2024

AsthmaAware

Empowering asthmatics with

real-time environmental insights

How might we help asthmatics stay one step ahead of their triggers?

role

Product Designer

deliverables

Wearable, Mobile App

Team

Solo

tools

Figma, Arduino, Bolt.new

Timeline

6 months

context

A thesis project to design beyond the screen.

For my Master’s thesis in Human Experience Design Interaction (HXDI), I set out to break out of digital-only thinking. AsthmaAware became an opportunity to design both a physical product and digital experience.

the problem

50% Of asthmatics are

triggered by environmental factors

Over 260 million people live with asthma. While it’s a manageable condition, 60–80% have allergic asthma, and more than half are triggered by environmental factors.

survey

A gap in real-time environmental alerts


80% want them — but only 30% actually monitor conditions

Survey results showed 80% want real-time alerts for air quality, temperature, and humidity. But, only 30% currently monitor these factors — despite environmental triggers being a major concern for most asthmatics.


Most tools are generic, and lack real-time, personalized insights, keeping users reactive rather than proactive.

“Whether it’s okay for me to breathe well in the current situation and not need to take precautionary measures.”

“Something that can notify me about the air quality daily and if it is safe for me personally to breathe the air.”

interviews

Daily struggles with tracking triggers

Cold air, humidity, and allergens are hard to track without timely alerts

Through 1:1 interviews, I uncovered key needs:

  • Kylie struggles with cold air and wanted personalized real-time alerts

  • Serena found it hard to track humidity and said notifications would help her manage her asthma

“The hardest part was even recognizing the triggers. I wish I had something that could help me track the humidity in real time.”

Serena

Recently Diagnosed Asthmatic

Recently Diagnosed Asthmatic

Recently Diagnosed Asthmatic

Recently Diagnosed Asthmatic

insights

No personalized monitoring,

no real-time alerts, &

low trigger awareness


so how might we solve them?


From interviews and survey data, three key pain points emerged:

  • Lack of personalized monitoring: Existing tools are too broad and fail to deliver user-specific insights

  • Need for real-time alerts: People want immediate notifications about changes in air quality, temperature, and humidity

  • Unawareness of environmental triggers: Many struggle to recognize triggers like weather shifts or pollutants until symptoms appear


These insights shaped the next phase of the project:

building a passive, real-time system tailored to individual needs.

How might we empower asthmatics with real-time, personalized alerts to stay ahead of triggers?

the solution

A connected system for proactive asthma management

AsthmaAware combines a wearable device and mobile app to help people act before symptoms start.

  • Shows live environmental data from sensor

  • Sends trigger alerts based on real-time environmental conditions

  • Provides daily tips and reminders for prevention

hardware development

Wearable sensor for real-time environmental monitoring

Built around the Arduino Nicla Sense ME for monitoring air quality, temperature, and humidity. Data is sent via Bluetooth to the app for real-time insights.

  • Housing designed in collaboration with Industrial Designer

  • Lightweight and portable for daily wear

  • Fabricated using PLA plastic, silicone, and a 250mAh lithium battery

3D Modeling

Developed in collaboration with Alexander Burkeman, Industrial Designer.

Developed in collaboration with Alexander Burkeman, Industrial Designer.

Developed in collaboration with Alexander Burkeman, Industrial Designer.

nicla sense me

nicla sense me

nicla sense me

nicla sense me

early prototype

early prototype

early prototype

early prototype

final prototype

final prototype

final prototype

final prototype

Software development

Flexible, user-tested app with live data streaming

Developed using Bolt.new and connected to the Nicla Sense ME via Chrome browser Bluetooth (BLE) for real-time data streaming.

  • Bento grid layout for modular updates

  • Tested with real users for functionality and clarity

  • Visual polish was secondary due to time constraints and AI-assisted development

App Iterations

App Iterations

App Iterations

Outcome

Small prototype, big potential — and people liked it

Usability testing showed the system was intuitive and genuinely improved asthma management.

  • Faster logging: Track attacks and triggers in a few taps

  • Clearer insights: Real-time updates prompted early action

  • Future potential: Some expressed interest in more integrations with wearable devices (like smartwatches) for real-time alerts without needing to check their phones.

“I love how the app gives me real-time updates on air quality. It’s so much easier to stay on top of my asthma triggers without constantly checking the weather or other apps.”

Dakota

Diagnosed Asthmatic

Reflections

Clarity and simplicity over complexity

Initially, I aimed to do too much — thinking more features meant more value. Instead, I learned the importance of simplifying scope and polishing core features.


If I could redo it:

  • Narrow the vision earlier

  • Focus on fewer, deeper features

  • Let user research guide the must-haves, not the nice-to-haves