* DESIGN OF
THE YEAR 2015

Jury Citation

The AIR+ Smart Mask is truly an innovation brought to life through advanced engineering ingenuity and intuitive industrial design. The task was simple: to challenge the status quo by engineering a protective mask that delivers protection without compromising comfort. Users can choose from three mask sizes, as well as two types of detachable ventilators to suit individual requirements.

Lateral thinking, a spirit of invention and a rigorous design process informed every aspect of the design. The result is an utterly convincing product. The fact that it is a collaboration between Innosparks, a subsidiary of ST Engineering, and STUCK, a home-grown design practice, is all the more significant since the commercial possibility of this product has the potential to extend beyond Singapore.

Nominator Citation

PROF YEN CHING CHIUAN
HEAD OF DIVISION
NUS DIVISION OF INDUSTRIAL DESIGN

Designed in three sizes, the AIR+ Smart Mask series of respirators and the innovative add-on Micro Ventilator creates a groundbreaking level of ergonomic and airflow comfort for wearers of respirator masks, while remaining highly convenient, hygienic and suitable for everyday use.

Prior to the AIR+ Smart Mask, many people have been reluctant to wear respirator masks because of the humidity and stuffiness they experience after even a short period. The build-up of carbon dioxide within the mask can also cause headaches and shortness of breath. Striving to solve these problems led the designers to invent the micro ventilator concept – a lightweight snap-on rechargeable device that rapidly extracts heat, humidity and temperature within the mask, making it cool and comfortable for users.

The micro ventilator reduces humidity in the mask by up to 40 per cent, temperature by up to 4°C, and reduces carbon dioxide levels from 3 to 1.5 per cent. Comfort on this level has, to date, only been available in bulky and complex mask systems that are expensive, difficult to maintain, and are aesthetically unpleasing. For those reasons, they tend to be limited to professional and industrial uses.

The innovative comfort provided by the AIR+ system provides consumers with greater ease of use, and encourages greater willingness to protect themselves in polluted conditions such as in a haze. Moreover, its design played a key role in its appeal to consumers with its pleasing aesthetics and face-neutral shape that minimised the “social distance” a mask creates.

For the first time, the masks provide certified protection for even small faces with its S size, extending certified protection that is breathable and comfortable to children aged seven years and up.

This is no small feat considering the AIR+ Smart Mask achieved certification under the American NIOSH and European CE standards.

Finally, the micro ventilators also improve the lifespan of the disposable respirators by quickly expelling moisture instead of allowing it to build up and clog the filters. Comparatively, each disposable mask lasts longer than its conventional counterparts, saving money for consumers while reducing waste.