India-origin app Guitar Wiz wins Apple Design Award in inclusivity category
New Delhi, June 3
US-headquartered technology giant Apple has named India-origin app Guitar Wiz as a winner in the inclusivity category at the 2026 Apple Design Awards, recognising the app for creating an accessible music experience for users across different abilities.
Apple announced the winners of this year's Apple Design Awards, which honour apps and games across categories including inclusivity, innovation, interaction, social impact, delight and fun, and visuals and graphics.
Developed by Indian developer Bijoy Thangaraj, Guitar Wiz is an all-in-one toolkit designed for both new and experienced guitarists, offering spoken guidance on everything from pitch and chords to finger placement.
According to Apple, the app was recognised in the inclusivity category for delivering an experience that reflects diverse backgrounds, abilities and languages while helping musicians play with greater independence.
The company said Guitar Wiz makes use of multiple accessibility features and Apple technologies, including Dynamic Type, Increased Contrast and Differentiate Without Color, enabling users with varying needs to navigate and use the platform more effectively.
Apple described Guitar Wiz as an impactful application that supports musicians of all abilities through accessibility-focused design and intuitive interactions.
The Apple Design Awards annually recognise developers for innovation, technical achievement and exceptional user experiences across Apple platforms, including iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, Apple TV and Apple Vision Pro.
The recognition adds to the growing list of India-origin apps receiving global visibility at the Apple Design Awards.
Earlier, several India-linked apps, including Lumy, Denim, EVOLVE and Meditate had featured among finalists and winners across categories.
Additionally, in the previous month, the company introduced new health-focused features for users in India, enabling sleep apnea notifications on Apple Watch and a clinically validated hearing test feature on AirPods Pro.
— IANS
Reader Comments
This is wonderful news! My cousin has visual impairment and always struggled with traditional guitar apps. Finally an Indian-made app that thinks about inclusivity from the ground up. Apple's accessibility features like Dynamic Type make such a difference. So proud!
Good for Bijoy, but let's not pretend this fixes the bigger issue—Apple products are still insanely expensive in India. A ₹1,20,000 iPhone is out of reach for most, especially disabled folks who already face financial barriers. The app might be inclusive, but the ecosystem isn't.
As a music teacher in Bangalore who works with neurodivergent students, I've been using Guitar Wiz for months now. The spoken guidance for finger placement is a game-changer! My students with ADHD can follow along without getting overwhelmed by visual clutter. This award is well-deserved. 👏
Impressive that an Indian developer won this global award. I've been testing accessibility features for years and the "Differentiate Without Color" option is critical for colorblind users like me. Finally an app that doesn't assume everyone sees the same way. Kudos to the team! 🌟
Another win for Indian tech talent! First Lumy, Denim, and now Guitar Wiz—we're really making our mark globally. But I wish Apple would open more developer centers in India instead of just recognizing our apps. We need infrastructure, not just awards.
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