📍 Amsterdam, NL

Contact

📍 Amsterdam, NL

Contact

Blueair

Redesigning the Blueair application to provide a better customer experience for people owning air purifiers in their homes or workplaces.

Project goal

Bringing up App Store ratings

The client clearly defined the goal. They would like a brand new app in the App Store and Google Play Store with an average rating higher than 4.0 (the previous version got less than 1.5 in some countries). This app has to be ready by the beginning of the second fiscal quarter to complement Blueair’s release of a new, cutting-edge air purifier product family while also being compatible with legacy products.

Project goal

Bringing up App Store ratings

The client clearly defined the goal. They would like a brand new app in the App Store and Google Play Store with an average rating higher than 4.0 (the previous version got less than 1.5 in some countries). This app has to be ready by the beginning of the second fiscal quarter to complement Blueair’s release of a new, cutting-edge air purifier product family while also being compatible with legacy products.

Project goal

Bringing up App Store ratings

The client clearly defined the goal. They would like a brand new app in the App Store and Google Play Store with an average rating higher than 4.0 (the previous version got less than 1.5 in some countries). This app has to be ready by the beginning of the second fiscal quarter to complement Blueair’s release of a new, cutting-edge air purifier product family while also being compatible with legacy products.

Blueair air purifier

Research

Research

Research

Usertesting the physical and digital product ondboarding with the previous app.

Culture and pollution history greatly influences how people use air purifiers.

Culture and pollution history greatly influences how people use air purifiers.

Culture and pollution history greatly influences how people use air purifiers.

Getting to know our audience

Turning the Chinese and US customer base into effective personas

The target audience was incredibly diverse, with the two most crucial segments being the most distinct, namely China and the USA.

One of the most characteristic differences were how many times people want to interact with their air purifier to make sure it is doing its job.

Many users told us that they would prefer a one-button app that can help to forget about air quality. On the other hand, many people want to make sure that they are making the most of a machine seen as an investment for their health and well-being. The latter group also uses the same air purifier in different rooms throughout the day, monitoring when indoor pollution drops to an acceptable level before moving in.

Getting to know our audience

Turning the Chinese and US customer base into effective personas

The target audience was incredibly diverse, with the two most crucial segments being the most distinct, namely China and the USA.

One of the most characteristic differences were how many times people want to interact with their air purifier to make sure it is doing its job.

Many users told us that they would prefer a one-button app that can help to forget about air quality. On the other hand, many people want to make sure that they are making the most of a machine seen as an investment for their health and well-being. The latter group also uses the same air purifier in different rooms throughout the day, monitoring when indoor pollution drops to an acceptable level before moving in.

Getting to know our audience

Turning the Chinese and US customer base into effective personas

The target audience was incredibly diverse, with the two most crucial segments being the most distinct, namely China and the USA.

One of the most characteristic differences were how many times people want to interact with their air purifier to make sure it is doing its job.

Many users told us that they would prefer a one-button app that can help to forget about air quality. On the other hand, many people want to make sure that they are making the most of a machine seen as an investment for their health and well-being. The latter group also uses the same air purifier in different rooms throughout the day, monitoring when indoor pollution drops to an acceptable level before moving in.

“Air pollution is invisible; air purifiers are loud. How do we prove that it’s worth it to turn them on?”

“Air pollution is invisible; air purifiers are loud. How do we prove that it’s worth it to turn them on?”

“Air pollution is invisible; air purifiers are loud. How do we prove that it’s worth it to turn them on?”

2 high level customer journey in order to lay out the most important differences between the US and China markets’ customer experiences.

Design

Design

Design

Single Home Screen

Outdoor & indoor metrics
We placed the air purifier's performance in the context of indoor versus outdoor air quality to show the incredible performance these machines provide. This structure also encourages a more conscious device usage by letting the machine work only when necessary and making sure it did.

Intuitive correlation
There is a possibility of checking the history of performance to see how it correlates to outside air quality on the next screen and in more details by expanding sections.

Single Home Screen

Outdoor & indoor metrics
We placed the air purifier's performance in the context of indoor versus outdoor air quality to show the incredible performance these machines provide. This structure also encourages a more conscious device usage by letting the machine work only when necessary and making sure it did.

