MASK: A Visual Study on the Facial Expression Behind the Health Mask

Santos, Vasco; Macedo, Miguel; Bispo, Renato

This article briefly presents the work developed during the master’s degree in graphic design, in which it was investigated how design can contribute to counteract the social stigma that exists in relation to people who have to use health masks to protect their immune system, and who for this reason feel discriminated. As part of the dissertation, and as a design strategy approach, a visual study on facial expressions was developed, culminating in a book with about 250 photographs, which aims to reflect upon the way we interpret the facial expressions that hide behind health masks. This study uses photographs of different facial expressions of 35 people, with and without health mask, to show how facial expressions are influenced by the use of this item. In this way, it seeks to draw attention to the bias in the perception and interpretation of the facial expression of people wearing health masks. The study shows that non-verbal communication is negatively affected by the use of health masks, making it difficult to interpret the emotional state of the person wearing them.