Two Phonak Products Win Prestigious Red Dot Design Award

STAEFA, Switzerland, June 30, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Phonak, the leading global provider of hearing instruments and wireless communication solutions, today announces that its innovative approach to design has  been acknowledged by the Red Dot judges who on July 4^th will place their prestigious mark of excellence on two Phonak products: Audéo V10 and Roger™ Touchscreen Mic. The international distinction for high quality design confirms the attention given by Phonak to user's needs, who demand not only performance but products with great aesthetics.

The cutting edge high capabilities of the Audéo V10 hearing aid - which won out in the life science and medicine category - has helped those with mild hearing loss overcome the stigma of relying on hearing technology, being the smallest receiver in canal (RIC) hearing aid manufactured by Phonak.

The intuitive Roger Touchscreen Mic - awarded in the communications/microphones category - offers teachers a state-of-the-art method allowing inclusion of schoolchildren with hearing issues. This innovative wireless device with touch screen can be worn on the teacher's body transmitting the voice directly into the children's hearing device, or it can be placed amidst a group of children on the table so that the child with hearing loss can hear all their friends speak. It has a rounded and very human design with warmer colors that allow it to be worn comfortably by the user.

"Design plays a central role to the all-important audiological function of our devices and users are benefiting more and more from our unique approach to design. Many people with hearing loss feel there is a stigma associated to wearing hearing aid devices and design ensures that stigma is reduced by being easy to use, comfortable and available in aesthetically pleasing forms and colors," says Martyn Beedham, Design Director at Phonak.

Phonak's attention to design and aesthetics is translated in many creative workshops conducted across the world with end users and hearing care professionals. The company is recognized as being at the forefront of great design and usability in the hearing aid industry.

"Hearing performance is primary but the evolution of the design means people can live their lives that bit easier and do the things they want without being limited by hearing issues. Design allows this important technology to fit into people's lives seamlessly," adds Martyn Beedham.

The attention given by Phonak to design has been recognized several times by different prestigious design awards. In the beginning of 2016, the Roger Pen - an advanced wireless microphone for those affected by hearing loss - won the iF design award.

The Red Dot Award for high design quality welcomed in participants from 57 nations with 5,200 products and innovations under consideration for the Red Dot Award: Product Design 2016.

Professor Dr. Peter Zec, founder and president of the Red Dot Award highlights that "with their performances, the Red Dot winners not only demonstrated an extraordinary design quality, but they also showed that design is an integral part of innovative product solutions."

About the Red Dot Design Award: 

In order to appraise the wide scope of design in a professional manner, the Red Dot Design Award is broken down into the three distinct disciplines: the Red Dot Award: Product Design, Red Dot Award: Communication Design and Red Dot Award: Design Concept. The Red Dot Award is organised by the Design Zentrum Nordrhein Westfalen in Essen, Germany. With more than 17,000 entries in 2015 alone, it is one of the largest competitions in the world. It was in 1955 that a jury convened for the first time to assess the best designs of the day. The name and brand of the award were developed in the 1990s by Red Dot CEO, Professor Dr. Peter Zec. Since then the sought-after "Red Dot" is the revered international seal of outstanding design quality. Further information: http://www.red-dot.org.

About Phonak  

Headquartered near Zurich, Switzerland, Phonak, a member of the Sonova Group, was born in 1947 from a passion and dedication to take on the most difficult hearing challenges. Seventy years later, this passion remains.

As the industry's leading provider, we offer the broadest portfolio of life-changing hearing solutions. From pediatric to profound hearing loss, we remain committed to creating hearing solutions that change people's lives to thrive socially and emotionally. We believe in changing lives and creating a world where 'Life is on' for everyone.

At Phonak, we believe that hearing well is essential to living life to the fullest. For almost 70 years, we remain true to our mission by pioneering hearing solutions that change people's lives to thrive socially and emotionally. Life is on.

For more information, please visit http://www.phonak.com, http://www.phonakpro.com or contact:

Phonak Media Relations
Michael Isaac
Phone: +41-58-928-33-33
E-Mail: michael.isaac@sonova.com