HexAir-Air Pollution Monitoring Educational Toy

Three questions for the project team

What was the particular challenge of the project from a UX point of view?
Designing an engaging and educational experience that effectively combines real-time air quality monitoring with interactive, gamified learning. Balancing the complexity of environmental data with child-friendly interfaces, ensuring ease of use, and maintaining engagement across diverse age groups were key hurdles. Additionally, integrating the device seamlessly into daily routines and school curricula while providing actionable insights and fostering community collaboration added layers of complexity to the UX design. But closely collaborating with teachers and children maintained a continuous feedback loop balancing these challenges for a seamless, enjoyable interaction.

What was your personal highlight in the development process? Was there an aha!-moment, was there a low point?
One particular highlight was developing a design that can truly change people's lives and having the opportunity to interact with and test the prototype with a range of different stakeholders. Seeing the positive engagement towards the design and how it will positively affect the public's UX using the device was incredibly rewarding. Initially, I felt overwhelmed by the diverse stakeholder groups I was targeting, but speaking with various people—from charities to teachers and children—clarified my focus. Watching children walk through the screens and play the games with genuine excitement about learning air pollution was especially fulfilling.

Where do you see yourself and the project in the next five years?
This project is very personal to me, inspired by my family's experiences with pollution in developing countries and the UK. I hope HexAir encourages people worldwide to recognize the urgency of addressing pollution and climate change. By integrating into school curricula, I envision younger generations learning that they can make a difference. My goal is for HexAir to inspire collective action for a more sustainable future, showing that change is possible when everyone is involved. This product has inspired me to continue designing for others and make a difference where individuals may not be in the position to do so themselves, preparing for a digital age and encourage more people to break into the field of design to save the planet.