Research
In this project, I started with listening to a podcast about the start of the pandemic in China and it helped me with understanding the history of masks. Then I started to answer the what, who, when, where, and how for the concept that I and my partner decided on. Researching a lot of ways of creating a mask and what materials could be used and how to make them present the idea that I want to design:
Exercise/activity:
In class, we created a mask that we did with our partner to show parts of the sketches that we like to approach. First, we started with creating a shape that relates to our idea from the sketches and then we would trade with our partners and design on the design they did, finally, we take back our designs and convert them to a mask that we could wear:
Iterations
I started by drawing different sketches of ideas that was related to the narrative me and my partner chose:
Then I created some prototypes to see how I want to create my idea and how I would put the parts together:
Concept Statement
The pandemic impacted everyone in a variety of ways, and easily the most prominent symbol that represents our time within it are the masks. But masking during the pandemic wasn’t entirely physical for everyone, a lot of people metaphorically mask themselves as well, usually starting far before the pandemic started which made it harder to reveal their true self afterward. Someone could choose to mask their identity for any number of reasons; personality, gender, neuro divergency, and religion to name a few.
But during the lockdown, stuck in our homes, was the first time many people were able to experience a world absent of social pressure. Most people who mask themselves do it 24/7, or so often that they eventually don’t even realize that they’re doing it. But spending weeks or months alone, those masks were finally able to come off and we were able to truly experience ourselves for the first time. For some people, it was easier and faster to have their real identity revealed, but for others, it was hard and slow as if their false identity was starting to rip off and they could see parts of their real face under it. Also, for others, it was a slower process but they had a lot of learning experience, that their false self started to gradually melt away the pressure that has followed them for so long. Whether it was slow or fast, hard or easy, they all had the freedom at the end to be themselves after a long time of masking.
Production
I started with sketching my final idea and stating the materials I will use to help me show idea of tearing apart:
First, I created the base with paper:
After that, I added foil to create the outside and then added the parts that show the tearing away and stuck them. Finally I added the final touch by adding the strings that are colored in black paint which I also used to color a little bit of the inside of the foil parts that are coming out to give it emphasis to pop up:
