Deafmetal's Hearing Aid Jewellery Hits the V&A! Empowerment Meets Design
- Deaf Umbrella
- Jun 12
- 2 min read
Big news alert! The groundbreaking Deafmetal® jewellery that transforms hearing aids and cochlear implants into stylish, confidence-boosting accessories is now part of the Victoria & Albert Museum's “Design & Disability” exhibition. The show opened on 7 June 2025 and runs until 15 February 2026
Founded by Finnish designer Jenni Ahtiainen, who lost her hearing in 2018, Deafmetal turns assistive tech into wearable art rooted in personal style. And guess what? It's not just looking fantastic—it’s shifting our view of disability and design.
We spotted that sparkle early on and wrote about Deafmetal back in 2022, celebrating their mission to turn hearing aids into fashion statements. Catch the original piece here if you want to see just how far they’ve come!
Why It Matters
From stigma to sparkle: Deafmetal takes hearing devices from clinical to chic, allowing wearers to express identity and boost confidence
Insurance meets ingenuity: The exhibition celebrates disabled-led design that reshapes how we experience everyday life
Bye-bye, invisibility: 90%+ of Deafmetal users say they feel more confident wearing hearing aids with jewelry, and over half wear them more often
What’s on Display
The V&A exhibit features jaw-dropping pieces like:
Deafmetal’s 'Bride Coil Hat' with Golden Safety Chain with Pearls on Advanced Bionics' Marvel Cochlear Implant system
Deafmetal’s Viqueen with Recycled Silver Chains patinated with sulfuric acid and fire on ReSound's Nexia Hearing Aid
👉🏻 Please also note that their safety and jewellery solutions also go for Baha and off-ear CI processors.
These pieces sit among 170 designs celebrating the creativity of disabled, Deaf, and neurodivergent innovators from the 1940s to today
Jenni’s Words
“I never would have thought losing my hearing would be one of the best things that’s ever happened to me… it led to my invention, and now to this exhibition.”
And how’s that for empowerment? Plus, BIHIMA (the British & Irish Hearing Instrument Manufacturers Association) strongly backs Deafmetal, highlighting its role in encouraging hearing aid adoption.
Plan Your Visit
This isn’t just a museum trip—it’s a celebration of disabled creativity, from fashion to tech, and a chance to see how assistive devices can be empowering, expressive, and beautifully designed.
The Design & Disability exhibition at the V&A reframes what we think we know about hearing loss, disability, and inclusion. And the best part? You get to experience it all at one of the world’s most iconic museums, with free entry for disabled visitors and their companions.
When: 7 June 2025 – 15 Feb 2026
Tickets: £16 for general admission– Free for Deaf and disabled visitors plus one companion. Buy here.
Accessibility: BSL tours on 18 July; sensory-friendly “Lights Up” days; tactile maps & audio-described guides
Deafmetal’s feature at the V&A is a milestone in making disability visible, vibrant, and powerful. Whether you wear hearing tech or love supporting barrier-breaking design, this is not to be missed.
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