Week 3 - Mask Realization cont.

MASK REALIZATION cont.

This third post is intended to push my existing mask ideas farther, keeping in mind the 
functionality, portability and ergonomics of the fit especially during utilization.

Assignment plot - inhibiting or enhancing a sense through a mask while being design conscious.

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Recap & Discussion

Adjacent are a few pictures from my previous post that exemplified masks that specifically were used to cover, monitor or prevent inhalation of particles or impurities in the air. After looking at these pictures and going over designs, I talked before the class and I was questioned about how I can help the wearer of my smell preventing mask to maintain compassion and dignity for a possible patient. Previously I had been more concerned with other factors such as my preconceptions about what a mask was (covering a predetermined surface of the face) but I quickly learned that the more abstract and loosely I took the definition, the better. Moving forward with that in mind I focused on specific areas I wished to further in my design including the reusability, the filtration/divider, containment of smell, and convenience.

Additionally, the realization I have came to after continued analyzation of the pictures I have used to the left is that the masks  in them aren't even intended to operate in the fashion that I wish my mask to (pollen, allergy, particles). So why should I expect to have a design that looks similar? Because of this thinking I began to search deeper, looking for smell and nose specific "masks" to gain inspiration and analyze design techniques. This exploration lead to me researching devices that were used for CPAP therapy.

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Advancing Design-Concept

Once I began looking into CPAP ( Continuous Positive Airway Pressure )  therapy aids, like the picture examples I have above, I began to focus more on how design and aesthetics affect all people who interact with this equipment not just the wearer. These masks are intended to keep the patients airways open to help with problems like sleep apnea and other related breathing complications but also serve their purpose while being as out of the way as possible. Furthermore, CPAP designs don't vary heavily in the way they provide the air but they most importantly need to be comfortable and adjustable for the diversity of wearers they're used by and their sensitivity levels ( pre-term babies are often aided in the development of their lungs by CPAP ). So taking into account the versatility, flexibility and visual aesthetics used for this breathing ( through the nose ) apparatus I began to apply that to the mask concept, smell. 

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Moving Forward

In the screenshots to the left you can see the beginnings of the design for my odor-blocking mask. Taking what I learned from the CPAP designs I chose to focus more on the minimalistic qualities to provide aid. I began designing a center larger pill shaped piece that could fit much easier and comfortably underneath the nose, ( like in the designs above ) however this piece will be hollow and accessible in order to continuously provide and odor for the wearer. On either side there are beveled and slightly curved pieces that will grip securely onto the face just behind the cheek muscles as to avoid the use of ears or the top of the head, unlike the breathing aids. In-between the 3 solid pieces of this design will be two bands made of adjustable covered wire that will be able to apply pressure holding itself to the face. If this isn't enough I will have to add a band to secure it but only as long as the strap wont impede other actions of movements of the wearer or their ability to function while adorning it.

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This is the third of four blog posts revolving around the Mask Project.
Thanks for reading. Peace.