patehileng le se nepahetseng sa ho saena. Sebopeho sa lesiba se entsoe ka ho etsa mohlala oa 3D o nepahetseng 'me se hlahisoa ka mokhoa oa ho bopa ka boka bo lahlehileng (lost-wax casting) ka botebo bo phahameng, ho fa sebopeho seo phallo ea botaki hammoho le matla. Reng ena e emela matla a mosali a ho ingolla bokamoso ba hae.

The Recognition

About the Moputso oa Boronse oa A' Design Award

Her Decree Reng ke mohapi oa Moputso oa Boronse oa A' Design Award, kananelo e hlomphehang haholo e fuoang meralo e ikhethang e tsejoang ka boqapi, bohlale ba ho qapa le bohlale. Bahapi ba Boronse ke lintho tse nang le bokhoni ka ho felletseng le boqapi bo hlollang tse tiisang boiphihlelo bo bongata, mohopolo le bokhoni ba ho iphumana ba baqapi ba tsona. Her Decree Reng e lebelletsoe ho ba ntho e hlomphuoang haholo, e ratoang le e ratehang, e nang le boprofeshenale bo bonahalang le mehopolo e mecha. Moralo ona o hapileng Moputso oa Boronse oa A' Design Award o kenyelletsa mekhoa e metle ka ho fetesisa bonong, mahlaleng, moralong le theknolojing mme o hlahella ka ho tsepamisa maikutlo lintlheng tse nyenyane. Her Decree Reng e kutloisisa litlhoko hantle, e ama litakatso, e hapa maikutlo mme e tsosa takatso ea ho tseba.

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