Marimask Ufimata by Yawen Chen is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2023 A' Design Award Uʻamea in Oloa Fa'aaoga-e-Tasi Competition Category.

UʻameaOloa Fa'aaoga-e-Tasi· 2023

Marimask Ufimata

by Yawen Chen

A' Design Award Uʻamea Winner in Oloa Fa'aaoga-e-Tasi Category

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Verified Award Winner

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View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Marimask Ufimata

O le Marimask o se ufimata e faaaogaina mo se taimi e tasi ma ni fusi e mafai ona tipiina faafaigofie. O se faamau e oomiina i luga o le ufimata e tipi ai fusi a o aveesea le ufimata, lea e faaitiitia ai le lamatiaga o manu o le sami ona fesootai i totonu o fusi. O le ufimata ma lona teu e faia mai mea e maua mai le limu sami lea e faaleagaina lelei i le eleele po o le vai sami. O le fiber limu sami e maua ai foi se aoga e tetee atu ai i siama, ma o le lelei o le fa'amamā (filter) e ausia ai le tulaga faavae o le KN95. O le teu o loo faamatalaina ai le mafuaaga e puipuia ai le ola o meaola o le sami e ala i le tipiina o fusi. O lenei mamanu e tali atu i le tele o ufimata ua lafoaia ma ua oo atu i vaitafe ma sami.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award Uʻamea

O le A' Design Award Uʻamea na manumalo ai Marimask Ufimata, o se faamaoniga mamalu e tuuina atu i mamanu lelei e faataunuu ai manaʻoga faapolofesa ma pisinisi e faamoemoeina mai galuega ua mamanuina lelei. O ē manumalo i le Uʻamea e faaalia ai le tomai tele, le faapitoa maualuga, le malamalama o tagata poto ma le mafai fatufatuaʻi o ē na faia. E faamoemoeina Marimask Ufimata e avea ma mea ua matuā vivii, mataʻina ma pelepelea e aogā ma fou. O lenei mamanu na manumalo i le A' Design Award Uʻamea e tuufaatasia ai faiga sili o le pisinisi ma e iai uiga faatekonolosi mafai ua fesoʻotaʻi ma le poto ma le taleni. Ona o lona faatuatuaina, e tatau ai Marimask Ufimata ona faaaloalogia ma ua mamanuina e tuuina mai ai faaleleiga o le olaga e fesoasoani e faia ai e le lalolagi se nofoaga e sili atu ona lelei.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: Marimask is a face mask with easy-cutting straps. It guides people to click the button, which can easily cut off the mask straps, aiming to reduce the risk of marine life strangled by masks. Being made of Biodegradable Materials, it can be degraded and composted later after use.
Dimensions & Packaging: 150mm x 100mm x 5mm
Tags: Face mask, Ocean protection, Marine life, Degradable materials, Sustainable design
Production Technology: Marimask and its package are made of seaweed-based materials, which can be biodegraded in soil or seawater. The seaweed fiber added to the mask has an antibacterial effect because it will form a weak acid environment rich in sodium and calcium ions, where bacteria cannot survive. Additionally, the filter efficiency of the mask reaches the standard of KN95.
Design Challenge: The most difficult part of the design process is selecting the appropriate structure to enable people to cut the straps in a natural and efficient way. Finally, we chose the Push-button structure, which makes the action of cutting the straps consistent with that of removing the mask, which is easy and convenient. Additionally, we innovatively use the seaweed-based materials that can be degraded and composted later after use to add more value of environmental protection.
Research: Abstract
Research types- Interpreting research.
Purpose- The pollution of discarded masks has become a huge threat to marine life. However, little design has provided a practical way to solve this problem. This work aims to remind people to cut the straps when discarding masks and make this behavior more natural and efficient.
Design/methodology/approach- Primary research, secondary research, Focus Groups, User Journey Map, etc.
Findings- Every month that the planet faces the coronavirus, an estimated 200 billion disposable face masks are being disposed of and entering rivers and oceans. These synthetic PPE items can hurt marine life by entangling them with straps, polluting the environment with their Non-biodegradable material. Cutting straps is a proper way to discard the masks. However, only less than 20% of people know it.
Originality/value- We design a face mask with easy-cutting straps. Through intuitive graphic information and simple operation, it mobilizes people to protect marine life through simple daily behaviors and makes an outstanding contribution to marine protection.
Inspiration: Every month that the planet faces the coronavirus, an estimated 200 billion disposable face masks are being disposed of and entering rivers and oceans. These synthetic PPE items can hurt marine life by entangling them with straps, polluting the environment with their Non-biodegradable material. Cutting straps is a proper way to discard the masks. However, only less than 20% of people know it.
Project Duration: The project started in December 2022 and finished in February 2023 in Guangzhou.
Operation Flow: People can learn the significance of cutting mask straps to save marine life from Marimask’s package. When they run out of the mask, they can click the button and the mask straps will be cut off. And then they can throw it in a dustbin. The mask will be biodegraded in soil or seawater, which is environmentally and sustainable.
Team Members: Yawen Chen
Xiaofeng Wu
Lixuan Zhao
Angchi Huang