Just eight months ago, in August 2018, Signia unveiled the Styletto. Signia announced that Styletto was recently awarded an iF Gold Award 2019 for product design. The iF jury, consisting of 67 international and independent design experts, stated that Styletto “is an important and empowering device [with] a strong, bold design. The appearance of this hearing aid communicates a strikingly positive and confident identity. The clarity of execution and the outstanding combination of materials for each element is overtly impressive. The flat proportions communicate a strong sense of precision and value.”
The iF Gold Award 2019 for product design for Styletto.
Maarten Barmentlo, WS Audiology Chief Marketing Officer (l), and Christina Hakvoort, Head of Premium Segment, receiving the iF Gold Award 2019 for Styletto from Ralph Wiegmann, MD, iF International Forum Design GmbH.
The Styletto hearwear revolution was made possible by bringing together the most advanced signal processing electronics, rechargeable technology, and an ultra-low power wireless platform, according to Signia. Due to these technological accomplishments, as well as consumer insights, WS Audiology created a reported “never-before-seen form factor:” the “SLIM-RIC” (Slim Receiver-In-Canal). In addition to its distinctive look, the new power solution is said to cater to the modern person’s more active lifestyle.
The new look has proven to be especially convincing to first-time hearing aid users who often think that wearing a hearing aid is tied to old age. In a recent consumer study, 65% of the 500 participants preferred Styletto when presented with four form factor options. Overall, the product recognition was very high and consumers labeled Styletto as a leap forward in design that helps move beyond the stigma.
“Besides being the most technologically advanced hearing aid, Styletto was developed to help consumers adopt hearing solutions with a revolutionary design,” said Maarten Barmentlo, WS Audiology Chief Marketing Officer. “We wanted to develop a hearing aid that could actually be a beautiful, desirable design object. Wearing Styletto makes people feel comfortable and positive about their self-image. The fact that we’ve been given this award proves us right.”
Each year the iF International Forum Design GmbH (Hanover) awards this label for design. A jury of 67 independent experts from around the world selected the winners of the iF Design Award 2019 in January. The best entries, from a total of 6,402 and 54 countries, received the award in mid-March.
Source: WS Audiology
Images: WS Audiology
