Blackbird, the San Fransisco-based stringed instrument maker, has picked up the 2014 International Design Excellence Award for its Clara composite ukulele. 

The Industrial Designers Society of America handed out the award this week, singling out the Clara as a “travel-friendly instrument capable of filling a room with music.”

Made of Ekoa, a bio-based material that is unaffected by humidity and climate.

 “Clara’s form is entirely submitted to maximizing response and the fact that the form is also iconic helps show players that this is not a conventional instrument. The IDEA award affirms our commitment to making the best instruments available”, Blackbird founder Joe Luttwak said in a press release. 

Award-winning design doesn’t come cheap, however. The Clara retails for $1,150.

 

2014-6-2

By David Knowles