Element C: PRESENTATION AND JUSTIFICATION OF SOLUTION DESIGN REQUIREMENTS

DESIGN STATEMENT

To design a mask that is effective in protecting against COVID-19 and prevents acne breakouts that come from wearing a mask for a long period of time

TARGET POPULATION

The target population for our product are people who wear masks during the pandemic and struggle with acne breakouts.

DESIGN CRITERIA

1. Safety issues

Parameter: The mask that we create must follow the guidelines in order to protect people from COVID-19.

Research: The CDC recommends that the masks have at least two layers of fabric. The fabric used must be washable and breathable. On the website, there is a step by step by step that explains how to make an at home mask that follows their guidelines.

Citation:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020, July 6). Making Masks . https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/how-to-make-cloth-face-covering.html.

2. Durability and Maintenance

Parameters: The mask we create must be washable.

Research: The CDC says you can wash in a washing machine with regular detergent. Also can wash it by hand using bleach containing 5.25%–8.25% sodium hypochlorite. Ensure the bleach product is not past its expiration date. Never mix household bleach with ammonia or any other cleanser. Ensure adequate ventilation. How to prepare a bleach solution by mixing: 5 tablespoons (1/3rd cup) of 5.25%–8.25% bleach per gallon of room temperature water, or 4 teaspoons of 5.25%–8.25% bleach per quart of room temperature water, and soak the mask in the bleach solution for 5 minutes. Then discard the bleach solution down the drain and rinse the mask thoroughly with cool or room temperature water. Then you can either ary dry it or can have a dryer dry it

Citation:

How to Wash a Cloth Face Covering. (2020, May 22). Retrieved October 13, 2020, from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/how-to-wash-cloth-face-coverings.html

3. Size and Weight

Parameters: A mask should fit on someone’s face, measuring about 4 by 7 inches. The mask should also be light, weighing around 3.5 grams. Additionally, the mask should be around .3 to .5 mm thick, blocking the bacteria but still allow the mask wearer to breathe.

Research: Masks are expected to perform as barriers and provide protection to people. In this study, the Bacterial Filtration Efficiency (BFE) compared fabric characteristics (weight, thickness, pore size, and resistance to synthetic blood strike through) thought to influence the mask effectiveness were measured and the relationship between these characteristics and BFE was examined. Thicknesses ranged from .23 - .64 mm, and the weight ranged from 66-164 gm/m^2. However, the most effective masks were found to be the ones that were thicker and a little bit heavier (Around 3-5 mm, with a weight of 140 gm/m^2). https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Face-Mask-Material-Characteristics-thickness-weight-pore-size-Resistance-to-Blood_tbl2_242297437

Citation:

Leonas, Karen & Jones, Cindy. (2003). The Relationship of Fabric Properties and Bacterial Filtration Efficiency for Selected Surgical Face Masks. J Textile Apparel Tech Manage. 3.

4. Ergonomics

Parameters:

1) The mask should work effectively and efficiently in COVID-19 and acne breakout prevention

2) The mask should provide comfort around the ears and the face for the user.

Research: In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, masks were recommended to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 by restricting the saliva particles and not allowing them to cross through the mask.

https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0237691#sec001

Citation:

Li, T., Liu, Y., Li, M., Qian, X., & Dai, S. Y. (2020). Mask or no mask for COVID-19: A public health and market study. PLOS ONE, 15(8), e0237691.

5. Aesthetics

Parameters: The mask should look appealing in order for customers to want to buy it and wear it.

Research: This nurse created a mask that had a very aesthetic appeal but also would protect people even more from COVID-19 and other bad bacteria. She targeted nurses as her target population because she was one herself. This article shows her masks and what she did with them including the aesthetic appeal.

Citation:

American Heart Association News . (2020, May 6). This nurse didn’t just create a replacement N95 mask – hers filters more. https://www.heart.org/en/news/2020/05/06/this-nurse-didnt-just-create-a-replacement-n95-mask-she-made-a-better-one

DESIGN CONSTRAINTS:

1. Time

   1. We only have two months to complete the product since we are creating the product for a class. This means that we will have to work according to the deadlines set throughout the class and make sure not to get behind.

2. Customer satisfaction

   1. Our customers need to be happy with our product. Making sure that the customers like the product and would be willing to buy it and share it with others is important to the success of our product.

3. Quality

   1. Our product needs to work and be effective and also be comfortable to the customer. There are so many mask options right now because of the pandemic we need our mask to be very comfortable and not look cheap so that people will buy them.

4. Resources

1. We need to be able to get all of our resources to create our product. Some of the possible fabrics such as silk are harder to get access to so we need to make sure to plan ahead of time to get those resources and make sure they are available.

5. Cost

   1. We don’t want to spend more than 70 dollars per person on this product. Some of the fabrics might be more expensive than others so we will need to be cautious with how much we spend on making these masks.