Stäfa, Switzerland, April 12, 2021 – Phonak, a leading global provider of life-changing hearing solutions, is pleased to announce it has been honored with two international Red Dot Awards for excellence in product design for its Virto Black hearing aid and Roger On remote microphone. Virto Black, the first custom made, Bluetooth®-connected in-the-ear hearing aid shaped like a modern hearable, received the “Red Dot: Best of the Best,” which is awarded for groundbreaking design and is the highest award in the competition, reserved for the best product in a category. The sought-after distinction “Red Dot” is the revered international seal of outstanding design quality.
In January 2020, Virto Black made its debut at the world-renowned CES 2020 in Las Vegas and was also voted “Best of the Best” by the editors of Engadget in the Accessible Tech category. Engadget, a leading consumer technology publication, recognized that Virto Black blurred the lines between a hearing aid and an earbud. Its stigma-busting yet stylish design was intended to help people seek treatment sooner while boasting innovative hearing technology that could meet the needs of even severe forms of hearing loss.
“This news reinforces our commitment to continue finding innovative and world class solutions for our consumers,” said Jon Billings, Vice President of Phonak Marketing. “Especially during this time where masks are required, it’s harder for anyone to hear clearly, yet alone patients with hearing loss who depend even more on reading lips. Virto Black’s in-the-ear design doesn’t interfere with the typical ear-loop mask and our new Roger On accessory will help amplify sound for hearing aid wearers over distance. Paired together, they will no doubt be a game-changer for our consumers.”
Debuting in Summer 2021, Phonak Roger On received the “Red Dot” award for its high design quality. Teenagers and adults who wear hearing aids or cochlear implants can still struggle to understand and communicate in noisy situations and over distance. The new Roger On remote microphone will feature enhanced technology and an improved pointing mode that allows the user to zoom in on a speaker by simply pointing, making it easier to have meaningful conversations.
Both Virto Black and Roger On will be celebrated at the Red Dot Design Week, June