Intuitive correlation
There is a possibility of checking the history of performance to see how it correlates to outside air quality on the next screen and in more details by expanding sections.

Single Home Screen

Outdoor & indoor metrics
We placed the air purifier's performance in the context of indoor versus outdoor air quality to show the incredible performance these machines provide. This structure also encourages a more conscious device usage by letting the machine work only when necessary and making sure it did.

Intuitive correlation
There is a possibility of checking the history of performance to see how it correlates to outside air quality on the next screen and in more details by expanding sections.

Outdoor and indoor air quality are directly related and the machine's performance can only be evaluated in this context.

Late stage wireframes of home and product screen

Final UI design of home and product screen

Progressive disclosure

Learning about air quality to highlights its importance

Display different levels of information separately to avoid cognitive overload.
Information and actions are available on the home screen that covers this application's most crucial user cases. Detailed information about indoor and outdoor air quality is shown further down in the hierarchy, presenting information when and where it is needed to balance the cognitive load.

Progressive disclosure

Learning about air quality to highlights its importance

Display different levels of information separately to avoid cognitive overload.
Information and actions are available on the home screen that covers this application's most crucial user cases. Detailed information about indoor and outdoor air quality is shown further down in the hierarchy, presenting information when and where it is needed to balance the cognitive load.

Progressive disclosure

Learning about air quality to highlights its importance

Display different levels of information separately to avoid cognitive overload.
Information and actions are available on the home screen that covers this application's most crucial user cases. Detailed information about indoor and outdoor air quality is shown further down in the hierarchy, presenting information when and where it is needed to balance the cognitive load.

Learning about air quality helps people see the real value of air purifiers.

Most important info on home screen.

Metric specific charts a tap away.


Nevertheless, using them remains simple without having to learn.

Product page

In depth information under Read More.

Air quality details

Rich information at a glance, details one tap away

Users who have specific health reasons to become customers were conscious of the meaning of these values. For the rest, the colors indicate how the current AQI (cumulative value) is calculated.

Air quality details

Rich information at a glance, details one tap away

Users who have specific health reasons to become customers were conscious of the meaning of these values. For the rest, the colors indicate how the current AQI (cumulative value) is calculated.

Air quality details

Rich information at a glance, details one tap away

Users who have specific health reasons to become customers were conscious of the meaning of these values. For the rest, the colors indicate how the current AQI (cumulative value) is calculated.

Swipe for quick actions.

Interact with the air purifier quickly and efficiently

Interactions used multiple times a day like: turning the air purifier on and off or putting it in automatic and night mode is available by swiping the purifier's card on the home screen. Further actions and information are available after tapping the card.

Swipe for quick actions.

Interact with the air purifier quickly and efficiently

Interactions used multiple times a day like: turning the air purifier on and off or putting it in automatic and night mode is available by swiping the purifier's card on the home screen. Further actions and information are available after tapping the card.

Swipe for quick actions.

Interact with the air purifier quickly and efficiently

Interactions used multiple times a day like: turning the air purifier on and off or putting it in automatic and night mode is available by swiping the purifier's card on the home screen. Further actions and information are available after tapping the card.

A good case for neumorphic elements

Visual continuity between physical and digital interface

We used them in case of features available on the physical product to create a sense of oneness between the app and the air purifiers.

The application’s most important raison d’etre is to create a bridge between the physical air purifier device and the user. Neumorphic elements have a mix of physical and digital visual cues.

A good case for neumorphic elements

Visual continuity between physical and digital interface

We used them in case of features available on the physical product to create a sense of oneness between the app and the air purifiers.

The application’s most important raison d’etre is to create a bridge between the physical air purifier device and the user. Neumorphic elements have a mix of physical and digital visual cues.

A good case for neumorphic elements

Visual continuity between physical and digital interface

We used them in case of features available on the physical product to create a sense of oneness between the app and the air purifiers.

The application’s most important raison d’etre is to create a bridge between the physical air purifier device and the user. Neumorphic elements have a mix of physical and digital visual cues.

Neumorphism: A mix between skeumorphism (mimicking physical objects) and minimalism.

