Solution
Role
Lead designer and researcher, owning the concept and end to end product design.
Team
Mostly solo project, with light collaboration and feedback at key stages
Timeline
Approximately six months of active project work.
Problem Statement:
Solution
Exploring and refining the right solution
The project began with a wide exploration of possible solutions, considering multiple product and system models before committing to a single approach. I explored alternative concepts across both physical and digital touchpoints, from purely app based tools to more device led interactions, testing how each might support users at different moments in their care journey. Through this exploration, I evaluated each option against usability, clarity, emotional impact, and feasibility, gradually narrowing the scope to a solution that best balanced clinical requirements with everyday usability. In order to also better help me navigate what my final solution would be I created a question which was shared amongst asthmatics and parents of asthmatics to get their perspective of the issues they deal with the most. This process allowed the final direction to feel deliberate and grounded, shaped by trade offs rather than assumptions, and focused on delivering the most meaningful experience for users.
‘Airo’ combines a smart inhaler with a companion app to make asthma management simpler and more effective. The inhaler tracks usage and sends data to the app, which displays key information clearly. Core features include air quality monitoring and integration with wearable devices, creating a more holistic health tool. Designed with user research, surveys, and interviews, Airo focuses on delivering a practical, user-centered solution to the challenges asthmatics face.
Process
Creating Airo from concept to final design
Airo’s creation began with in-depth research, including analysing studies, competitor analysis, and user surveys. With a clear direction, I designed wireframes, developed prototypes, and conducted usability tests to refine the design. I also designed a 3D model of the smart inhaler, following a research-led approach.The journey of building Airo was entirely research-driven and a major learning experience I’m grateful for.
Throughout the project, I relied on both traditional and digital tools. Pen and paper gave me freedom to sketch ideas quickly, while Pinterest and real-world designs provided inspiration. Figma was central for branding and high-fidelity prototypes, with Adobe Illustrator and InDesign supporting brand and report work. Notion helped me document research, track progress, and organize ideas. Together, these tools both new and familiar, were essential in bringing ‘Airo’ to life.
Desk Research & Competitor Analysis
I reviewed existing solutions such as MyAsthma, AsthmaMD, Aflo, Smart Asthma, and Airly. Each offered useful features like symptom tracking, inhaler monitoring, and air quality insights, but many suffered from fragmented experiences, poor design, or limited accessibility. This highlighted an opportunity for Airo to stand out as a unified, user-friendly, and holistic approach to asthma management.
User Interviews, Questionnaires
Sketching, Wireframing & Prototyping
Making The 3D Model
Accessibility
Final Touch
Looking back and moving forward
Airo is a project that’s deeply personal to me, and one I’m incredibly proud of. What began as a passion project quickly evolved into a meaningful design challenge that pushed me to think more critically about systems, usability, and real-world impact. Throughout the process, I was constantly learning, whether that was refining my problem framing, making more intentional design decisions, or balancing ambition with feasibility.
Working on Airo also reinforced that this isn’t just a conceptual exercise. The problems it aims to solve are real, and the need for a solution like this genuinely exists. That’s what motivated me to keep developing it beyond a portfolio piece, entering it into two different Northern Ireland Innovation competitions and being a finalist in both.
Reflection
Looking back, Airo taught me the importance of slowing down and letting insights, not assumptions, drive the design. I learned how valuable it is to test early, challenge my own ideas, and be comfortable changing direction when something isn’t working. Most importantly, the project helped me grow more confident in my decision-making as a designer, trusting both the research and my own judgement to shape a stronger, more considered outcome.
