EPILOGUE

To summaries, the 2040 trend package for Life On Mars forecasts the uncertain reality of what life may look like. UNCOVER ME derives from the current global health crisis. From assessing and researching the failures and successes of which COVID-19 has generated, and learning from the failures in particular, we can make changes and adapt to a new way of life, leading us onto ‘new beginnings.’ COVID-19 has changed the way we all think, we understand that global pandemics are inevitable in one’s lifetime, but most importantly, we can acknowledge that this pandemic is just the beginning of future epidemics. “Preventing a pandemic may not be possible, so being prepared is the key,” “Everything starts with smarter surveillance. If you don’t look, you don’t see. If you don’t see, you will always respond too late.” (Maxmen, 2021).

The idea of moving to Mars will mark a monumental event in the history books, just like COVID-19. While the idea of inhabiting another planet seems far-fetched, Elon musk has been busy devising a plan to send 1 million of the world’s population to Mars by 2050.

With reference to the statements made above, it is important that we are prepared for every possibility. Looking into the future of epidemics lead me to look into my own personal experience of COVID-19, and how it has impacted me and what I believe to be something that should necessitate adaptation, leading on from this, I unearthed the trend concept UNCOVER ME which discusses the idea of adapting and innovating the face mask, to fit into a reality where pandemics have become a normality. To extend this concept, I furthered the narrative by exploring how we could modify the future of the face mask to, again fit into Gen Z’s expectations, this modification targets the Gen Z consumer as it is based around the idea of identity, and how identity is a form of self-expression for the consumer – UNCOVER ME will expose the consumers identity from the discomfort of the face mask, and will continue to expose with the help of a modified face mask that enables one to recognize with the help of transparency within the design.

As a Gen Z consumer myself, I can presume that the face mask was a reflection of the substandard, delayed reaction to the reality of COVID-19. The government was unprepared and, at all costs tried to avoid sending the country into lockdown. Not to mention, the introduction to the face mask of which didn’t come into force until we had emerged from lockdown. To name a few, face mask supply was of a shortage and the experience of the discomfort of the mask induced an identity issue for Gen Zers.

UNCOVER ME concerns Gen Z as a priority, 2040 will be about bringing forwards change to a generation that desires it. Accessibility and inclusivity will be a major change within the fashion industry and the most important aspect, the face mask, will act as a form of healing from the trauma of which Gen Z have endured, we want them to feel loved and appreciated, we want to protect them from further damage, the mask is our way of protecting them whilst also enabling them to learn to love themselves again with their rediscovered identity.

MESSAGE TO GEN Z!!

YOU ARE EMERGING INTO THE UNKNOWN, IT FEELS ABNORMAL BUT IT’S EXCITING, A NEW CHAPTER TO EMBARK ON, NEW WAYS IN WHICH YOU CAN FIND YOURSELF AND WHERE YOU BELONG. A JOURNEY OF SELF LOVE AND COMPASSION. YOU WILL BE OK.