Permobil twice awarded for its innovative design

-       Gold in A’ Design Award & Competition and in MUSE Design Awards for TiLite CR1 manual wheelchair

Nashville, TN -- Permobil and Doug Garven, designer and product manager, have won two prestigious international design awards for the TiLite CR1 manual wheelchair. They won gold in both the A’ Design Award & Competition and International Awards Associate MUSE Design Awards.

Garven, who has been designing manual wheelchairs for over 30 years, began working on the CR1 back in 2018, devoting five years of his career to creating this wheelchair.

“It is an honor for us to be the recipient of both of these awards and it is without a doubt a career highlight. It is fantastic that our commitment to leading edge design and innovation at Permobil is recognized in this way,” Doug Garven said, Principal Product Manager at Permobil.

“Our vision was to create the ultimate, daily-use chair. We drew inspiration from previous designs, Formula 1 race cars and even elements from the stealth fighter jet F-22 Raptor”, continued Garven.

"Doug Garven's tireless dedication and personal experience as a wheelchair user have propelled Permobil to win dual gold honors in international design, affirming our commitment to innovation and user-centric solutions. These awards are a testament to the employees and users who make up the Permobil brand and our TiLite products," said Vice President of Marketing Audra Watt.

Garven and Permobil received a Gold Award for the A' Product Engineering and Technical Design category. The CR1 was one of only two products that won the Gold Award in the category. Garven was part of a select few of talented designers, engineers, and thought leaders from around the world who received this honor.

MUSE Design Awards gave Permobil and Garven their “Gold Winner” designation for the category Product Design – Medical Devices. The TiLite CR1 was one of the winners chosen out of a pool of more than 8,500 entries around the world.

These design awards recognized the CR1 for its carbon fiber construction, dual-angle front end which matches the natural contours of the human body, aerodynamic tube profile and orientation, allowing up to 1” of adjustability for the center of gravity, and complete customizability for each user.

The TiLite CR1 launched in October 2023 and is currently available in the U.S., Canada, Argentina, Columbia, Australia, New Zealand, and South Korea. 

CR1 Features

• Advanced materials: meticulously engineered using carbon fiber ensuring exceptional strength while maintaining a lightweight design. The tubes are also molded around a foam core for added support and endurance.
• Improved accessibility: The dual-angled front end let users get closer to objects and for transfers while allowing the caster arms to attach to the frame further back for improved maneuverability.
• Streamlined aesthetics: TiLite CR1 boasts a sleek and contemporary style unlike anything else on the market.
• Foldable backrest: designed with convenience in mind, the chair’s backrest can easily fold down along with the sideguards that also function as the supporting structure.
• Ergonomic design: prioritizes user comfort, providing a customized fit and reducing fatigue during prolonged use for a smooth and enjoyable mobility experience.