SERO Mask
Futuristic Wearable Design
Role
Product Designer, Creative Designer
Team - Ishraq Ashtarian, Nicholas D'Angelo, Nanwei Cai, Oliver Hoegh
SERO Mask is a concept for a futuristic wearable that combines a protective mask with COVID-19 testing. Inspired by the discomfort of swab tests and delays in receiving results, the design proposes high-grade filtration, an embedded CRISPR-powered sensor, and an LED result indicator. The aim is to make testing available while the mask is worn, with results that are easy to read. The project brings together wearable design, biological detection, and visual communication to explore a more convenient testing experience for health-conscious individuals, frontline workers, and travelers.
This project brought together industrial design, biology, and user experience. It showed me how challenging it is to translate a complex technical idea into something people could understand and wear comfortably. A concept involving health and safety requires careful attention to clarity and reliability, from the LED indicator to the choice of materials. I learned to consider the proposed sensing technology, the physical form of the mask, and the user’s experience as parts of one system.
Further development of the SERO Mask concept would require:
- Sensor Miniaturization & Integration: Research would be needed to develop a CRISPR-based sensor small enough to fit safely within the mask without compromising filtration or wearability.
- Prototyping & Usability Testing: Prototypes would need to be tested for comfort, breathability, and fit across different users, including frontline workers and travelers who might wear the mask for long periods.
- Refined UI/UX: The LED indicator would need a clear visual language, using color or blinking patterns to distinguish positive, negative, and test-in-progress results.