Designing rings that carry
meaning beyond the moment.
How might we design a his & hers engagement ring set that enhances symbolism and individuality — using nature as a shared visual language?
How might we design a his & hers engagement ring set that enhances symbolism and individuality — using nature as a shared visual language?
Many couples choose rings that look alike but lack thoughtful decisions that enhance symbolism and individuality. The goal was to create a his & hers ring set where both visually communicate and are connected to each other, while remaining wearable as everyday objects — not just ceremonial ones.
“Rings should feel like they belong to you, not just to an occasion.”
Design brief — Des 421
In-context rendering — both rings worn together
The design language draws from nature. It brings together blooming leaves and gentle waves with a subtle bridge design that shows two lives meeting in the middle and growing as one.
Initial sketches explored a wide range of gem cuts — radiant, trillion, kite, oval, asscher, and marquise — and ring forms spanning minimalist bands to ornate floral structures. The two directions (hers and his) were sketched independently and then reconciled into a unified aesthetic system.
Left: Initial ideation — 30+ sketches exploring gem cuts and forms / Right: Refined sketch with final cut selection annotated
3D printing in PLA first allowed fast iteration on scale, proportion, and form, but the material could not capture fine surface detail. Switching to SLA resin in the final round resolved the intricate leaf prongs and baguette channels that PLA had blurred.
PLA and SLA printed prototypes — annotated with issues resolved across rounds
The final design resolved four key tensions: scale vs. delicacy, his vs. hers, ornamentation vs. wearability, and traditional vs. contemporary. Each decision has a rationale rooted in either function or meaning.
Both rings were designed to standard US ring sizes and validated through physical prototypes.
Left: Women's ring — US Size 8.5 / Right: Men's ring — US Size 11.5
The final visual language pairs the warmth of rose gold with botanical form. The pair reads as a set: distinct individuals, same world.
Hero render — Evergreen Connection set, rose gold with marquise diamond
Designing two objects as a set introduced a constraint that shaped every decision — each element had to work in isolation and in dialogue with the other ring.
If the “bridge” arch needs explaining, it has failed as a design choice. The motif has to read immediately in the form, not in a caption.