When I started looking into this topic, I have to say I got the impression that there are few areas of design that still serve to polarise quite as successfully as sex toy design. Many of you will probably shake their heads now, saying „Oh no, there is no problem at all – bring them on, we'll be more than happy to discuss means of sexual stimulation over coffee any time“. Fact is, many of you probably wouldn't. And it has to be said: there is nothing wrong either way.
Actually, it's a fascinating design area to look at, once the initial discomfort (if applicable) subsides. A sex toy is one of the products that will ultimately be closer to one's body than any other object, that is interacted with in the most intimate moments and ways, and which thus has to meet design challenges of the most extreme kind. No other product has to be as compatible with our physique, and few other objects have to fulfill a series of such complex requirements whilst at the same time being of the utmost simplicity.
'The core problem is – to be honest – that sex toys until fairly recently were just not that, well, sexy. Unrecognised as an area for professional designers to look into, most sex toys seemed to follow the good old catch phrase of form following function maybe a little too closely.'-Anna Rojahn
A subsequent trend towards 'cute' designs represents a marginal improvement at best: big-eyed caterpillars in bright colours, cartoonish dolphins, and other not-so highly creative takes on the subject are obviously meant to introduce some garish girly fun, and to improve the image of the sex toy industry. This has undoubtedly helped increase sex toys' mainstream acceptance, by making them look safe, indeed innocent; in turn, allowing pioneers such as Germany's FunFactory to move sex toys out of sleazy little shops at the back of railway stations, and into bedrooms everywhere.
These enormously kitsch designs have therefore contributed significantly to paving the ways of the sex toy as a business and design area. Nonetheless, there are few niches that remain so highly underdesigned, creating an opportunity for young designers to establish a name for themselves.
Positive examples have to go to companies such as Jimmyjane, Myla and Lelo – companies that invest their resources into high quality design:
Vibrator by Myla
Clitoral massager by Lelo
Vibrator by Jimmyjane
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