Apple’s New iPhone Grip: Designed for Accessibility
▼ Summary
– Apple has partnered with artist Bailey Hikawa to release a limited edition MagSafe iPhone grip and stand designed with accessibility in mind from the start.
– The $69.95 accessory is available in Brat green or speckled stone from Apple, with additional colors on Hikawa’s site, and is made of soft-touch silicone.
– It functions as both a grip and a stand for horizontal or vertical use, developed with input from individuals with disabilities affecting strength and dexterity.
– Hikawa designed the grip to reduce effort in holding an iPhone steady but notes it cannot meet every adaptive need with one device.
– This product marks 40 years of Apple’s accessibility work and is the second recent accessory partnership, following one with Issey Miyake.
Apple has teamed up with artist and designer Bailey Hikawa to introduce a new MagSafe iPhone grip that prioritizes accessibility from its initial design phase. This limited edition accessory, priced at $69.95, is currently available through the Apple Store under the name Hikawa Phone Grip & Stand. The company emphasizes that the product was developed with direct feedback from individuals whose muscle strength, dexterity, or hand control is affected by disabilities.
Crafted from soft-touch silicone, the grip attaches magnetically to compatible iPhones and functions as both a secure handhold and an adjustable stand for horizontal or vertical viewing. Apple offers the accessory in Brat green or a speckled stone finish, while additional colors like blue and a swirly blurple option can be found on Hikawa’s personal website. The design specifically aims to accommodate diverse ways of holding a phone while minimizing the physical effort required to maintain a steady grip.
Hikawa notes that the grip was developed to support varied needs, though she openly acknowledges on her studio’s site that a single device cannot address every adaptive requirement. Based in Los Angeles, the artist, previously featured in The Verge, operates a studio known for producing chunky, structural phone cases as well as unexpected items like decorative toilet seats. She expressed deep satisfaction in hearing how the grip improves daily life for users, describing the emotional reward of creating something that people find indispensable and comfortable.
In an interview with Elle Decor, Hikawa shared her hope that this product represents just the start of a broader movement toward designing for all kinds of bodies. Apple positions the launch as part of its celebration marking four decades of accessibility initiatives. This release follows another recent accessory collaboration, a knitted crossbody phone case created with fashion house Issey Miyake, highlighting Apple’s ongoing partnerships aimed at blending function, fashion, and inclusivity.
(Source: The Verge)
