Kibu Wins a D&AD Pencil for Product Design

We've got some very special news. Kibu has won a D&AD Wood Pencil for Product Design!

If you haven't heard of D&AD, they've been celebrating brilliant creative work since 1962. Their famous Pencil awards are some of the most respected prizes in the design world—think of them like the Oscars for creativity. To receive one is a genuine honour, and we're over the moon.

What the Judges Said

The D&AD jury is made up of top designers and creative minds from around the world. Here's what judge Guy Naor, an industrial designer and entrepreneur, had to say about Kibu:

"Products and initiatives meant to be repairable and educational often sacrifice design and quality. Kibu captures the essence of design for repair without that sacrifice, resulting in a design that feels true to form, easy and intuitive to dismantle, utilising the technology by which it's made and with a clear directive to create positive impact in a fun way. We need more of that."

Those last four words—"We need more of that"—made us smile for days. Because that's exactly what we believe too.

Design That Doesn't Compromise

One of the things we're proudest of is that Kibu doesn't ask families to choose between doing the right thing and having something lovely. So many "eco-friendly" products feel like a compromise—a bit worthy, a bit dull, a bit... beige.

We wanted Kibu to be different. Colourful. Fun. Something children would actually be excited to build and wear. The D&AD judges noticed that, and it means the world to us.

What Makes Kibu Special

For those just discovering us, here's what Kibu is all about:

Every pair of headphones arrives as a kit, ready to be clicked together by little hands. No screws, no glue, no fiddly bits—just satisfying snaps as the pieces come together. Children learn how their headphones work by building them, and if something ever breaks, they can swap out that part instead of throwing the whole thing away.

The parts are 3D printed here in the UK from recycled materials. When your headphones eventually reach the end of their life, send them back to us and we'll turn them into something new. It's a circle, not a dead end.

A Huge Thank You

This award belongs to everyone who helped bring Kibu to life—the brilliant teams at Morrama, Batch.Works, and Studio Don who designed and made it happen. And it belongs to every family who has welcomed Kibu into their home.

When you chose Kibu, you showed the world that people want products made with care and thought. Awards like this help spread that message even further.

See It for Yourself

Want to take a closer look at what won us a D&AD Pencil? You can see the full entry on the D&AD website, complete with photos and video.

And if you'd like to bring home your own award-winning headphones, you'll find them in our shop.

Here's to beautiful design, clever thinking, and making things that children can be proud to build themselves.