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Sania - Office PPE

Role

Co-Designer (Group of 4)

Duration

10 weeks

Design Objective

To identify an opportunity for design intervention within the COVID-19 PPE and systems landscape relating to the workspace

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01 Research and Insights

Affinity Mapping Employee concerns

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While masks are extremely effective, prolonged use is irritating to the skin and hinders comfort.

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Materials and Arrangement of Infrastructure are important contributors to the spread of the virus

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The American Institute of Architects released the Re-occupancy Assessment Tool which is a list of considerations that includes engineering (physical) and administrative controls, as well as PPE

For the scope of the project, we decided to work on creative engineering control solutions.

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Applying hierarchy of controls for COVID-19

"Changing infrastructure is expensive: increased cleaning, new furniture, etc. It's easier to have safety measures that complement existing infrastructure."

safety measures that complement existing infrastructure

- Builder and convener of Curious Labs

"Employees have minimal inclination to wear masks in the break room and remove all PPE."

minimal inclination to wear masks in the break room

"Only 5% employees have doored offices and others have cubicles that are considered a 'private' area. But cubicles have low height and are not very protective."

Only 5% employees have doored offices

Insights from interviews with Employees

- Employee at Amazon Fulfillment

- Employee at UPS

"Employees have to choose between self reporting and getting income for the next two weeks."

choose between self reporting and getting income

- Employee at Walmart

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We discovered that there is ample opportunity to create an alternative PPE that is dynamic in use.

A physical tool that can adapt to personal and group settings seems to be most in demand.

What opportunities can be identified by following a typical employee's day?

02 Design Development

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What should physical barriers look like in a work place?

Must Have

Should Have

Nice To Have

Add-on accessory to existing infrastructure

Quick cleaning

Ability to accommodate branding

Compatible with existing aesthetics

Minimized restriction on employee's actions

Accommodate different human factors

Transparency for visibility and communication with other employees

Adaptable to meeting and group settings

Foldable

Transparency, stackability

Ability to move around

Material Exploration

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Biocompatible Silicone

Biomedical grade silicone
Highly robust
Optical grade transparency
100% recyclable

Plexiglass

Extremely versatile
Cost-effective
Rapid manufacturing capability

Transparent Aluminium

Superior scratch resistant
Robust
Most expensive
Aesthetically pleasing

Attachment Exploration

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Screw Attachment

Most stable
Semi-permanent
Requires additional tools to install

Stable and sturdy
Requires change in infrastructure

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Clip-On Attachment

Easy to clip-on
Compatible with existing infrastructure

Chair Exploration

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Lino Chair

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Eames Executive Chair

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Aeron Chair

Comparing various chair sizes to allow the compatibility of the PPE with most commonly used office chairs

03 Concept Proposal

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Protective Shield

Back Support

Clamps

Handle

Transparency

Ability to Move

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Minimizing Space Occupied

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Ability to integrate into office space through branding

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