Communicating with colors, words, numbers, and shapes

Air quality is a relatively obscure science of which the understanding among the target audience varies a lot.

In China, air pollution has been part of everyday conversations for a long time, while in the US, the general understanding is not so high. Some of the most critical indicators have abbreviations only half of our users understand, but those who do expect to see them.

We relied heavily on colors, words, numbers, and graphs to put detailed air quality information in context, even for those who don’t understand the basics.

Educational material is also widely available in the app without overcrowding the most often used pages.

Communicating with colors, words, numbers, and shapes

Air quality is a relatively obscure science of which the understanding among the target audience varies a lot.

In China, air pollution has been part of everyday conversations for a long time, while in the US, the general understanding is not so high. Some of the most critical indicators have abbreviations only half of our users understand, but those who do expect to see them.

We relied heavily on colors, words, numbers, and graphs to put detailed air quality information in context, even for those who don’t understand the basics.

Educational material is also widely available in the app without overcrowding the most often used pages.

Communicating with colors, words, numbers, and shapes

Air quality is a relatively obscure science of which the understanding among the target audience varies a lot.

In China, air pollution has been part of everyday conversations for a long time, while in the US, the general understanding is not so high. Some of the most critical indicators have abbreviations only half of our users understand, but those who do expect to see them.

We relied heavily on colors, words, numbers, and graphs to put detailed air quality information in context, even for those who don’t understand the basics.

Educational material is also widely available in the app without overcrowding the most often used pages.

Assigning air purifier to geographic location

One at the office, one at home in the living room, one in the kitchen

Comparing indoor and outdoor air quality to see the value our air purifiers provide reassures our users that they made the right buying decision while also informing them when it is useful to turn the device on or not.

While in some countries, air purifiers are a relatively rare occurrence, in others where air pollution is rampant, they are part of everyday life. As so, a single user might operate multiple devices in different locations. At home, at the workplace, and maybe at their vacation home too.

We challenged ourselves to design an easy way to tell the app what location a purifier is located so that we can overlay indoor and outdoor air quality graphs.

Users can either assign a location to the air purifier on the device-specific product page or appoint one or more air purifiers to a single location on the map.

Assigning air purifier to geographic location

One at the office, one at home in the living room, one in the kitchen

Comparing indoor and outdoor air quality to see the value our air purifiers provide reassures our users that they made the right buying decision while also informing them when it is useful to turn the device on or not.

While in some countries, air purifiers are a relatively rare occurrence, in others where air pollution is rampant, they are part of everyday life. As so, a single user might operate multiple devices in different locations. At home, at the workplace, and maybe at their vacation home too.

We challenged ourselves to design an easy way to tell the app what location a purifier is located so that we can overlay indoor and outdoor air quality graphs.

Users can either assign a location to the air purifier on the device-specific product page or appoint one or more air purifiers to a single location on the map.

Assigning air purifier to geographic location

One at the office, one at home in the living room, one in the kitchen

Comparing indoor and outdoor air quality to see the value our air purifiers provide reassures our users that they made the right buying decision while also informing them when it is useful to turn the device on or not.

While in some countries, air purifiers are a relatively rare occurrence, in others where air pollution is rampant, they are part of everyday life. As so, a single user might operate multiple devices in different locations. At home, at the workplace, and maybe at their vacation home too.

We challenged ourselves to design an easy way to tell the app what location a purifier is located so that we can overlay indoor and outdoor air quality graphs.

Users can either assign a location to the air purifier on the device-specific product page or appoint one or more air purifiers to a single location on the map.

  1. Assign location

  2. Assign device

  3. View at the same time

Assign location

Assign device

Outdoor and indoor air quality on the same graph

  1. Assign location

  2. Assign device

  3. View at the same time

Estimated Time Ahead for clean air

It depends on many factors

From all the different metrics we found that by far the most important for the majority of users is the “clean air ETA”

It was not evident though, how we should display this information for the user in a visual way. We talked through the different options to show with different stakeholders. We decided to use an absolute scale for showing the estimated time remaining while also showing current air quality with a background color.

