Marimask 口罩 by Yawen Chen is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2023 A' Design Award 铁奖 in 一次性产品设计 Competition Category.

铁一次性产品· 2023

Marimask 口罩

by Yawen Chen

A' Design Award 铁奖 Winner in 一次性产品 Category

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Verified Award Winner
Verify Award Status for #150054

View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Marimask 口罩

Marimask 是一款可轻松剪断挂绳的一次性口罩。口罩上设有一个按钮，在摘下口罩的同时即可剪断挂绳，从而降低海洋动物被缠绕的风险。口罩及其包装均采用以海藻为基础的材料制成，可在土壤或海水中生物降解。海藻纤维还具有抗菌效果，过滤效率符合KN95标准。包装上说明了剪断挂绳为何能够保护海洋生物。该设计回应了大量被丢弃的口罩流入河流与海洋这一现实问题。

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award 铁奖

Marimask 口罩是 A' Design Award 铁奖得主，这是授予满足人们对设计精良的创作所期待的专业与工业要求的优良设计的声望认可。铁奖得主展现出其创作者的高超技艺、高度专业化、专家级的理解力和创造能力。预计Marimask 口罩将成为一件备受推崇、令人钦佩且被珍爱的创作，既实用又创新。这件赢得 A' Design Award 铁奖的设计整合了行业最佳实践，并拥有与专业知识和才华相结合的称职技术特性。Marimask 口罩因其严谨而受到尊重，旨在提供有助于让世界变得更美好的生活品质改善。

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