Object Timeline

  • We acquired this object.

2020

  • Work on this object began.

2021

2025

  • You found it!

HappyShield

This is a HappyShield. It was designed by Centre for Natural Material Innovation, University of Cambridge, University of Queensland School of Civil Engineering and Folded Structures Lab. It is dated 2020. Its medium is foam, plastic. It is a part of the Exhibitions department.

The Center for Natural Material Innovation created an open-source design for HappyShield, a face shield that can be made by hand from flat plastic. Simple origami folds give structure to the face shield, which is washable and reusable. Instructions are published online in multiple languages.

This object was donated by Centre for Natural Material Innovation, University of Cambridge. It is credited Courtesy of University of Cambridge.

Its dimensions are

H x W (Approx.): 29.8 × 29.8 cm (11 3/4 × 11 3/4 in.)

This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibition Design and Healing: Creative Responses to Epidemics.

There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian’s Terms of Use page.

For higher resolution or commercial use contact ArtResource.

If you would like to cite this object in a Wikipedia article please use the following template:

<ref name=CH>{{cite web |url=https://www-6.collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/2318805605/ |title=HappyShield |author=Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum |accessdate=13 May 2025 |publisher=Smithsonian Institution}}</ref>