BLANC is a full-face modular mask designed for protection and privacy

a team of entrepreneurs, product designers, and PPE specialists have unveiled a full-face modular mask called ‘blanc’. conceived as a protective mask, lifestyle accessory, digital hygiene unit, tech gadget, and privacy keeper, ‘blanc’ covers the users’ eyes, nose and mouth, while FDA-approved HEPA filters protect wearers from 99% of particles — including dust, mists, and aerosols. these filters seamlessly fit into the mask frame with a built-in visual color scale indicating when it’s time to change them.

blanc also features changeable front panels that can be personalized with a variety of different design options. the front panels take several seconds to change and readjust, and are gently fixed by magnets recessed into the mask frame. ‘masks do rob people of their personality, so we decided to give something in return, perhaps a bit more than just the safety and comfort of breathing clean air,’ says maria lapuk, blanc co-founder.

unlike other masks, ‘blanc’ adjusts to individual anatomical features of the face and head. the mask consists of two vertical symmetrical parts which fold together. using a simple ‘face wash’ gesture with the palms of your hands, the mask is fitted. midline magnets gently fix the mask over the face, while retractable tape provides fixation in the parietal zone, at the rear top of the head.

‘blanc filtrates air because it has been designed to do so by the best PPE specialists,’ continues philipp egorov, blanc co-founder. ‘as for our mission, I love to think that it is to give people the opportunity to regain control over at least some personal data. it may seem that while wearing blanc, users lose their personality. what really happens is, blanc instead allows a wearer to decide which emotions to share, moods to channel, and vibes to transmit. it may seem counter-intuitive, but it actually means more freedom and individuality, not less.’

‘I was mesmerized by the vision blanc founders presented,’ says dmitry gorilovsky, founder of woodenshark — the company supporting blanc with the project. ‘an unorthodox product philosophy allowed us to implement some bold constructive approach. blanc’s modular structure, a frame that maximizes usable space and does away with unnecessary details, allows for the creation of an entirely new mask concept that can be pretty much anything. it can be personal protective equipment, an accessory, sportswear, a privacy keeper, a tech gadget, a smart health wearable, an AR inventory and so on.’

blanc founders have invested approximately $500,000 USD of personal funds into the concept development, materials testing, and evaluation, and sourcing. for example, the passive UVC air cleansing module planned originally as the air filtering solution, has been changed to a combined active HEPA/charcoal filtering module as during research and testing it became clear there was a lack of evidence to support the use of UVC as effective and safe.

the project is currently seeking funding on kickstarter, with over $200,000 USD already raised.