AirWhere is part of the speculative project “In Search of Air”, 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.

PROCESS

The concept emerged through future scenario building, research on air pollution, and a workshop in Skopje, North Macedonia. Using speculative design tools like Future Wheel, Personas, and User Journey Mapping, the idea of a tactile, body-like device evolved.

Several directions were tested — from “O₂ 2Go” (portable air) to “Direct Consequences” (AI-driven reflection) — before focusing on AirWhere for its emotional and sensory resonance.

RESULT

AirWhere is imagined as an extension of the human body, grown from one’s own cells to help locate clean air through vibration feedback.

For the Werkschau exhibition, a working prototype simulated this experience using SCOBY and silicone materials, evoking skin-like tactility and subtle haptic communication.

What happens when the act of breathing becomes a luxury?