Designing an Air Quality App That Turns Data into Actionable Health Decisions
Real-time air quality insights and
personalized routes for a healthier
Industry
Environment
Timeframe
2 Weeks
Role
User research, User Journey map, Wireframing, UI design and Prototyping
INTRO & PROBLEM
​Every day, millions of urban residents unknowingly breathe in harmful levels of PM2.5—tiny, invisible particles that pose serious health risks. From chronic respiratory issues to reduced life expectancy, air pollution is a growing, silent crisis. Children, the elderly, and those with preexisting conditions are especially vulnerable. Yet, most people lack the tools or awareness to make safer choices in their daily routines.
Breakdown the problems
Invisible. Harmful. Unavoidable
Air pollution especially PM2.5 poses a serious health risk, yet individuals lack the tools to minimize exposure in their daily lives
Unaware of safer routes
Many people don’t know how to navigate cities while avoiding harmful air pollution
Lacking personalized air advice
Current solutions lack personalized strategies to help users adapt to fluctuating air quality conditions.
Is this true, and have others tried to solve this problem?
Yes, extensive research confirms air pollution’s severe impact on health and daily life. While solutions exist, they often provide only basic data, lacking personalization, actionable insights, and real-world integrations. True change requires empowering users to take action.
News
Research
AirVisual
Airveda
AirVisual
AirNow
Application
EMPATHIZE: UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEMS
Understand how users Think, Say, and Act
I talked and researched then found 3 main pain points and guided my design to solve them this disconnect between information and action highlights the need for solutions that empower individuals to take control of their health and contribute to a cleaner environment
Komsan, 60 years old
Street food Vendor
Komsan is a 60-year-old street food vendor who relies on pushing his cart through busy, polluted streets. Despite his age, he needs to work long hours every day. Due to the nature of his job, he can't easily move away from areas with high pollution, which affects his health, especially his respiratory system.
Tech Proficiency
“I’ve been out here for years—never thought much about the air. If it’s really that bad, someone should tell me what to do in a way I can actually use.”
Goal
To stay healthy while working outdoors and reduce the impact of air pollution on his breathing and overall health—without changing his daily routine
Frustrations (Pain Points)
He is constantly exposed to polluted air but doesn’t recognize the risks or have easy access to protective guidance or tools. He also finds technical apps confusing or irrelevant to his lifestyle
Motivation
He wants to keep working and supporting his family without falling ill or feeling fatigued from the polluted environment
Expectation
A simple, easy-to-understand mobile solution that alerts him when pollution levels are high and suggests basic protective actions—ideally via platforms he already uses like LINE or Facebook
Pornchanok, 33 years old
Senior Marketing Officer
A health-conscious marketing professional, Pornchanok commutes daily by motorbike and train.
She prefers running outdoors to stay fit but often faces air quality concerns
Tech Proficiency
“I just want to know where and when it’s safe to run without spending 10 minutes scrolling through data.”
Goal
wants to stay healthy by avoiding polluted routes during her daily commute and planning safe outdoor runs to maintain her weight. She needs fast, reliable air quality updates that fit into her busy routine.
Frustrations (Pain Points)
She struggles with exposure to high PM2.5 levels while commuting and running. Checking AQI across multiple sources is time consuming and inconvenient, especially during peak hours
Motivation
She’s motivated by her desire to stay fit, protect her long-term health, and make informed decisions quickly without disrupting her schedule
Expectation
She expects a simple, mobile-friendly solution that gives real-time AQI alerts, personalized route suggestions, and optimal outdoor activity times without unnecessary steps
Maliwan, 52 years old
Parent with children
Maliwan is a 52-year-old mother who uses social media daily and is highly engaged in her children’s lives. Living in a city affected by seasonal pollution, she’s anxious about air quality but overwhelmed by complex tools.
Tech Proficiency
"I just want to know when it’s safe for my kids to play outside—but the information is always hard to find or too late."
Goal
To protect her children’s health by avoiding outdoor activities during high-pollution days and planning safe outings during clean-air periods.
