Overview

Cleaneró  is a smart, freestanding water filtration solution designed to enhance trust in everyday water consumption. It offers a multi-channel experience with real-time data on water and filter quality, through both an interactive pitcher interface and a companion mobile app.

The Problem

Users lack visibility into water quality and filter performance, leading to mistrust and potential health concerns.

Filter Fatigue & Uncertainty
Traditional water filter pitchers offer no clear indicator of actual water quality or filter condition. Users often rely on generic timelines (e.g., "replace every 2 months") which do not account for individual usage or local water conditions. This leads to guesswork and unnecessary filter waste or, worse, prolonged use of ineffective filters.

Health Risk & Trust Erosion
Traditional water filter pitchers offer no clear indicator of actual water quality or filter condition. Users often rely on generic timelines (e.g., "replace every 2 months") which do not account for individual usage or local water conditions. This leads to guesswork and unnecessary filter waste or, worse, prolonged use of ineffective filters.

Market Gap

Traditional water pitchers leave users in the dark, Cleanero brings clarity with real-time water and filter insights.

Status Quo

• Pitchers like Brita and Pur offer basic filtration, but the actual water quality depends solely on the filter’s condition.

• Users have no visibility into when their filter needs replacing leading to either overuse or premature replacement.

• There’s a rising demand for cleaner, better-tasting water.

Core Challenges

• No real-time data about water purity or filter health.

• TDS levels (Total Dissolved Solids) remain largely invisible to users.

• Lack of trust and verification: Consumers must trust that the water “seems clean”, without proof.

Research Process

Understanding user behavior and context led to a more meaningful and intuitive smart water experience.

Defining the Context
We began by identifying real-world trust gaps in household water filtration. Our early desk research included legal reports (e.g., Brita lawsuit), customer reviews, and usage breakdowns of existing pitcher products. This uncovered a clear trend: lack of transparency in filter effectiveness and timing led to low trust and inconsistent maintenance.

From Personal Frustration to Design Direction
Our project was sparked by a shared sense of frustration with filtered pitchers that looked clean but offered no proof of performance. Conversations quickly revealed that this wasn’t just an annoyance it was a usability failure. By turning these daily friction points into design prompts, we shaped Cleanero to answer a real, emotional need: “Can I actually trust the water I’m drinking?”

Grounding the Problem in Real Lives
We began by reflecting on our personal pain points with existing filter pitchers. This aligned with broader concerns around water safety, especially among students in older housing with outdated plumbing. These early discoveries framed our research direction validating that trust, visibility, and usability were recurring themes in conversations with users.

Personas

We observed how users interacted with their water pitchers in shared kitchens. Many admitted they hadn’t replaced filters in months, citing forget-fulness or uncertainty about when replacement was needed. Some even avoided drinking from pitchers entirely due to mistrust opting for bottled water instead. This highlighted the emotional disconnect between product and user trust.

Our research exposed a key opportunity: existing water pitchers do little to foster a sense of control or understanding. Users don’t just want clean water they want proof that it’s clean. By framing Cleanero as both a product and a personal health assistant, we found a unique value proposition that no current filter system provided.

Design Process

Early Concept Sketching
We started by sketching ideas that visualized how water quality data could be shown directly on the pitcher and in an app. Early sketches explored screen placement, UI minimalism, and the role of touch interaction. These explorations helped anchor our physical-digital integration from the start.

Iterating Through Feedback
User testing of our mid-fi prototype revealed confusion around terminology and navigation. Based on feedback, we:

• Simplified language (e.g., "Measure" instead of "Initiate TDS Test")

• Added clear filter health icons

• Made the “Shop” and “Replace” buttons more context-aware
  These changes directly improved user confidence.

Low Fidelity Wireframes
Our first wireframes prioritized user clarity. We mapped flows for onboarding, TDS measurement, and filter replacement. At this stage, we focused on hierarchy placing key metrics (like ppm) and CTAs (like “Replace Filter”) in prominent positions for quick understanding.

Prototypes

A clear, calm, and confident interface—Cleanero translates smart water tech into everyday peace of mind.