Stannah stairlift recognised with Red Dot award for design led approach
Stairlift provider Stannah has been recognised for outstanding design excellence, receiving the distinction ‘Red Dot’ in the Red Dot Award: Product Design 2026 for the JOYA stairlift.
The award recognises an approach to design where safety and comfort remain paramount, while directly addressing the long-standing stigma associated with mobility aids in the home.
The Red Dot is a major international design accolade awarded to products that demonstrates exceptionally high design quality.
Judged by an independent panel of international experts, the award recognises innovation across key criteria including functionality, usability, responsibility and aesthetic appeal. Winning a Red Dot places a product among a global selection recognised for shaping contemporary design thinking and influencing how everyday products are experienced.
The award positions Stannah alongside an international community of globally recognised brands known for design quality and innovation across multiple product categories. It also reflects a growing recognition within the design world that products created to support accessibility can meaningfully contribute to the way people live, move and feel at home.
Since its launch in 2025, the JOYA stairlift has been introduced across multiple European markets, including the UK, Italy, Germany, France, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Belgium and Switzerland.
Its international adoption highlights the relevance of design led thinking in accessibility products and its role in breaking down stigma in homes across different cultures and lifestyles.
The JOYA was developed to move away from traditional, clinical visual cues often associated with mobility equipment. Instead, the product has been designed to seamlessly integrate into everyday living, using restrained aesthetics, a compact profile and carefully considered materials to reduce visual impact while improving everyday usability.
Key design features include a forward-facing folding mechanism for a compact profile, a sculpted, deep ergonomic seat with an inclined backrest for enhanced comfort, intuitive controls and subtle lighting and gentle audio feedback that provide reassurance throughout the journey and programmable powered functions tailored to individual user needs.
The rail and chair have been designed as a single, cohesive element, pairing a sleek black rail and upholstered in premium textiles developed with sustainability in mind.
Behind the visual language is a foundation of advanced engineering, ensuring the product meets Stannah’s rigorous safety and quality standards. The result is a stairlift that integrates naturally into the home environment, supporting freedom of movement without defining the space around it.
Marco Luna, CEO of Stannah Home Accessibility, said: “Receiving a Red Dot Award is an important recognition of the work our teams have put into redefining stairlift design. With JOYA, we set out to challenge long‑held perceptions, creating a product that not only solves accessibility challenges but does so while respecting the home and the people who live in it.
“It is a bold reimagining of a safety‑critical product, guided by inclusive, human‑centred design and created for people who value both independence and design. This award reinforces our belief that great design should be accessible to everyone without ever compromising on safety, comfort or trust.”
Winning a Red Dot Award for a safety‑critical product such as a stairlift highlights the complexity of the design challenge Stannah has addressed with JOYA. Stannah states that the product demonstrates how careful engineering and thoughtful design can coexist within a highly regulated category, meeting rigorous safety and quality standards while also responding to the emotional experience of living with a mobility aid in the home.
By achieving international recognition for design excellence without compromising on safety, comfort or reliability, Stannah says that the award marks a significant moment not just for JOYA, but for how accessibility products are designed, respected and valued in homes around the world.
Earlier this year Stannah marked National Apprenticeship Week 2026, by celebrating the apprentices who are developing the skills that will support them throughout their careers.
