A pavise, a full-body shield to protect archers and crossbowers, was developed for medieval warfare. While flinging arrows at an opposing force proved effective in the middle ages, reloading took time and put archers in a vulnerable position, and the pavise shield served as cover.

Pavise is also the name of a skin protection brand founded by Sophie Bai, an MIT alum with a biomedical engineering degree. At Pavise’s core is something they call Diamondcore Shield Technology.

DiamondCore is a zinc oxide molecule reinforced with diamonds that Pavise says is suitable for all skin types and provides longer wavelength protection from UVA, UVB, and visible light without leaving a white cast on any skin tone. Pavise wanted the branding and packaging to stand out among its competitors as much as its technology, and it turned to Brooklyn-based design company CENTER to create an identity that strays away from the sterile, minimal, lab-inspired tropes typically found in skincare.