Ground-breaking designs in hearing aids are on display as part of a new exhibition at the V&A Museum in London. Deafmetal®, founded by Finnish designer Jenni Ahtiainen, transforms hearing instruments into bold, beautiful jewellery – known as Deafmetals – helping wearers reclaim their identity.
Jenni and her are all either hearing instrument users or work closely with hearing loss.
“I didn’t want to hide my hearing aids,” she explains. “I wanted to make them mine.” When Jenni was first fitted with hearing instruments, the colour didn’t fit with her personal style and she wasn’t able to cover them with her hair. As a lifelong jewellery designer, she took her new devices to her studio and combined thin leather, chain, an earring and tiny hand-stitched details to make a cover that felt like part of her.
What began as a personal project has become a global symbol of possibility. Today, Deafmetal® designs are worn in over 30 countries. Now, they’ve earned a place in the world’s largest museum of design history. The Victoria and Albert Museum has chosen the brand for its new exhibition Design and Disability, which celebrates the radical contributions of disabled, deaf and neurodiverse creatives to global design culture.
As well as being decorative, Deafmetal® pieces serve a protective function, securing devices with earrings, rings or holsters so they don’t fall out. This feature is especially valued by athletes and older users (whose ears change shape over time).
“We’re launching a new range specifically for men and active users,” Jenni explains. “It’s not just about aesthetics. It’s about function, safety, and confidence.”
In a recent survey of 147 hearing device users, 92.4% said they felt more confident wearing embellishments on their hearing instruments, and 71.3% reported worrying less about losing their devices thanks to Deafmetal®’s secure styling.
The brand is also playing a role in changing attitudes. Although stigma around hearing loss still exists, there is greater visibility in sport, fashion and entertainment of those living with hearing loss and deafness.
The inclusion of Deafmetal® is supported by the British Irish Hearing Instrument Manufacturers Association (BIHIMA), and many audiologists have embraced the products as tools for improving confidence, retention, and overall device usage. “Their job is to help people actually wear their hearing aids,” Jenni explains. “Our Deafmetals support that in a way that feels human and joyful.”
The Design and Disability exhibition at the V&A is open from 7 June 2025 to 15 February 2026.
