During the COVID-19 pandemic, the invisible particles that escape our breath as we exist within a space became extremely important to our everyday lives. Across the world, these microscopic viral particles caused severe illness, permanent lung damage, mask mandates, the halt of world economies, restricted access to loved ones, and the death of millions of people. The significance of something seemingly invisible became the most important aspect of our lives. For many of us, the biggest impact of COVID-19 on our individual lives was not becoming ill, but in the ways, we adapted to protect ourselves from these invisible particles.

Visibility Mask is a digital design research initiative created by Span during the end of the COVID-19 pandemic as a reflection of our heightened awareness of the space around us. The AR Instagram filter visibly shows the space we take up with our breath. In a sense, it makes the invisible force that has altered our lives visible.