#  The Need for PPE: Protecting Our Frontline Healthcare Workers 

 





A website succinctly explains the shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) affecting health care workers during the pandemic. The website’s messages and accompanying campaign posters encourage readers to donate any supplies they can to health care.



 

November 19, 2020

 

 

Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, America was facing a severe shortage of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), such as masks, gowns, and gloves, due to governmental unpreparedness and supply chain issues. The shortage especially impacted health care workers on the front lines, who were unable to adequately protect themselves while caring for COVID-19 patients. The webpage and accompanying posters explain the context of the shortage, encouraging Americans to donate unneeded PPE to health care workers until the supply chain could be restored.

## Artist

Brian Kim (2020)

   ![Blue mask and watermelon print mask.](/sites/g/files/omnuum10866/files/styles/hwp_1_1__720x720_scale/public/2025-09/KimBrian_PPE1.jpg?itok=t10JTg_r) 

 

   ![Handwritten letter and someone receiving their degree.](/sites/g/files/omnuum10866/files/styles/hwp_1_1__720x720_scale/public/2025-09/KimBrian_PPE2.jpg?itok=AJVHKUJU) 

 

   ![Hospital beds.](/sites/g/files/omnuum10866/files/styles/hwp_1_1__720x720_scale/public/2025-09/KimBrian_PPE3.jpg?itok=WLXQDPDI) 

 

## Artist Lens

The motivation for this webpage and the short posters accompanying it comes from news of PPE (personal protective equipment) shortage here in the United States. It is quite shocking that hospitals, especially in regions with higher infection numbers (such as New York City), cannot get masks that would cost under a dollar in normal circumstances. The targeted audience is everyday normal American citizens who do not work in the healthcare industry and are observing respective stay-at-home orders while practicing safe social distancing mechanisms. Since unnecessary outdoor movement is discouraged by nearly all public officials, most Americans probably will not need N-95 masks or (if they have any) gowns and goggles. The hope is that this webpage can inspire them to donate any supplies that they have to healthcare workers while the supply chain is broken. I chose to make a webpage because I thought that a simple poster would not be able to explain all the circumstances and reasoning behind this call-to-action, but I also chose to make this webpage and any corresponding poster/PSA material as simple as possible so everyone can understand the logical sequence without too much trouble. This webpage does not have any material with any graphic visual elements or evidence to support any scientific data (other than the CDC report of healthcare workers exposed to COVID-19), but straightforward images are used so the audience can understand clearly. The goal is simple messaging—relaying the what, why, and how—to achieve the goal of understanding the importance of this issue and encouraging individuals to donate.

## Media

Digital

[Download The Need for PPE: Protecting Our Frontline Healthcare Workers PDF](/file_url/773)



 

 

 



 

 See also:- [ Infectious Diseases/Pandemics ](/topics/infectious-diseases-pandemics)
- [ Poster ](/type/poster)
- [ Website ](/type/website)
 
 

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