Commissioned by Hard Jewelry for its 2026 bi-coastal road trip pop-up series, the VANAGLORIA Crown was designed as a bespoke first-place prize for tournament winners across 12 cities.
The piece needed to function simultaneously as a wearable crown, a displayable trophy, and a rare collectible—while remaining unmistakably rooted in Hard Jewelry’s bold stainless steel aesthetic and established iconography.
I developed the crown as a deeply narrative object centered on Vanagloria, the forgotten eighth deadly sin of vainglory: the compulsive pursuit of acclaim, status, and power.
Each spire is a gothic cathedral arch crowned with a DYT Cross™ steeple. Writhing bodies climb toward it in a brutal rat race to the top—stepping on faces, biting at limbs, tearing others down in order to rise. While some collapse in shellshock at the base, most claw their way upward, agony and desperation painting their faces, convinced that the salvation they seek lies just beyond reach.
Between each arch stands a crucified Christ, beheaded and chained to the weapon that killed him (a modified Religion Is War™ pendant). The bodies move away from Jesus and toward the cathedral and cross—vying for the authoritative symbol of holiness while turning their backs on the meaning behind it.
The foundation of the crown is a ring of barbed wire—an inversion of the biblical crown of thorns. What once symbolized humility, charity, and sacrifice becomes exclusivity, division, and hierarchy. We worship a prophet who preached sacrifice for others, while practicing a system that sacrifices others for our own gain.
This trophy crown is a symbol of sanctimonious victory—of actualized vainglory.
It simultaneously congratulates and condemns the wearer: both winner and sinner.
Beyond concept development and 3D design, the project also required close iterative refinement for production. Working alongside Hard Jewelry’s CAM team, I adjusted the complex model through multiple prototyping stages to render it viable for SLS fabrication.
The project reflects my approach to storytelling through form, as well as my ability to balance symbolism, brand specificity, and pro-aware design execution.
Interactive 3D Model (Low Res)