Designer creates social distancing blanket for people to enjoy the outdoors

As countries started lifting lockdown measures imposed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, people all around the world were concerned about how to get back to normal life while still following the health and safety measures required to prevent the spread of the virus. Particularly, on how to get back to enjoying leisure activities and spend time together with friends and loves-ones.

To address this issue, designer Paul Cocksedge created the “Here Comes the Sun” blanket, to allow people to “socialize safely and confidently”, without having to worry if they were keeping the correct distance. In his own words, this concern about social distancing “adds a level of worry to our future interactions," he said. "It's so easy to misjudge two meters, especially when we're out again socializing with friends and family. It will be hard to remember to keep a distance."

The “Here Comes the Sun” blanket is composed of a strip of fabric that forms a circumference to resemble the sun. The circle has four markings on which to place for big pieces of fabric, cut into circles, that sit 2 meters apart from each other. By sitting on these circles, people can enjoy activities like sunbathing or picnicking with friends, while maintaining the recommended social distance.

Paul described the blanket as a “democratic piece of design” and has made the design templates available for free online, to be download by anyone interested to replicate it. "People can craft it at home now, while they can't go out, and then use it when we're able to socialise again. It's a way of giving you confidence to spend time with others in a safe way."

Adapted from: https://www.dezeen.com/2020/05/03/paul-cocksedge-here-comes-the-sun-soci...

More information: https://www.instagram.com/paulcocksedge/

Template and Instructions: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/vimgor11cjfd8gu/AAAEkkJAJIcn1J-XBlA-Ou7Aa?dl=...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIBV5X_kQ4o&feature=emb_logo