“How do we encourage mass adoption of an unwanted necessity?” Designer Joe Doucet’s recent Face Shield concept proposes to solve this dilemma with a design incorporating an aesthetic approach, one that people would be apt to wear rather than simply put up with. But while Doucet’s polycarbonate personal protective equipment (PPE) proposal undoubtedly would help public adoption in most public spaces, more crowded and confined spaces may require more drastic measures for “the future of human interaction.”
Joe Doucet’s face shield concept integrates a sunglass lenses and arms with a clear full face polycarbonate barrier that makes PPE look and feel more practical and less intrusive. Image: Joe Doucet
What would a more substantial solution possibly look like? Taking design cues from sportswear brands like Yohji Yamamoto and Nike Lab, the Production Club Micrashell wraps an array of speculative environmental technologies within a futuristic athleisure design straight out of the Cyberpunk 2077 trailer. The Micrashell is intended to allow for human-to-human interaction in group settings with a virus-shielded and disinfectable air-tight suit, specifically for attendees of “nightlife and entertainment industries”.
The self-contained n95 filtering top half body suit incorporates a slew of technologies – powered by a pair of lithium-ion batteries – the sum intended to keep the wearer safe and connected to their environment. This includes a video camera system with pan + tilt abilities, permitting the wearer to take photos and videos via app without compromising safety; a “chest eye” system keeps tabs on the efficacy of the suit and helmet’s filtration while also analyzing surrounding environmental air quality.
Amusingly, the suit also has been imagined to feature a system permitting the consumption of beverage and vape use without having to remove the helmet. Supplies are delivered by snap-in sealed canisters – a very video game-esque power-up style design.
The Micrashell is fit with a multitude of straps, allowing the suit to safely fit people across a range of sizes, with an attachment across the pouch and suit allowing for add-ons and fashion customization (i.e. patches, velcro, magnets, hooks, as well as an accessible NFC pouch.)
The Micrashell’s integrated lighting system communicates the wearer’s mood by color: a rainbow lighting chase effect expresses joy, while a static red light could express “busy”, a green slowly intermittent shimmering light telling the world they’re in a “resting” state.
And since the Micrashell is imagined for attendees of music events, an array of RGBW lights are integrated into the suit to serve as indicators of the user’s mood, needs, warnings, messages, or desires – a novel measure where our outfits become real-time, wearable emojis of color.
More additional information of the Micrashell at the Production Club website.
