A team of students at Arizona State University has made it to the top 10 in a worldwide mask design competition.

The goal is to build a better face mask to prevent the spread of COVID-19 by making it comfortable, functional and affordable.

The XPRIZE Next-Gen Mask Challenge drew nearly 1,000 entries from more than 70 countries. Students from ASU’s Luminosity Lab sent in their design a few months ago and should know if they advance to the top five by next month.

Arizona State University

ASU student John Patterson demonstrates his team's mask design.

Team lead Nikhil Dave said they focused on making the masks more appealing to those who don’t want to wear them by eliminating some of the key irritants.

“We’ve got one extra pocket that kind of lays over the front of the mask that allows us to separate air that’s breathed through the nose from air that’s breathed through the mouth," Dave said. "We actually have the ability to kind of reduce some of that fogging of the glasses, some of the hot air that lays on the face, keeping kind of a breathable, cool environment.” 

The winning team will get a cash prize and be connected to rapid manufacturing opportunities to speed up the production of the new mask design.

People vote for their favorite design on the competition website until Nov. 25.