Hearing device jewellery brand Deafmetal is being honoured at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London for its new exhibition, Design and Disability, which celebrates the radical contributions of disabled, deaf, and neurodiverse creatives to global design culture.
The Design and Disability exhibition at the V&A runs through 2025. Deafmetal says its inclusion marks a major milestone in how hearing loss, technology, and self-expression are viewed.
Deafmetal aims to change the stigmatism around hearing devices by helping wearers reclaim their identity and feel proud of their hearing loss journey.
Founded by Finnish designer Jenni Ahtiainen, the brand transforms hearing aids and cochlear implants into bold, beautiful jewellery, known as Deafmetals.
Jenni says for her and her team, all of whom are either hearing instrument users or work closely with hearing loss, this moment is deeply personal. “I didn’t want to hide my hearing aids,” she explained. “I wanted to make them mine.”
Deafmetal began with a simple act of rebellion; or, as Jenni puts it, an instinct for “tuning things up”. When she was first fitted with hearing instruments, the colour did not fit with her personal style, but she was not able to cover them with her hair.
As a lifelong jewellery designer, she took her new devices to her studio and combined thin leather, a chain, an earring, and tiny hand-stitched details to make a cover that felt like part of her.
Jenni said: “It started with a piece I made for myself. I didn’t realise I had created something entirely new until I shared a photo online and it went viral. Then the Finnish Hearing Association called and said, ‘Can we do something together?”
From there, Deafmetal says it grew into something much bigger than accessories. It became a movement, one rooted in self-expression, behaviour change, and a deeper conversation about how society views hearing loss.
Deafmetal devices also serve a protective function, securing devices with earrings, rings, or holsters so they do not fall out. This feature is especially valued by athletes, older users, those whose ears change shape over time, and anyone who has experienced the panic of losing a hearing instrument.
“We’re launching a new range specifically for men and active users,” Jenni shared. “It’s not just about aesthetics. It’s about function, safety, and confidence.”
In a recent survey of 147 hearing device users, 92.4 percent said they felt more confident wearing embellishments on their hearing instruments, and 71.3 percent reported worrying less about losing their devices thanks to Deafmetal’s secure styling.
For some, it has helped kick-start their hearing journey. One wearer shared: “Deafmetal and the ability to wear hearing aids in style motivated me to start the hearing aid trial.”
Deafmetal says although stigma around hearing loss still exists, attitudes are changing. There is greater visibility in sport, fashion and entertainment than ever before of those living with hearing loss and deafness.
Audiologists have embraced the products as tools for improving confidence, retention, and overall device usage, states Deafmetal. “Their job is to help people actually wear their hearing aids,” Jenni added. “Our Deafmetals support that in a way that feels human and joyful.”
It is a mission that aligns closely with the British Irish Hearing Instrument Manufacturers Association (BIHIMA), which supports Deafmetal’s inclusion in the Design and Disability exhibition.
BIHIMA Chairman Paul Surridge commented: “Too many people still avoid or delay wearing hearing instruments because of stigma. Design-led solutions like Deafmetal are vital. They don’t just improve the user experience – they challenge the outdated attitudes that surround hearing loss.”
According to the last EuroTrak UK survey, nearly a quarter of people with hearing loss still wait more than five years before seeking help, and stigma remains a key barrier.
Deafmetal’s 2024/25 audiologist survey also revealed concerns around hearing instrument uptake, with professionals calling for more tools to support patient confidence and engagement.
A final-year Product Design and Technology student at Loughborough University recently won an international competition to design jewellery for use with cochlear implants and hearing aids and raise vital funds for a UK-based charity supporting deaf children.
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