Frustrations (Pain Points)
She struggles to find simple, reliable, and real-time air quality information. The current tools feel too complex or unclear, and she often finds out about poor air quality after symptoms appear in her children.
Motivation
Her children’s well-being. She wants to be proactive in shielding them from the effects of pollution, especially during seasonal events like the burning season.
Expectation
A user-friendly app that gives her clear, real-time air quality alerts, recommendations for safe outdoor areas, and personalized warnings when pollution levels are high.
Key Painpoint
Lack of Awareness
Users are unaware of the long-term health effects of daily exposure to air pollution
No Access to Protective Tools
Users lack affordable and practical solutions to reduce exposure during outdoor activities
Limited Real-Time Information
Users struggle to get timely updates on air quality to adjust their routes or routines
Key Goal
Protect health
User want actionable tips and alerts to safeguard myself and my family
Plan smarter
User want routes and activities that minimize pollution exposure
Stay informed
User want real-time air quality updates to make safer daily decisions
DEFINE: PROBLEM STATEMENT
Problems Statement
People often lack real-time awareness of air pollution and its impact on their daily activities. They need a simple tool that provides air quality updates and personalized recommendations to stay safe and breathe better in polluted environments.
Vision
To empower everyone to breathe healthier by providing real-time air quality insights and personalized guidance making clean, informed breathing decisions a part of everyday life.
IDEATION: EXPLORE SOLUTION
Designing seamless experiences that inspire informed actions for healthier living.​
​​After designing the user journey, I created wireframes based on user behaviors and needs, focusing on real-time air quality updates and seamless navigation. Each screen addressed key user concerns, while interactive prototypes validated the design through usability testing, ensuring an intuitive and empowering experience for proactive health decisions.
What is the AQI level of my location?
This will be the first information they see.
How does the AQI level impact me?
When they know the AQI level, they want to know how it impacts them.
What should I do to stay safe?
This will be the first information they see.
Am I safe now?
The user will feel reassured and safe when they are confident they are following the recommendations.
User think Primary information
User think Secondary information
Air Quality Index
Empowering Users to Take Immediate and Informed Action Against Air Pollution
This screen is designed with a single, unified goal is to provide users with a clear, step-by-step understanding of their current air quality situation and guide them toward actionable steps for safety
Route Planning
Enable users to quickly and easily identify and locate nearby safe zones with minimal air pollution​
This screen is designed to empower users to make informed decisions about their daily activities and reduce their exposure to harmful pollutants.
User think Primary information
User think Secondary information
Is the destination is safe?
They can type in their desired destination.
What is the route from here to the destination?
They see the route to the destination on the map.
What is the best way to go?
A.I recommend the best route
to destination that
help user to make quick a decision
Where is the nearest safe zone to my current location?
They can choose a destination they want to check.
Where is the nearest safe zone to my current location?
They can TAP the button to find nearby safe zome
User think Primary information
User think Secondary information
Find Safe Zone
Empowering Users to Seek in Healthier Spaces
This screen is thoughtfully crafted to help users identify and reach nearby zones with safer, cleaner air offering peace of mind and a healthier environment when they need it most.
Testing in early state
Conducted early usability testing with real users to observe how they interacted with the screen, focusing on how they interpreted air quality information and navigated key details.
Data
Information Overload Confused Users About Air Quality and Risks
However, after test results revealed that users struggled to identify key information due to an overload of unnecessary details, leaving them uncertain about the air quality, current state, and potential dangers
​
"I just wanna know if it’s okay to be here…
but there’s so much stuff on the screen, I get confused and worried."
Komsan ,Steet food vendor
Background
Users Struggled to Understand Current Air Conditions
However, during user testing, it became clear that users struggled to understand the current air conditions. As a result, we decided to switch to a more realistic background image to better convey the atmosphere.
Pornchanok , Senior Marketing Officer
"I can’t tell if the air is good or bad, and it makes me feel like I’m not aware of how dangerous it could be when the air is really bad."
