Ned’s Head Face Shield

Rapidly design, manufacture and deliver cost-effective critical PPE (face shield) for the Covid-19 epidemic for essential frontline staff. Use only locally available materials and suppliers to deliver a minimum of 2000 units per day. Ensure the design complies with all legal requirements and meets the expectations of the wearer for usability and comfort. Requires minimal assembly and uses no adhesives in its construction. Consideration is to be given to compact shipping methods, maximising use of scarce materials, low-cost tooling and recyclability.

The design progressed from a sketch to the production of 2000 units per day in just two weeks. In this period the company was established, design registered, nineteen prototypes were developed and rigorously tested, initial production tooling complete, local manufacturers engaged, material supply sourced and five people were employed. A mature design that met and exceeded medical standards and all criteria for the brief was realised. It is a simple two-part flat-pack design, uses no adhesives, 100% recyclable, 100% SA designed and made, and has received praise from real-world customers for its comfort and practicability.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic adequate supply of PPE was not available for essential Australian frontline staff. Within two weeks of conception Ned’s Head was ready for production. As of April Ned’s Head are delivering 56,000 units per month and have systems in place to increase production if required in SA, interstate or OS. It is a highly considered, human-centred design, developed rapidly in a time when a plethora of stop-gap alternatives were introduced into the market. Ned’s Head delivered a product that makes the user feels both safe and comfortable, proving the worth of a design-led company.

• Australian Designed and Made • Very comfortable with no hard plastics touching the skin • Extremely lightweight. Weighs less than 40 grams • Ned’s Head Face Shield is listed on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods 335402 • Easily assembled & disassembled • LATEX™ Free (hypoallergenic) • Impact absorbing EVA foam • Compatible with the use of additional glasses and masks • Ear relief lugs for use with over-ear elastic face masks • No adhesives ensure the shield is not adversely affected by standard cleaning chemicals • Rapid design, prototyping and verification was only made possible by the extensive existing in house capability.