as coronavirus (COVID-19) makes headlines across the globe, designers and artists are picking up their drawing tools to come up with innovative ideas to alleviate the situation. with the need for varying degrees of social distancing advised by health experts, los-angeles based architect michael jantzen has thrown his hat into the ring with his ‘social distancing aids’ photo art project, which proposes a real world support in the fight against the virus.
a gathering of people wearing their social distancing aids
all images courtesy of michael jantzen
the project comprises a series of conceptual images that suggest how we may be living in the near future as we avoid either spreading or contracting the virus by safely distancing ourselves from one another. although somewhat tongue in cheek, the proposal by jantzen is in fact based on a large degree of practicality.
mike and ellen on a corporate campus
the small structures would be made of lightweight plastic and designed in the form of four large connected collapsible rings, placed over the wearer’s head and held in place with two vertical supports that rest on the user’s shoulders. a fifth smaller ring is connected at the center to the perimeter of the lower large ring. this ring helps to hold the entire assemblage in place side to side around the wearer’s legs.
linda and claire in the park
this fantasy photo series presents a number of different people of various ages, wearing the social distancing aids in different environments. some of these people are featured alone, and some are featured with others who are also wearing the aids. in most cases, the people wearing the aids are shown in contrast with other people who are not wearing the social distancing aids.
mark in the park
claire on the plaza
mark at the restaurant
mary in the mall
bill at the mall
project info:
project name: social distancing aids
design: michael jantzen
designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.
edited by: lynne myers | designboom
