As New York reopens, we take inspiration from designers who have responded to the Covid crisis with drive, imagination, and honor. Here are a few projects of note:
FACE SHIELDS
Brooklyn-based lighting designers Rich Brilliant Willing 3D-printed 10,000 PPE face shields and donated them to healthcare workers. “It’s easy to feel powerless in these times of crisis,” said RBW’s Alex Williams. “We saw an opportunity to harness the power of a private business to solve challenging problems. In any society, government and nonprofits alone cannot solve everything.”
The shields are based on the Budmen Face Shield but were initially time consuming to make. By cutting material consumption in half, RBW was able to speed up production and double the count. In particular, we applaud their idealism in making their CAD files and specs publicly available. Now anyone with a 3D printer can make them.
FACE MASKS
Toronto-based textile firm Myant seized the opportunity to shift production to mask design. With Myant PPE, the firm addressed the drawbacks of disposable masks: single use, poor fit, and hard to clean. Further drawing on their experience with materials science and biochemistry, they wove in materials that fight off contagion. Myant infused their filters with silver and copper “to maximize protection against bacterial and viral threats.”