Estimated Time Ahead for clean air

It depends on many factors

From all the different metrics we found that by far the most important for the majority of users is the “clean air ETA”

It was not evident though, how we should display this information for the user in a visual way. We talked through the different options to show with different stakeholders. We decided to use an absolute scale for showing the estimated time remaining while also showing current air quality with a background color.

Estimated Time Ahead for clean air

It depends on many factors

From all the different metrics we found that by far the most important for the majority of users is the “clean air ETA”

It was not evident though, how we should display this information for the user in a visual way. We talked through the different options to show with different stakeholders. We decided to use an absolute scale for showing the estimated time remaining while also showing current air quality with a background color.

Demonstration of different options to show air quality ETA visually.

Strategy

Lack of digital roadmap
When the project started, we had to make sure that we start delivering design as soon as possible. However, we always try to form a more strategic and longterm collaboration rather than a project-based one. We realised that there is no updated strategic roadmap available that focuses on the digital experience of Blueair. Their focus was on the physical design and engineering of their Purifier instead of the digital.

Ecological and social outlook
We grounded our roadmap in what we learned so far during the project about the users, the competitors, and the ecological and socio-cultural outlook of air purification and health sciences. After collecting all the features that we or any other stakeholder mentioned so far, we grouped the similar ones and created meaningful themes.

Anticipating opportunities
We used an effort-impact matrix to sort the themes based on how many resources we anticipate is needed for them versus how much value they provide to business and users. Having the themes weighted, we organized them with small overlapping areas after each other on the upcoming year's roadmap. After this, we defined the focus areas of digital development for each quarter. The closer they are to the present, the more certain, and further into the future, they are more assumptive and broad. When ready, we presented and handed over the roadmap to the team in Blueair.

Strategy

Lack of digital roadmap
When the project started, we had to make sure that we start delivering design as soon as possible. However, we always try to form a more strategic and longterm collaboration rather than a project-based one. We realised that there is no updated strategic roadmap available that focuses on the digital experience of Blueair. Their focus was on the physical design and engineering of their Purifier instead of the digital.

Ecological and social outlook
We grounded our roadmap in what we learned so far during the project about the users, the competitors, and the ecological and socio-cultural outlook of air purification and health sciences. After collecting all the features that we or any other stakeholder mentioned so far, we grouped the similar ones and created meaningful themes.

Anticipating opportunities
We used an effort-impact matrix to sort the themes based on how many resources we anticipate is needed for them versus how much value they provide to business and users. Having the themes weighted, we organized them with small overlapping areas after each other on the upcoming year's roadmap. After this, we defined the focus areas of digital development for each quarter. The closer they are to the present, the more certain, and further into the future, they are more assumptive and broad. When ready, we presented and handed over the roadmap to the team in Blueair.

Strategy

Lack of digital roadmap
When the project started, we had to make sure that we start delivering design as soon as possible. However, we always try to form a more strategic and longterm collaboration rather than a project-based one. We realised that there is no updated strategic roadmap available that focuses on the digital experience of Blueair. Their focus was on the physical design and engineering of their Purifier instead of the digital.

Ecological and social outlook
We grounded our roadmap in what we learned so far during the project about the users, the competitors, and the ecological and socio-cultural outlook of air purification and health sciences. After collecting all the features that we or any other stakeholder mentioned so far, we grouped the similar ones and created meaningful themes.

Anticipating opportunities
We used an effort-impact matrix to sort the themes based on how many resources we anticipate is needed for them versus how much value they provide to business and users. Having the themes weighted, we organized them with small overlapping areas after each other on the upcoming year's roadmap. After this, we defined the focus areas of digital development for each quarter. The closer they are to the present, the more certain, and further into the future, they are more assumptive and broad. When ready, we presented and handed over the roadmap to the team in Blueair.

Very high level roadmap containing themes to work on

3 Models that influenced our way of thinking:

The User Experience Pyramid, Kano model, and how uncertainty grows when we peer into the future.

Results

App Store rating 4+ in most regions
  • In spite of the technical challenges the platform faces an overwhelming amount of the comments regarding the UXUI are positive on the App Store

Daily active users increased (DAU+)
  • People use the application to control their air purifiers much more often since the new design was deployed.

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