Case Study
AirBox 20
Desktop air purifier
AirBox 20 introduces a compact and affordable air purifier that transforms indoor air quality into something users can see, trust, and control through simple interactions and clear feedbacks.
When: 2021
Course: Politecnico di Milano, Product Development Design Studio 2
Team: Alice Ballestra, Davide Ferrari, Giacomo Maria Tomesani
A deep skepticism around air purification
In researching about air purifiers and their current market presence, the single biggest sentiment we saw people sharing about them was skepticism. Do they actually do anything? Are they a scam? Are they even worth it? All of this makes sense, since you cannot see air being purified.
are air purifiers safe?
air purifiers worth it?
are purifiers effective?
air purifiers a waste of money?
We breathe more than 11 000 liters of polluted air each day.
On average we spend more than 92% of the time indoors, where pollution is generally 10 times higher than outdoor. Thus air purification simply makes lots of sense. Yet there is a lot of skepticism around it!
anthropogenic pollutants
combustion
allergens
dust, beds, carpets
pets, birds, insects, rodents
dampness
plants
viruses, bacteria
new furniture, solvents, painting, adhesives, insultation, cleaning products, materials for offices
building materials, water
unvented gas/kerosene heaters
biomass (wood/coal) for heating/cooking
tobacco smoke
wood (fireplaces), gas ranges - pilot lights
CO, CO2, NO3, PAHS
CO, CO2, PM, PAHS
CO, CO2, PM, VOCS, PAHS
VOCS
Acarides (HDM)
Pollens
Biological contaminants
Moulds
Radon
VOCS, Formaldehyde
Developing an air purifier that provides understandable feedback about indoor air quality.
Simplicity
Easy-to-read appliances save lots of frustration. Only keeping essential interactions brings clarity.
Clean Way to Change Filters
Users don’t want to get their hands dirty by changing the filter.
Silence
A silent purifier is discrete and does not pollute the soundscape. The less noise, the better.
Reliable filtration techniques
HEPA certification is key for someone who need to trust his purifier.
Adequate Delivery Rate
Specifics must ensure an optimal CADR for a 25 m² room.
Providing feedback helps the user understand and trust purification and purifier as a product.
Understanding Air Quality
Optimal air circulation is obtained when filtered air is blown out in a vertical direction, away from the purifier input.
Vertical output
Axial fans maximize air flow rate and can be run at lower speeds. This means a quieter purifier.
Axial fan
A larger filter requires less pressure to be overcome and makes it possible to run the purifier at lower speeds.
Maximizing filter surface
An impactful language
An essential, stark language convey the idea of a reliable, straightforward product and helps define a very recognisable image. At the same time, they are impactful at modern small scale visualisations when shopping online on smartphones.
Restoring linearity
The linear, repetitive visuals contribute to a meditative visual effect. The core idea behind concept development was to evoke feelings of calm and reliability in the mind of the user through an effective visual language.
Straightforward interaction
AirBox 20 reverts the common “fan speed” approach used on most purifiers for an intuitive human-centered approach. Let the purifier on auto-pilot, push it to its limits or ask it to be quiet.
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AI generated image
Design for assembly
By unscrewing the four threaded feet the 13 layers and the filter can easily be removed and replaced or cleaned from dust. This assembly solution gives AirBox 20 dimensional depth and it ensures an easy disassembly process.
Layering structure
The fascinating synergy that can play off between light and air came as an inspiration from different architectural solutions. Light plays in interesting ways when interacting with regularly repeated features.
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