Skip to content
The Wisdom of Balance 主要功能:頸鏈 by XU Jiawen Karmen

The Wisdom of Balance 主要功能:頸鏈 by XU Jiawen Karmen is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award 銀獎 in 珠寶設計 Competition Category.


銀珠寶· 2026

The Wisdom of Balance 主要功能:頸鏈

by XU Jiawen Karmen

A' Design Award 銀獎 Winner in 珠寶 Category

Colors

The Design

About The Wisdom of Balance 主要功能:頸鏈

呢條頸鏈為珠寶帶嚟富有意義嘅回歸,超越咗奢華象徵,專注於舒適、健康同文化身份認同。佢採用咗創新嘅後方平衡配重結構,支持健康人體工學,減少負擔,令佩戴者能夠以自然嘅儀態同自信示人。佢體現咗深厚嘅文化底蘊同個人身份認同:以圓同方象徵東方智慧中靈活與正直嘅平衡之道。呢件作品係珠寶設計嘅有力典範,尊重身體、豐盈心靈,並將人與自身傳承嘅故事緊密連繫。

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award 銀獎

The Wisdom of Balance 主要功能:頸鏈是 A' Design Award 銀獎得主,這是授予頂級、華美而令人印象深刻的設計的極為崇高的認可。銀獎得主是極其卓越、極具創造力的作品,展現出其設計師傑出的專業技能、才華與敏銳。預計The Wisdom of Balance 主要功能:頸鏈將成為一件出色的典範之作,兼具非凡的專業性與深刻的創新性。這件贏得 A' Design Award 銀獎的設計是一項備受矚目、令人欽佩的發明,造福並拓展藝術、科學、設計和技術的界限。The Wisdom of Balance 主要功能:頸鏈是一件令人羨慕的創作,它喚起渴望,帶來積極的情感,並激發驚嘆與讚嘆。

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

Unique Properties
In an era where jewelry design often prioritizes aesthetics over wearability, The Balance of Wisdom pioneers a paradigm shift by integrating ergonomic innovation with cultural depth. This pendant necklace features a revolutionary rear counterbalance system that redistributes the weight of the front pendant, significantly reducing cervical strain and enhancing long-term comfort. By alleviating the physical burden, the design allows the wearer to move with effortless grace, embodying a poised and confident demeanor. This innovative approach reaffirms that jewelry’s true value lies in its ability to enhance, rather than burden, the human experience—honoring the body while enriching the spirit.
Dimensions & Packaging
Front: 43cm in length, 145g in weight (beads and front pendant)
Back: 27cm in length, 94g in weight (beads and rear pendant)
Front pendant size: 4x4x2.5cm
Rear pendant size: 7x9x2.5cm
Tags
Counterbalance Pendant Necklace, Ergonomic Jewelry, Cultural Heritage Design, Middle Way Philosophy
Production Technology
Crafted from a curated selection of Nanhong agate, turquoise, and agarwood, the necklace features a striking red jade Cong pendant at the front—an ancient ritual vessel historically used to connect heaven and earth. This is paired with an old multi-hole Tibetan Dzi bead at the back, creating a dialogue between ancient craftsmanship and modern design sensibilities.
Design Challenge
The primary challenge was achieving the precise weight balance between the front and rear pendants. Through iterative testing of over 12 different weight and length configurations, the design was refined to ensure optimal comfort and posture support without compromising aesthetic impact. Furthermore, in a luxury market often defined by excess, this project sought to redefine jewelry’s purpose: to create objects that honor the body, enrich the spirit, and connect us to the stories that define us. This required a deliberate rejection of superficial opulence in favor of intentionality and meaning.
Research
The jade Cong pendant is a cube of red agate with a round hollow, drawing from the ancient Chinese cosmology of “round sky and square ground.” Historically, Cong were vital ritual objects symbolizing the connection between heaven and earth, and markers of nobility and authority. In this design, the juxtaposition of square and circle becomes a modern metaphor for the Eastern wisdom of balancing flexibility and integrity—qualities essential for sustainable relationships and personal well-being. This philosophical underpinning is mirrored in the counterbalance structure, which is engineered to support physical health, creating a holistic design that nurtures both body and spirit.
Inspiration
Rooted in the ancient Chinese philosophy of the “Middle Way,” The Balance of Wisdom reinterprets the wisdom of balance as a living practice, not an abstract concept. This necklace embodies the ideal of navigating life with both flexibility (symbolized by the circle) and integrity (symbolized by the square). The front pendant, a jade Cong, vividly materializes this duality—its square outer form and round inner hollow echoing the cosmology of “round heaven, square earth.” The rear counterbalance design is not merely a technical solution but a tangible practice of this philosophy, ensuring the wearer carries themselves with natural poise, free from the physical burden of traditional heavy pendants. This design redefines adornment as a vessel for cultural resonance and personal identity, moving beyond mere symbols of wealth to become a quiet assertion of wisdom and intentionality.
Project Duration
1 month, Hong Kong
Operation Flow
The rear pendant acts as a precise counterweight, carefully calibrated to offset the front pendant’s mass. Through rigorous testing of various weight and length configurations, the design achieves a perfect equilibrium: the front section (145g, 43cm) and rear section (94g, 27cm) work in harmony to promote a naturally healthy posture. This meticulous attention to ergonomics not only conforms to the body’s needs but also exudes a dignified, ancient beauty, creating a seamless fusion of function and form.
Team Members
Xu Jiawen Karmen
Image Credits
Image/Photo/Video: Xu Jiawen Karmen
Sound: Ao Ri Ge Le
Model: Xu Jiawen Karmen

Sponsored

Explore Beyond Designers.org

Discover products, services and opportunities from our advertising partners.

Good Design Deserves Great Recognition

Nominate Your Work for the A' Design Award.

Nominate