AIRDOW
Wall-mounted Air Purifier
Collaborative Project: Sean Xie, Xueyu Li
AIRDOW is a wall-mounted air purifier designed to address the visual mismatch between conventional air purifiers and contemporary home environments.
Beyond basic air purification, the project reimagines the device as a daily information interface. By introducing the concept of an “air window,” AIRDOW allows users to intuitively perceive everyday environmental data such as weather conditions and air quality, much like looking through a window to observe the air itself.
Using a combination of diffusion film and programmable LED lighting, the device visually simulates changes in weather and atmospheric conditions. Users can also customize different display modes, transforming AIRDOW into a subtle, ambient medium that communicates environmental information while blending seamlessly into the living space.
Inspiration
The form of AIRDOW is inspired by the window of an airplane.
While flying, many of us naturally look out of the small rounded window—watching the sky change, observing clouds drifting by, and feeling briefly detached from daily routines. That window becomes a quiet frame through which we reconnect with the outside world.
I wanted to bring this experience into the home. Instead of treating an air purifier as a purely functional appliance, AIRDOW reimagines it as a window to the invisible, allowing users to “see” air, weather, and environmental conditions in an intuitive and emotional way.
The soft, rounded form echoes the airplane window, creating a sense of calm and familiarity. Just as the aircraft window frames the sky, AIRDOW acts as an “air window” within the home—transforming abstract environmental data into a gentle, ambient presence that can be observed rather than actively checked.
Function
Air intake and output system
Air is taken in from the lower and side openings, purified inside the unit, and then released upward to create continuous air circulation.
Display Modes
The display provides simplified visual feedback for weather conditions and time, allowing users to quickly understand daily environmental information.
- Sunny, Cloudy, Thunderstorm, Time