
Are you still pondering over the iPhone sock bag? Apple has introduced a fresh piece of modern art for you.
The company has unveiled its latest, limited edition Hikawa Phone Grip & Stand, a MagSafe-compatible accessory that turns your phone into a handheld masterpiece.
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This case is a collaboration with Bailey Hikawa, a designer from Los Angeles recognized for her vibrant, abstract iPhone cases that resemble palm-sized amoebas or liquefied gummy bears. You may have encountered Hikawa’s creations on your TikTok For You Page or seen them held by influencers, but what might surprise you is that Hikawa’s design philosophy extends beyond mere trendiness to encompass accessibility as well.
Hikawa’s iPhone accessories are not only visually captivating (no offense intended, sock bag); they are functional, providing innovative forms of hand support that can aid in reducing fatigue and enhancing your grip.
Credit: Apple
Apple’s Hikawa phone grip was crafted with these principles in mind, incorporating additional accessibility features for users with varying motor skills, muscle strength, and grip tension — as well as for those who do not use their hands to operate the iPhone. The silicone accessory can be positioned vertically or horizontally and attaches to the device in a smooth motion, making it simpler to apply to your device compared to Hikawa’s collection of cases.
In a conversation with ELLE Decor, Hikawa shared that her journey didn’t initially aim at creating accessible phone accessories, but feedback from customers with disabilities revealed to her the importance of incorporating artistic merit into her business. For the exclusive Apple grip, she conducted interviews with iPhone users with an array of disabilities to shape and texturize the new accessory.
“This is just the start of many more offerings for all types of bodies,” she conveyed to the publication.
This year also commemorates four decades since Apple first initiated accessibility measures throughout its company and devices, which the tech giant has been honoring with a series of new accessibility enhancements and features, including updated App Store labels, Braille Access, and improvements to tools like Head Tracking,