Reconfiguring Identity
Identity is just an upgrade away. A futuristic mask system that lets users transform their identity through sculpting, colours and blurs.
Background
In the year 2147, Virex Corp introduces a revolutionary product: the Virex Mask, a device that enables real-time facial reconfiguration through a virtual interface. Designed for a society where identity is fluid and anonymity is power, the mask blurs the line between human and avatar, giving users full control over how they appear in both public and digital realms.
Results
Creating a believable, cohesive future product meant balancing sci-fi abstraction with practical design. The main challenge was making the Virex Mask feel functional and desirable, not just fictional, while keeping a grounded visual language.
We delivered an immersive concept blending storytelling, branding, interface design and 3D visualisation. The Virex Mask provokes questions about identity, privacy and personal transformation in an increasingly digital society.
Concept ideation
We began with a vision of a future where personal identity is customisable. Drawing inspiration from cyberpunk aesthetics and AR/VR trends, we conceptualised a device for visual identity transformation, with several products and purposes in mind:
- Base maskA theatre-like mask that can change form and colour, blur the face and more. It hides identity and can be a fun wear for parties and entertainment.
- VeilStrips with changing colour and a blurring effect. More of a fashion piece, to look mysterious but recognisable.
- SphereA 360° display that fully hides identity and can show colours, pictures or anything someone wants to share with the world.
As these masks can be used for fashion, they also raise questions:
- In the future, governments may use surveillance to observe and follow people. Will we need something to hide ourselves from their eyes?
- Can it be used for crime, such as fraud or identity theft?
Visual exploration
Using sketches and AI image generation, we developed key visuals. Each one reinforced the dark yet sleek tone of the imagined future universe.
Storylines and concept videos
After finalising the idea and background story, we wrote storylines for using the mask.
Story 1
A girl stands in front of a surveillance camera and activates the veil on her face to hide her identity from the government.
Story 2
An underground club full of non-human, bizarre masks. When two people connect, their masks exchange an attribute with each other.
Interface and functionality
We visualised an interface for changing the look of the mask (the animation is still in progress).
A person can choose which mask to wear for the day. Presets come in two groups: one for occasions, and one for existing people, artworks and styles. Users can also customise from scratch or change the presets to their liking. A mood-sensitive option is possible too: the mask reads the wearer's state and changes accordingly.
Marketing
We are making a marketing video for the utopian product, explaining the idea behind it and emphasising its illegal, black-market purpose (in progress).
Conclusion
As it's not a project for today's society and technology, it was really interesting to explore something completely new. Learning 3D software and playing with the concept and AI image generation was fun and eye-opening about everything we may be able to do in the future.