Two Ottobock products – the Challenger fitness foot and the DMC VariPlus system electric Greifer – are both receiving the prestigious Red Dot Award this year. The jury even awarded the system electric Greifer the “Red Dot: best of the best” distinction for highest design quality and pioneering design.

The Red Dot Award is one of the biggest design competitions in the world. The jury held its first product design competition in 1955, and a team consisting of some 40 experts including independent designers, professors of design and journalists in the field have been awarding the seal of quality for good design and innovation to the year’s top designs since then. The official awards ceremony will be held in Essen, Germany, during the Red Dot Gala on 3 July 2017.

Many prosthesis wearers use an electric Greifer as an alternative to their prosthetic hand. This special prosthesis is ideally suited for use as a reliable and robust terminal device, and particularly for manual tasks, as it allows exceptional gripping of objects and is less susceptible to dirt. The LED lights integrated in Ottobock’s system electric Greifer are unique. They make it possible to illuminate small and larger objects alike, as well as working areas – so even tiny objects can be easily grasped.

The awarding of the highest Red Dot distinction places the system electric Greifer’s product designers among the creators of the best product of 2017. The design clearly puts people first by focusing on the needs and wishes of the user. Its subtle, colour-coordinated concept integrating a range of grey tones supports the top-quality workmanship and the robustness of the product’s materials.

The Challenger fitness foot was developed for the varying demands of recreational sports. Users particularly benefit from its unusual design when participating in field sports, which require spontaneous changes in direction and quick sideways movements. The curved, carbon fibre main spring absorbs impact loads and offers high energy return. At the same time, the base spring, combined with heel wedge damping that can be individually adjusted by the athlete, ensures stability and control during quick movements as well as when walking and standing.

Prosthesis users have gained confidence in recent years, and increasing numbers of users are proud to show off their top-quality product rather than concealing it behind inconspicuous cosmetic covers. The Challenger responds to this trend by bringing together innovative technology and a modern design.

System electric Greifer with integrated LED lights

Award for the Challenger fitness foot