Yan Chen


ATMOblue



Type



Product Design




Role



Project Manager

Ideation

UI/UX Design



Collaborators



Blue Sky Lab Team

DeFacto Beijing

TamoTech



Research Concept Development Outcome



Year



2016-2017


TIME

16 months



ATMOblue is a connected portable air purifier that adjusts airflow based on user activity to maintain positive airflow for easy breathing.




In 2016, 6.1 million deaths worldwide were related to long term exposure to air pollution, with 1.6 million in China alone. Ninety-nine per cent of China’s population live in areas where the annual average particulate pollution level exceeds the WHO guideline, with 5.5 years lower life expectancy in some parts of the country.


How might we help people in polluted urban environments breathe more comfortably throughout the various activities in their daily lives?





Prelude



A map of our research and concept development journey



Blue Sky Lab's mission was to build a space for designers, engineers, and scientists to co-create products for better air, food, and water.





Sketches, prototypes, testing, and manufacturing samples of Feibao accessories



Our first challenge was to make the Feibao—a miniature portable air purifier developed by Broad Group—more user friendly. I designed accessories to adapt it for use by athletes and children.


However, we realized that incremental improvements were not addressing some of the core problems with the product, so we rebooted to begin developing a new product from scratch.



Concept development



Synthesizing research insights into data points for ideation and prototyping a holistic system



As the project manager responsible for establishing Blue Sky Lab and our product direction, I brought together the development and design team to co-design our first product from scratch.


I oversaw the concept development until the device features were scoped out through rapid cycles of product prototyping and user testing. I then focused on the app, prototyping seven iterations based on evolving hardware concepts and working with our engineering partner for implementation. I also supported other work such as hiring new team members and sourcing potential suppliers and manufacturers.




Product ecosystem map and development timeline



As the devices gather user, product, and environmental data, the app processes this data and visualizes the insights so that the user could understand the potential impact that the products and environment have on their health.






Iterations of rough sketches and notes in app ideation process






First version of the app to illustrate a variety of possible modules






App prototype - V1



Initially based on a modular product concept, the app requirements were to provide control and basic indicators for the device, and basic health-related information to the user.


View Prototype

App prototype - V4



By the fourth iteration, the mask was no longer modular. With the decision to add an air quality sensor to the product family, I integrated new testing functionalities into the app, building both an English and Chinese version for user testing.


View Prototype

App prototype - V6



Based on user testing, I simplified the airflow control to be activity-centered, with shortcut access and an optional manual adjustment. I also simplified the air quality test control and the dashboard.


View Prototype

App prototype - V7



This version was created in Chinese to present to a key stakeholder. It integrated all product changes and user feedback before being handed off to an external product development team.


View Prototype

App prototype V7 flow



Outcome



A portable air purifier for the digital age



I worked with TamoTech's software development team to implement the final version of the app that launched along with ATMOblue.