Once Upon a Charm Eyewear Recognised with a Silver Win at 2026 French Design Awards
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20 March 2026
Contact: Tyler K. | Executive Vice President of Programs & Marketing French Design Awards
Email: tyler@iaaawards.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Once Upon a Charm Eyewear Recognised with a Silver Win at 2026 French Design Awards
(INTERNATIONAL - 20 March 2026) - The International Awards Associate (IAA) announces the winners of the 2026 French Design Awards, recognising exceptional achievement across a wide range of design disciplines. Now in its third official year, the programme honours excellence in architectural, interior, product, packaging, landscape, fashion, conceptual design, alongside newly-introduced categories for UI and UX design, reflecting the expanding role of digital experience in contemporary design.
The competition attracted over 2,000 entries from more than 30 countries worldwide, showcasing the competitive nature of this year’s recognition.
Once Upon a Charm Eyewear has been recognised as a Silver winner in the Baby, Kids & Children Products Category at the 2026 French Design Awards. The recognition was awarded for “Children's Rx Eyewear with Interchangeable Charms,” an entry that demonstrates strong design thinking, quality execution, and meaningful relevance within its field. The programme evaluates submissions through a blind judging process, ensuring that recognition is awarded solely on professional merit.
“The designs recognised this season were celebrated for their consistency, quality, and professional rigour,” said Thomas Brandt, spokesperson of IAA. “Selected from a large and competitive pool of entries, Once Upon a Charm Eyewear demonstrated a level of execution and design clarity. This recognition reflects both the strength of the designs submitted and the strong standards upheld by the French Design Awards.”
Once Upon a Charm Eyewear Project Submission Summary
This project reimagines pediatric eyewear by treating emotional acceptance as a functional requirement, not a secondary consideration.
It began with a design problem that carries developmental and medical consequences: for children with vision conditions, Rx glasses often need to be worn consistently. Yet many children resist wearing the very device meant to help them. Too often, glasses are removed, misplaced, "forgotten", hidden in backpacks, because they can make a child feel different, self-conscious, or vulnerable to teasing. This project was designed to address that gap through human-centered design by creating eyewear that supports not only vision, but willingness.
At the center of the design is a patent-pending integrated interchangeable charm feature that allows the child to personalize her glasses without compromising the integrity of the frame. The hand-painted charms draw on imagery to which children feel emotionally connected (i.e. fairies, butterflies, bows, etc.), making customization not merely decorative, but deeply meaningful. Built into the architecture of the product rather than applied as an afterthought, the charm sits flush and preserves a clean silhouette while creating a playful, evolving relationship between child and object. In this way, the glasses become more than a corrective device. They become an object of pride, attachment, and delight, increasing the likelihood of consistent wear.
The intended impact is both practical and emotional: to improve wear compliance, reduce resistance, and transform the experience of glasses for children who need them. Ultimately, these frames are designed to be treasured, not dreaded, by the children who wear them.
Additional Information: onceuponacharmeyewear.com
“Winning a French Design Award is a deeply meaningful honor. Once Upon a Charm Eyewear was created to bring a sense of joy, beauty, and self-expression to children’s prescription eyewear, and to reimagine glasses as something a girl can feel proud to wear. To have that vision recognized on an international stage is incredibly affirming, and I’m so grateful to see this work celebrated.”
— Hayley Martin, Founder, Once Upon a Charm Eyewear
About Once Upon a Charm Eyewear
Once Upon a Charm Eyewear is a design-driven children’s eyewear brand dedicated to transforming the experience of wearing prescription glasses for young girls. Founded by Hayley Martin, the company develops pediatric eyewear that combines optical function with emotional design, most notably through its integrated interchangeable charm system. The brand’s work is rooted in thoughtful product design and development, child-appropriate fit, and a commitment to creating eyewear that feels both beautiful and wearable. Through this approach, Once Upon a Charm Eyewear brings a distinctive perspective to children’s vision products by uniting functionality, quality, and personal expression.
About French Design Awards
The French Design Awards is an international design programme dedicated to recognising work that demonstrates professional excellence, clarity of purpose, and thoughtful execution. The award provides a structured platform for designers and studios to showcase their designs for independent evaluation, supporting the visibility of high-quality design practice within the global creative community.
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