PORTSMOUTH, N.H.—OhMiBod, a creator of innovative sexual health products, took home the Red Dot Award: Product Design 2014 for Lovelife, its new line of personal massagers.
With more than 4,800 entries from 53 countries vying for this year's honors, Red Dot is a prestigious global design competition. A 40-member expert panel that included famed designer Jimmy Choo and Hideshi Hamaguchi, inventor of the USB drive, evaluated each submission for quality and innovative strength.
The OhMiBod team will pick up its award on July 7 at the Red Dot Gala and Designers' Night, held at Aalto-Theater in Essen, Germany. Attended by roughly 1,200 guests, the ceremony will feature the opening of the winners’ exhibition—a four-week, public showcase for award-winning products. The Lovelife collection will then enter permanent exhibition at the Red Dot Design Museum in Essen, Germany. As a Red Dot winner, the Lovelife collection will now carry the coveted, internationally recognized Red Dot quality seal.
"My goal with the Lovelife design was to create massagers that not only reflected the key components to our founders' relationship, but were also inherently approachable and intimate," said Mathieu Pung, OhMiBod's inhouse designer. "By focusing on every last detail—from the winking button layout to the ergonomics to the distinctive product packaging—we ensured that singles and couples could welcome Lovelife products into the bedroom as intimate friends instead of a pieces of technology."
Pung notes that one of his main challenges was designing a diverse collection that not only stood out in a saturated market but also satisfied both avid and first-time users. The seven-piece Lovelife collection includes Adventure, a triple stimulating massager; Share, a vibrating couples ring; Cuddle, a G-spot massager; Flex, a set of Kegel exercise aids; and three other massagers that appeal to beginners.
"One must conduct an in-depth study of the average consumer, taking into consideration the need for body-safe materials, features such as USB recharging, and a look that isn't overly 'ergonomic' but rather sculpturally neutral. It is a great challenge for any designer," said Pung.
"The Red Dot award is one of the most sought-after quality marks for excellent design," added Suki Dunham, OhMiBod's founder. "While proud to be in such exclusive company, we're also thrilled that Lovelife's permanent museum exhibit will ensure continued education about self pleasure and pleasure products for years to come."
For more information about Red Dot, visit en.red-dot.org. For more information about the company, go to Ohmibod.com. For samples, email [email protected].
