COVID-19 Visor: an open-source face shield

The project

In March 2020, amid shortages of protective equipment during the pandemic, Archicercle designed and began producing face shields for donation to hospitals and other healthcare centres. The initiative combined the manufacture of components with the release of a downloadable, open-source design that others could use to produce the shields.

The development focused on a face shield made from separate components: a rigid support, a transparent screen, two adjustable fastening straps and a forehead pad. Archicercle’s contribution covered the overall design, the development of the components and their connections, and production.

The rigid acrylic component holds the acetate sheet that forms the face screen. Two polypropylene straps provide an adjustable fit, while an EVA foam pad serves as a contact surface, intended to prevent rubbing during long shifts in healthcare settings.

The published component layout includes curved parts and perforated straps. Alongside this documentation, the assembled shield and its separate parts were presented: a transparent screen paired with a blue head strap and a white forehead pad.

The project was conceived as production entirely intended for donation, rather than as a commercial product. In addition to producing the face shields, the studio shared the design on its website as Open Source, extending the initiative beyond its own manufacturing.

The component layout accompanies the open-source design and identifies the parts of the assembly.

The adjustable fastening and forehead pad are integral to the face shield’s construction.

Processes and materials: fabrication services · available materials · studio machinery.