.jpg)
PROTOTYPE: BRING DESIGN TO LIFE
Designing seamless experiences that inspire informed actions for healthier living.​
After reviewing the test results and conducting further research, I enhanced new version and these screens to deliver a more intuitive and user-centered experience
A Breathe of a fresh start
Begin the journey with the onboarding experience to introduce the benefits to users toward a healthier lifestyle. From discovering nearby safe places to planning routes with the cleanest air and receiving timely pollution alerts,
Air Quality Index
See the unseen danger
Users navigate their daily lives unaware of hidden pollutants in the air. Highlight how real-time AQI, health impacts, and tailored recommendations
Problem
Users struggled to understand the air quality due to too much on-screen information, making it hard to spot what truly mattered
Solution
To reduce confusion and build user confidence, I redesigned the interface to highlight key air quality data and added a simple checklist. This helps users quickly see what health precautions they’ve already taken and what steps they might still need when pollution levels are high.
Route Planning
A Safe journey ahead
A.I. analyzes and suggests the safest and cleanest routes, ensuring users can travel with confidence and peace of mind.
Problem
Users lacked guidance on which routes were safest during high pollution, leading to uncertainty and risk while traveling.
Solution
To support better decision-making, I designed the experience to offer users more route options—powered by AI that analyzes and recommends the healthiest path, helping them choose what’s best for their journey.
Find Safe Zone
Safety a your fingertips
​"Just 1 tap" to find a safe place in the user's location, making safety more accessible and achievable
Problem
In moments of high pollution, users often feel unsure where to go or what to do. They lack quick, reliable access to nearby safe zones, which leads to hesitation and increased exposure to unhealthy air.
Solution
To help users feel safer and more confident during high pollution, I designed a one-tap feature that instantly guides them to the nearest safe zone—making protection quick, simple, and trustworthy.
No option? No problem
The "Find Safe Place" feature is designed to make it easy for users to discover nearby safe zones with a single tap. However, when air quality data is unavailable or no safe zones are nearby, users may feel frustrated or uncertain about their next steps. Addressing these "unhappy cases" ensures that the feature remains valuable and supportive, even in challenging situations.
EXPANDING AWARNESS
Real-Time AQI Alerts on Your Wrist
Stay informed and proactive with real-time air quality updates and health alerts delivered straight to your smartwatch. Enhancing awareness through wearable technology, this seamless solution keeps you safe and engaged every step of the way.
Why I Design
Users need quick, on-the-go access to air quality updates. Research shows smartwatch usage is on the rise, and users increasingly rely on them for health tracking. Delivering real-time AQI alerts to the wrist meets users where they are—enhancing awareness and encouraging immediate action.
Number of users of smartwatches worldwide
from 2020 to 2029
Reserch by www.Statista.com
Risk of not designing it
Without this feature, users may miss sudden AQI changes, leading to delayed responses and higher health risks especially for sensitive groups. It also reduces engagement due to lack of timely, accessible information.
Business value
This feature boosts user trust, increases app retention, and aligns with wearable tech trends. It positions the product as proactive, health-focused, and competitive in a growing digital wellness market.
Final Outcome & Impact
Based on industry benchmarks and logical projections for air quality monitoring applications estimated key metrics to evaluate the app's potential for user engagement and revenue generation
10 +
Daily Active User (DAU)
Health and wellness apps typically see 15–20% of monthly users active daily. With personalized alerts and simplified interfaces, this app is projected to surpass the 10-user DAU benchmark within the first 30 days post-launch.
Why it matter
Indicates daily engagement and the app’s habit-forming potential.
25-30%
Retention Rate
Consistent with retention seen in successful wellness and weather apps. Retention is supported by proactive alerts, trusted recommendations, and real-time environmental data that keep users returning during high-risk periods.
Why it matter
Shows the app’s ability to bring users back after initial use.
60%
Feature Usage Rate
Location-based apps show strong engagement with core utility features. “Find Safe Place” is expected to reach 60% usage due to its urgency-driven value, single-tap interaction model, and contextual visibility during pollution spikes.
Why it matter
Measures engagement with the app’s core value helping users avoid pollution.
Next Project
