Rich Experiments

Case study · Project delivery

The Invisible Mask

Mozilla FoundationMozFest 2019
The Invisible Mask prototype, a black cap on a mannequin head with infrared LEDs under the brim
Inside the cap, the infrared LED boards and wiring taped into the lining
The exhibit interface inviting visitors to train a facial recognition model on the mask
Testing the exhibit, with the cap on a mannequin and the training interface on screen
The client

Mozilla Foundation, through MozFest 2019, its annual festival for people working on a healthier internet.

The brief

Create a speculative project that made the risks of facial-recognition technology easier to see and discuss. The aim was to prompt questions about surveillance, consent and who gets recognised by automated systems.

What we made
  • The Invisible Mask, a cap fitted with infrared LEDs, invisible to the human eye, designed to disrupt facial-recognition systems
  • A speculative prototype shown at MozFest 2019, where attendees trained a facial-recognition model and watched the cap defeat it
  • A practical object that gave people a starting point for discussing surveillance and facial recognition
  • Supporting material that explained the idea and the questions behind it
My role

I managed the project from planning through to delivery at MozFest. I coordinated the work, supported the team through production, and made sure the project was ready to be presented to the public.

The project gave festival audiences a direct and memorable way to discuss the everyday implications of facial-recognition technology.