PRAMAN

Overview

Praan is a deep-tech startup democratizing access to clean air through innovative purification technology. Their hardware — the HIVE for commercial spaces and MK II for industrial facilities — needed a digital companion that could make air quality data meaningful and device management effortless. Pramaan is the IoT-enabled mobile application I designed to connect users with their Praan purifiers. It provides real-time air quality monitoring, device health tracking, spatial scanning for optimal placement, and an educational layer that helps users understand the science behind what they're breathing.

My Role

I was the sole designer on this project, working on it as a design assignment for the company. My responsibilities included: • End-to-end UX design — from research and information architecture to hi-fi screens • Defining the interaction model for IoT device management • Designing data visualization for air quality metrics • Creating a spatial scanning flow for purifier placement • Building an educational content framework • Establishing a minimal, trust-forward visual language

The Problem

Commercial spaces face significant challenges in managing indoor air quality. The core issues: • Limited awareness — most facility managers don't understand AQI readings or what constitutes dangerous pollutant levels • Inadequate understanding of pollutants — PM2.5, PM10, and their health implications are invisible to most people • Ineffective use of purification systems — purifiers are often poorly placed, poorly maintained, and running without any feedback loop • No connection between data and action — even when air quality data exists, users don't know what to do with it There was a clear need for a solution that doesn't just display numbers, but translates complex environmental data into actionable insights and makes managing purification hardware intuitive.

Design Goals

The Linear Stack — three-layer design approach

I defined three core objectives that formed the design's "linear stack": 1. Increase public awareness — help users understand why air quality matters and what the real health risks are 2. Make the science simple — translate AQI data, particulate matter readings, and pollutant types into language anyone can understand 3. Make the product accessible — ensure device setup, monitoring, and maintenance require zero technical expertise

Information Architecture

Information architecture mapping all app modules and their sub-features

The app is structured around four core modules, each accessible from a bottom navigation bar: • Air Quality — real-time AQI index, PM2.5/PM10 readings, historical data, ideal levels, and actionable tips • Device Info — status, filter health, positioning, and maintenance for each connected purifier (MK One, MK One 2, IoT Device) • Scan Space — AR-based room scanning to guide optimal purifier placement • Learning — educational content covering health effects, measurement methods, environmental impact, and AQI improvement tips Each module was designed to stand alone while connecting back to a unified home dashboard that surfaces the most critical information at a glance.

Wireframes

Wireframe explorations for core app screens and navigation flows

I started with low-fidelity wireframes to map out the core flows before committing to visual design. This helped validate the information hierarchy and navigation model early. Key decisions made at this stage: • Home screen as a dashboard hub with quick-access cards for each module • Progressive disclosure — surface summary data first, let users drill into details • Consistent card-based layout across all sections for scannability

Visual Direction

Style inspiration — Simple, Soft, Contrast, Balance

The visual language was guided by four principles: Simple, Soft, Contrast, and Balance. I chose a predominantly monochrome palette with selective color use — yellow for highlighting active data points and status indicators, and color gradients only for the AQI scale where color-coding is essential for quick comprehension. The minimal aesthetic reinforces trust and keeps the focus on the data that matters.

Home Screen

Home dashboard — all critical data surfaced in one view

The home screen acts as a command center, surfacing the most critical data from each module in a single view: • Current AQI level with severity label (Good/Moderate/Poor) • Device status with connected hardware count • Scan space accuracy percentage for placement optimization • Learning module entry point Each card is tappable, leading to its full module. The design prioritizes glanceability — a facility manager checking in during their day should get the full picture in under 3 seconds.

Air Quality Monitoring

Air Quality screen — AQI index, pollutant breakdown, and historical data

The air quality screen translates raw sensor data into understandable information: • AQI index displayed prominently with a color-coded severity scale • PM2.5 and PM10 readings broken out individually with their own status indicators • Location-aware data (Pune, MH, IND) with temperature and humidity context • Historical forecast data showing AQI, PM2.5, and PM10 trends over time The color gradient bar (Good → Bad) gives instant visual feedback without requiring users to memorize number thresholds.

Device Management

Device management — status overview for all connected purifiers

The device info section gives users full visibility into their connected purifiers: • Each device card shows status (ON/OFF), position, filter health percentage, and last check date • Expand view reveals a detailed technical illustration of the purifier with component-level health indicators • "Needs Attention" alerts use a pulsing red indicator to draw focus to maintenance needs I used line-art illustrations of the hardware to help users identify physical components without needing technical documentation.

Device Detail & Health

MK One detail view — component-level health diagnostics with visual indicators

Drilling into a specific device reveals granular status information: • Component-level health visualization with the actual purifier anatomy • Red pulse indicator on specific components that need attention • Status, position, filter percentage, and health rating at a glance This diagnostic view helps facility managers understand not just that something needs attention, but exactly where the issue is on the physical device.

Scan Space

Scan Space — AR-guided room scanning for optimal purifier placement

The scan space feature uses the phone's camera to help users find optimal purifier placement: • Phone-guided room scanning with real-time feedback • Placement accuracy scoring to indicate how well-positioned a purifier is • Position guides based on room geometry and airflow patterns This feature directly addresses the problem of ineffective purifier placement — one of the key reasons commercial spaces don't get full value from their air purification investment.

Learning Module

Learning module — educational content on air quality health effects and measurement

The learning section closes the awareness gap by educating users on air quality fundamentals: • Health effects of poor air quality • Measurement methods and what the numbers mean • Environmental impact context Each topic includes video content, charts, and the option to save for later. The design keeps educational content approachable rather than clinical — making it more likely that busy facility managers will actually engage with it.

Hi-Fidelity Overview

Complete hi-fidelity screen overview across all app modules

The complete screen set showing the app's visual system in context — from the isometric component explorations to the full hi-fidelity flows across all four modules.

What I'd Improve

Looking back, there are a few areas I'd push further: • User testing with actual facility managers — the design was informed by research but not validated with real users in commercial environments • Notification and alert system — the current design focuses on active monitoring, but passive alerts for AQI spikes or filter degradation would make the app more proactive • Multi-site management — commercial operators often manage multiple buildings, and the current IA is designed for a single location