Lexus, an official automotive partner of the annual Design Miami show, commissioned architectural designer Tosin Oshinowo and textile designer Chrissa Amuah to create a "design object of our times" and it doesn't come as a surprise that the designers selected face shields for 2020. The Freedom to Move face masks fuse elements of traditional African craftsmanship with 3D printing and other modern crafting solutions. First, the masks were developed as 3D models, then prototyped and molded.
The artful face masks include designs like the Egaro mask, which resembles a bronze face shield, the Ògún mask, named after the Yoruba god of metal, technology and war. As well as commenting on the state of the current times, the face masks bring attention to African culture and design history.
Sculptural Face Shields
'Freedom to Move' Fuses 3D Printing with Traditional Craftsmanship
Trend Themes
1. Sculptural Face Shields - Disruptive Innovation Opportunity: Exploring the fusion of traditional craftsmanship with 3D printing in the creation of unique face shields.
2. Traditional Craftsmanship - Disruptive Innovation Opportunity: Applying traditional craftsmanship techniques to modern crafting solutions, such as 3D printing, for innovative design objects.
3. African Culture and Design History - Disruptive Innovation Opportunity: Incorporating African cultural elements and design history into contemporary products like face masks, creating unique and meaningful experiences.
Industry Implications
1. Automotive - Disruptive Innovation Opportunity: Partnering with designers to create innovative and artistic design objects that showcase the intersection of automotive and other industries.
2. Fashion - Disruptive Innovation Opportunity: Combining traditional textile craftsmanship with modern crafting techniques, like 3D printing, to create fashion-forward and culturally significant pieces.
3. Healthcare - Disruptive Innovation Opportunity: Exploring the potential of integrating unique and artistic face shields into healthcare settings while maintaining their practical functionality.