Table 2 Translation of user needs to prototype visor

Being safe from UVR exposure

Lack of confidence in home-made visors

Her existing visor is a grey baseball cap made by her aunt with an attached although not securely, by circular velcro stick-ons, meaning there are holes in the design that may allow for UV exposure…(Mother of patient aged 11–15)

Materials and design with the highest possible UVR protection

Prototype materials developed comprising clear silicone with added UVR absorbers; elastic resin; rapid 3D printing of materials to manufacture prototypes

On the face design

Seals and gapping

Close to the shape of the face to reduce gapping around the face and neck

Thought they were protected but then got sunburnt e.g. UVR reflected from water or snow

Off the face as alternative design

Not going outside to avoid UVR exposure

Wrap around design secured with strong magnets at the back

Self-conscious when wearing current visor

Being stared at; bullied

So yes, you want it to be safe, you want it to be practical. But it’s also, what I feel is the biggest barrier, it’s whether or not you can deal with how much attention it draws (Adult patient)

Ability to customise with own headwear

Open at the top to give the choice of personalising with own headwear (securely fixing using provided magnet strips)

Clear material so the face is easily seen

Using alternatives to the visor to photoprotect

I don’t want to attract the entire [name of supermarket] looking at me. I don’t want to attract a lot of attention…a normal boy who is wearing something really weird… mmm…that feels weird (Patient aged 5–10)

Aesthetically acceptable

Patients have the option to wear their own glasses or sunglasses

Temperature effects

Heat management

It can get hot in the summer and it just mists up all the time and I cannot see anything (Patient aged 11–15)

Ventilation system to enable breathing/temperature control/steaming up

Engineered and tested a passive acoustic/ventilation system under laboratory conditions

Difficult to breathe

Visor steaming up

Drinking outdoors is not feasible without UVR exposure

Not going outside to avoid heat

No matter what the weather she is always sweating… she gets very, very hot. Even in winter, she goes to school a little bit further away from home and I bring her back on transport either by cab or whatever, depends on the weather but even five minutes with this on she ends up with rashes from the heat (Father of patient aged 5–11)

Clear materials that do not steam up

Hydrophilic film around the mouth area to reduce steaming up

Acoustic difficulties with current visor (speech and hearing)

Difficulty being heard; hearing others

The sound rebounds back in the visor back to me. I have to lift it slowly up to my nose and then talk (Adult patient)

Acoustic system to enable hearing and clear speech

The ventilation ports with three overlapping flaps allowed sufficient sound to penetrate through

Loss of confidence

Material properties

Difficult to fold

… with the current mask that we’ve got, if I need to put in my bag, it’s quite stiff. If I bend it too much, then it gets holes in it (Adult patient)

Foldable and portable

Material is thin and light, does not leave creases when folded

Difficult to transport

Difficult to use

… they (patient’s current visors) don’t fold. They fold somewhat easily, more easily if they get hot, they just lose their shape (Adult patient)

Easy to take on and off