Revolutionising the perception of hearing instruments
When Hansaton first approached Pilotfish, hearing aids were still seen as technical medical devices that users often felt stigmatised and the need to hide. The brief was ambitious and profoundly human: help people feel comfortable wearing their hearing systems and make these products blend naturally into everyday life.
Pilotfish embraced this mission from the very beginning. Together with Hansaton, we explored how hearing instruments could feel more like personal lifestyle products and less visible reminders of health conditions. Design, ergonomics, materials, and overall user experience were reimagined to create products that support and boost dignity and confidence.
Over the following years, this partnership shaped Hansaton’s entire design language. From hearing instruments to the accessories, every product carried the shared vision of making assistive technology feel intuitive, discreet, and desirable.
Earpack: a small object with large influence
One of the earliest and most iconic outcomes of our collaboration was the Hansaton Earpack. This compact case housed hearing instruments with interchangeable inserts - a simple idea, elegantly executed.
The Earpack became much more than a storage solution. For many users, it turned into a daily ritual: storing devices, carrying them discreetly, protecting them safely. It became a symbol that hearing support could be part of life without calling attention to itself.
For Pilotfish, the Earpack represented a milestone. It was the first project we controlled end-to-end: from initial concept and design to production and packaging. Over time, it became a design reference across the industry. Its modular insert concept was widely adopted, and the Earpack remains a testament to how everyday design can shape entire product categories.
From instruments to care. The UV Dry Box
As hearing systems advanced, Pilotfish and Hansaton faced a new challenge: care and maintenance. Hearing devices are used daily, exposed to sweat, moisture, dust, and need regular cleaning and drying to maintain performance and longevity.
That is how the idea of the UV Dry Box was born. Pilotfish took on the full development: product design, engineering, tooling, testing, certification, and production. The result was a compact device that cleans and dries hearing aids using ultraviolet light, eliminating 99.9% of bacteria, and doing so without chemicals. Users simply place their hearing aids inside overnight or whenever they are not in use, and wake up to clean, dry, and ready-to-wear devices.
The UV Dry Box shows how our collaboration has matured. This was not just about making better hearing aids. It was about designing an entire lifecycle of care - devices that feel good, accessories that support dignity, and products that build trust between user and technology.
A partnership built on trust and curiosity
Design breakthroughs rarely come from isolated moments. They grow from relationships built on trust, honesty, and a shared desire to improve people’s lives.
Andreas Fischer who was the CEO and the owner of Hansaton, expressed it best:
"We were impressed again and again by how quickly Pilotfish was able to develop a deep understanding of the respective topics and offer a suitable range of solutions.
Over the years we have come to know Pilotfish as a real partner and with them we were able to win numerous renowned design awards!"
This partnership did not only result in award-winning hearing systems. It reshaped how users perceive hearing instruments, proving that assistive products can be discreet, elegant, and emotionally supportive.
Why this product matters in our 25-Year Story
For Pilotfish, the Hansaton journey represents more than successful project delivery. It reflects our belief that industrial design should serve people with care and intelligence. The work we did together helped define our approach to MedTech design and laid the foundation for many of the principles we still use today.
It is a story about empathy, collaboration, and the courage to rethink an entire product category.
We are grateful for trust and the shared belief that design can make technology feel more human. Thank you, Hansaton!
Don't miss the related case studies: https://www.pilotfish.eu/case/uv-dry-box, https://www.pilotfish.eu/case/hearing-systems
