Product Design in a Speculative Context.
AIRwhere is a speculative scenario exploring how design can raise awareness for air quality. Set in the year 2050, when clean air has become a scarce luxury, the work imagines a world where humans depend on technology to locate breathable zones.
Rather than predicting the future, it acts as a cautionary fiction of a reflection on our current indifference toward pollution and consumption. AIRwhere is imagined as an extension of the human body, grown from one’s own cells to help locate clean air through vibration feedback.
2022 · HS Magdeburg-Stendal & Ss. Cyril and Methodius University of Skopje
Academic Semester Project · Team
UX Design, Physical Computing, Industrial Design
Process
The AirWhere concept grew out of our future scenario building and deep research into air pollution, supported by participation in the CleanBREATHE research group project. As part of this work we took part in a workshop in Skopje, North Macedonia, where we explored air quality challenges together with local students and citizens.
During this process we applied speculative design tools such as Future Wheel, Personas, and User Journey Mapping to understand how people relate to air pollution and imagine alternative futures. We experimented with several design directions, from playful ideas like “O₂ 2Go,” which imagined portable air solutions, to more reflective concepts like “Direct Consequences,” driven by AI-supported personal feedback. Through iterative testing and refinement, the project evolved toward AIRwhere, chosen for its stronger emotional and sensory presence and ability to meaningfully connect users with their immediate air quality environment.
