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Redesigning home sustainability through a microalgae-based system that captures CO₂ more effectively than traditional houseplants

Role:

Product Designer, Researcher, Team Lead

Company:

Tree10 - Startup

Skills:

Experimental Design, UX Design

Tools:

CAD, 3D Printing

An Overview:

From Plant to Powerhouse: Designing for Climate Impact at Home

From Plant to Powerhouse: Designing for Climate Impact at Home

From Plant to Powerhouse: Designing for Climate Impact at Home

The Problem:

Process:

Tree10 began as a collaborative project during the Synthesis Program at UCSD, where our interdisciplinary team of five—spanning business, engineering, design, and biology—came together to tackle climate change. We designed Tree10 as a smarter, more effective alternative to traditional houseplants for reducing indoor CO2 levels.


Initially a class project, Tree10 evolved into a larger initiative. Over the course of two quarters, with the guidance of a mentor, we conducted research, tested prototypes, and iterated on our design based on feedback and experimental results. Our work demonstrated it's potential to significantly improve indoor air quality. Now part of the Blackstone LaunchPad program, we are now refining the device further and exploring commercialization opportunities.


My UX challenge: How do you make biotechnology feel approachable and even desirable in everyday spaces? Through prototyping and user testing, I designed a breakthrough interface that transforms a complex biological process into a seamless part of daily life. My minimalist design language, intuitive maintenance cues, and satisfying interaction patterns created an emotional connection to climate action that traditional plants never could—all while capturing significantly more CO2.

Tree10 began as a collaborative project during the Synthesis Program at UCSD, where our interdisciplinary team of five—spanning business, engineering, design, and biology—came together to tackle climate change. We designed Tree10 as a smarter, more effective alternative to traditional houseplants for reducing indoor CO2 levels.


Initially a class project, Tree10 evolved into a larger initiative. Over the course of two quarters, with the guidance of a mentor, we conducted research, tested prototypes, and iterated on our design based on feedback and experimental results. Our work demonstrated it's potential to significantly improve indoor air quality. Now part of the Blackstone LaunchPad program, we are now refining the device further and exploring commercialization opportunities.


My UX challenge: How do you make biotechnology feel approachable and even desirable in everyday spaces? Through prototyping and user testing, I designed a breakthrough interface that transforms a complex biological process into a seamless part of daily life. My minimalist design language, intuitive maintenance cues, and satisfying interaction patterns created an emotional connection to climate action that traditional plants never could—all while capturing significantly more CO2.

Tree10 began as a collaborative project during the Synthesis Program at UCSD, where our interdisciplinary team of five—spanning business, engineering, design, and biology—came together to tackle climate change. We designed Tree10 as a smarter, more effective alternative to traditional houseplants for reducing indoor CO2 levels.


Initially a class project, Tree10 evolved into a larger initiative. Over the course of two quarters, with the guidance of a mentor, we conducted research, tested prototypes, and iterated on our design based on feedback and experimental results. Our work demonstrated it's potential to significantly improve indoor air quality. Now part of the Blackstone LaunchPad program, we are now refining the device further and exploring commercialization opportunities.


My UX challenge: How do you make biotechnology feel approachable and even desirable in everyday spaces? Through prototyping and user testing, I designed a breakthrough interface that transforms a complex biological process into a seamless part of daily life. My minimalist design language, intuitive maintenance cues, and satisfying interaction patterns created an emotional connection to climate action that traditional plants never could—all while capturing significantly more CO2.

There is a clear gap in sustainable indoor air quality management systems that are both functional and efficient in reducing CO2 levels in confined environments. Spaces like college dorms, small apartments, and urban offices need compact and innovative solutions to combat poor air quality. Traditional houseplants, while aesthetically pleasing, provide limited benefits in terms of carbon dioxide (CO2) reduction and fail to meet the growing demand for effective, space-saving methods to improve indoor air quality.