In early 2020, I collaborated with the illustrator and designer
Maria Suarez-Inclan to bring this project to life, then a little a global pandemic came along.
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Each year an invisible threat kills over 9000 Londoners: air pollution. Children are the most vulnerable when facing this silent killer. While masks are not the answer to our air pollution problems they remain the only active protection available. But getting children to wear one of those clinical-looking masks is a problem in itself.
So how can we get children to wear an air pollution mask?
We show them how their role models and all-time heroes have always been wearing a mask: superheroes. We designed and created a range of air pollution masks for children inspired by superhero outfits, such as Spiderman, Black Panther, etc. And even gave a mask to those not wearing one, like Superman or Wonder Woman, because when it comes to air pollution, we’re all humans.
To get children to understand the dangers of air pollution we create a 2D game where you play as a superhero flying through a polluted city. You have to dodge toxic clouds and catch the air-pollution masks - which serve as a shield - allowing your character to briefly go through the polluted clouds.
So…what happened?
We pitched the idea to a couple of charities, most of them doubted that masks were the right vehicle for that problem, then the Covid mask frenzy began.
