It's the right idea at the right time: Nicolas Olive, event project manager and resourceful designer, is the inventor of the Madge, the mask that doubles as a badge for practical, 100% Covid-friendly events.

Digitevent wanted to interview him quickly so he could tell us more about the origin of his idea, its development, and his vision for the future of events:

  • Hello Nicolas, and congratulations on the success the Madge is having. First of all, how did the idea for the Madge come to you, and how long had you had it in mind?

The idea came to me when I saw masks used as advertising supports for brands or products, but I didn't see any mask with real usefulness or real added value.

So I asked myself in what ways a mask could be used in events, and by listing the different elements found in almost every event, I very quickly found the idea of combining the mask with a badge or a ticket, to control access to a venue or an event.

  • Do you think the current and future health situation will force the events industry to adapt with original solutions like the Madge?

Yes, I think so. For my part, I'm simply offering a solution that can help restart the business and bring events back. We'll need to get used to living with the virus, at least until we find a vaccine or the risk of contamination drops considerably. In the meantime, we'll definitely need creative solutions.

  • What's your opinion on the need to keep holding in-person or hybrid events?

Agencies and service providers had to adapt quickly so as not to lose the entire budgets committed, or events that could very easily be made hybrid or digital.

We did indeed have to fight against postponements and cancellations. But let's not forget that the whole point of events is bringing people together for a given time in a given space. So there's a notion of Human, with a capital H, at the heart of the event.

For me, digital is a tool for events, but it can in no way replace being there in person. I think the next step would be to ask what digital innovation we can actually develop to turn our future events into true 360° experiences. (At Digitevent, we believe this comes through the possibilities of networking and interactions between participants)

I think we should instead focus on the user experience and hybrid interactivity rather than imagining that digital will completely replace in-person events.

  • Great! A more practical question now. What would the price range for a Madge be for an advertiser?

We're between €6 and €8 excl. tax, printed (graphics + personalized technique) and delivered blister-packed.

As you'll have understood, the Madge is a clever solution that addresses the events industry's current challenges. Even though it's a bit more expensive than the traditional approach, it will make an impression on attendees and helps save on materials, PVC badges, and other lanyards, etc.

We appreciate the initiative, even though of course we hope they'll only be necessary for as short a time as possible :)

Also note that the Madge integrates perfectly with Digitevent's badge and access control technology, including for reading QR codes.
We're sure we'll see other creative ideas bloom, since innovation often comes from complicated contexts that demand resilience. Don't hesitate to contact us to show us your great ideas!