What if a medical accessory could become something people enjoy wearing? Nigerian multidisciplinary artist King-David Aduloju, also known as Damn Essie, explores this question in Reimagining Intra-Nasal Filters, a project developed during his Master's degree in Graphic Design at the University for the Creative Arts. Drawing from his personal experience with dust allergies, King-David took an interest in a small, often overlooked health product and the possibilities it presented for creative experimentation. The work brought him into product development, where questions of function, materials, and construction became just as important as visual expression.
Nasal filters are small devices worn inside the nostrils to help trap airborne particles, including dust and pollen, before they are inhaled. Their effectiveness depends on their construction and fit. King-David's proposal introduces decorative attachments inspired by nose jewellery, with metallic gold finishes and brighter colour options. These variations borrow from contemporary fashion accessories, giving users different ways to incorporate the object into their personal style. The jewellery references are particularly interesting because they draw on something already familiar in everyday dressing rather than introducing an entirely new visual language.
The development process involved preliminary sketches, technical drawings, three-dimensional modelling, and product visualisation. King-David studied the individual components, their proportions, and how they might be assembled, gradually refining the structure through successive iterations. His technical illustrations provide a breakdown of the proposed mechanism, while the rendered images demonstrate different material treatments and configurations. Together, these studies document the progression from early drawings to detailed digital models, offering a closer look at the practical considerations behind the finished work.
King-David also produced an editorial publication documenting his research and creative process. Featuring a striking blue cover, structured typography, technical diagrams, and detailed renders, the publication brings the different stages of development into a carefully organised visual narrative. He extended the presentation through an augmented reality experiment, allowing audiences to explore the proposed accessories in an interactive environment. The accompanying materials draw on his experience in editorial production and digital media, making the technical information easier to understand while giving the work a distinctive identity.
The project adds another dimension to King-David's portfolio, which spans apparel, visual identity, editorial work, and art direction. While his commercial practice often involves creating graphics and identities for fashion labels, musicians, and other brands, this investigation required him to consider the physical construction of an object and the experience of using it. The proposed filters remain conceptual, with their safety, comfort, and filtration performance yet to be validated. What makes the work compelling is the attention given to the entire process, from identifying a problem rooted in personal experience to exploring its possibilities through research, modelling, and presentation.
