Hasta La Ideas

CR investigates what it takes to create a good chatbot, and why they could become an essential part of brand comms in our current culture of immediacy

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Face Masks – Love them, hate them, but we can’t live without them, literally! So now that we are gearing up to step back outside after this pandemic, the definition of our everyday carry is undergoing a massive change. First came the digital wallets who almost eliminated the need to actually carry a wallet, now comes the PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) to help us balance this precarious living life and living life safely balance. Our face is the first visual identity we have, so let’s use a face mask that speaks our language, keeps us safe, and helps retain our individuality in these times – which is exactly what you will find in this curated collection of face mask designs!

The age-old adage stands true in these times – Time and Tide wait for none. So while we think our world has come to a screeching halt, the fact is that seasons have changed and summer is upon us. Studio Atelier I+N understands this and created this combination of mask and shades for a unique initiative by HyperAktiv titled ‘Bring your own Mask’. This mask is titled Summer Wave and the designers believe that if we have to go through wave#2 of COVID, at least let there be sunny days!

This conceptual PPE features a curved form that is see-through and integrates the darker lens of sunglasses. The arms of the visor-sunglass are more comfortable than traditional masks. It covers your eyes as well which is important and not something we get out of the usual face masks. Designer Joe Doucet reimagines the existing face shield to be more minimal and visually appealing so that the product can be accepted into our lives faster.

Designer Zhijun Wang has been fascinated by and making face masks long before Corona hit us. So when the blue and yellow IKEA bag became viral, they repurposed that bag to make a face mask!

Dimitri Nassisi, Hanieh Rashid & Laurie Greco recreated the comfort of a smile with their mask. The mask, also named SMILE is a medical mask with a revised design. A small strip seals it until use. Once the tab is removed, the mask deploys itself and reveals a comforting smile and ensures optimal protection.

This face mask doubles up as a face shield so that no bacteria enters your eye and comes with an accessory-like sanitizer so you won’t have to search your bags or have an oddly-shaped pocket. Designer Fulden Dehneli calls the mask Gādo (ガード) and the sanitizer Ken (剣) because she views these as complementary products that will become necessities in a post-pandemic world. Gādo means ‘guard’ and Ken means ‘sword’ in Japanese which is such a poetic way to describe tools – they guard us and kill the germs! Gādo and Ken were specifically designed for seamless integration into our lives. Gādo combines the benefits of a mask and a face shield with a simple sliding mechanism- a folded textile structure hidden under the shield which enlarges when the shield is slid up.

Kylan Luginbuhl’s design named Trypo aims to think of the face mask as a more personalized object. Each mask is created from the face shape of the wearer. It ensures a perfect fitting and easy breathing, along with breaking the rigidity of the traditional mask with its organic form.

Lucie Herter wanted to create a playful and practical mask for children. To do this, he created the mask ‘Hero’ where he chose to protect the upper part of the face in addition. This allows the child to feel like a superhero when wearing it. The clip allows the child to put on and take off his mask simply. Above all, the mask helps protect the mouth and nose, but also the eye area. This brings less risk of contagion to the child, in a simple and fun way.

Named Moustache, this face mask by Laure Gremion Studio is a reusable and lightweight mask that protects you during your everyday life. Soft and airtight, the frontal part can be easily taken off to replace filters as often as needed and enables a large breathable surface. A silicone joint doubles the rigid mask and provides comfort and airtightness at face contact. Round shapes and bright colors bring a glimpse of naivety in these difficult times.

Luciano Dell’ Orefice Design Studio’s face mask is named ‘Face’ because it aims to restore your individuality while using a mask. Using existing face scan 3D apps on camera phones, we imagined a process with a bespoke 3D printed mold. The mask is thermoformed with recyclable nonwoven pressed polyester technology borrowed to filter industry, in order to solve bacteria issues and make it washable. This solution finds its language, strength, and stability into the pressing layers of material. A laser machine will cut out profiles and holes underlining the typology of use. A “face” mask for people who might like to bring back a bit of their identity during these new ways of being together.

Thierry Didot Studio’s fun take on a traditional masquerade ball is crazy enough to become a reality! Named the Socialite, this mask is held in place without any straps – of course, it’s not meant for everyday use, but it is a fun spin on a serious subject and a possible costume party for the future!

To check out more such innovations shaping our future, see Part 1 of our Face Mask Designs.

French studio Tracks Architectes has built a cinema fronted by an irregular arched colonnade in the grounds of a former convent in the town of Riom, central France.

Arcadia Cinema at Riom forms part of the conversion of the Redemptoristine convent into the Jardin de la Culture cultural centre near the historic centre of the town.

Tracks Architectes designed the multi-screen cinema as the first stage of the conversion, which will also include a multimedia library built alongside it and a music school built in the former convent building and an exhibition hall in the chapel.

The cinema’s distinctive facade was informed by a wall broken with seven arches that encloses the former convent and stands next to the cinema.

However, unlike the regular sized arches that break the wall, the arched openings that support the cinema’s facade are three different sizes arranged in an irregular pattern. To add to the irregularity the arches turn the corner at the building’s edges to create a larger opening.

“The arches were inspired by the rich history of the site of the convent of the Redemptoristines,” explained Moïse Boucherie, partner at Tracks.

“We borrowed this element of architectural vocabulary from existing structures and then gave it a contemporary interpretation,” he told Dezeen.

Tracks Architectes created the sheltered space in front of the building to open up the cinema to the public and the garden that forms part of the cultural centre.

“The design concept was to create a building that was open toward the green spaces of the garden of culture and the existing convent,” continued Boucherie.

“Indeed a cinema programme imposes dark rooms and we tried to create a generously open and welcoming space functioning at night as ‘light signal’.”

Beyond the colonnade is a large barrel-vault shaped reception hall that leads to three cinema screens and a conference room.

In total, the cinema’s have 543 seats, while the conference facility seats 112.

Paris-based Tracks Architectes is led by partners Boucherie and Jérémy Griffon. The studio previously designed a honey-coloured in the village of village of Perthes-en-Gatinais in France.

Photography is by Guillaume Amat.

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