Cleaneró
A smart water pitcher system with real-time water quality tracking and filter management, bridging health, trust, and tech.
UI/UX Design |HCI - 430 | Team A-Cubed (Aman, Ashish, Alyssa)
What I did…!
I was responsible for directing the end-to-end process: user interviews, market analysis, organizing insights, idea exploration, prototyping, user testing, and visual design.
Duration
3 months: September-November 2023
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
85%
Improved Trust in Water Quality
Users reported significantly increased confidence in their water’s cleanliness due to visible TDS metrics and toxin alerts.
2x more
Engagement via Multi-Channel Interface
Users interacted with both the mobile app and pitcher screen, enhancing usability and reinforcing trust through consistent data.
70%
Reduction in Filter Replacement Confusion
Smart notifications and real-time filter tracking helped reduce uncertainty, leading to timely and confident filter changes.
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.
Status Quo
There’s a rising demand for cleaner, better-tasting water.
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.
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.
Competitive Analysis
Brand | TDS Accuracy | Filter Status Display | App Support | User Trust Score |
|---|
Brita | Low | LED-based estimate | No | ★★★☆☆ |
ZeroWater | High | Manual TDS meter | No | ★★★★☆ |
Pur | Medium | Light indicator | No | ★★★☆☆ |
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 that Shaped Experience
Two personas were created, but our main focus became Rina, a medical student living with roommates.
Rina’s Needs: Clarity in water safety, automated upkeep, mobile accessibility.
Rina’s Environment: Limited time, shared responsibilities, growing distrust in existing filters.
Her persona led directly to our emphasis on dual-channel interactions and health-centered UI.
Interview Patterns
We conducted 1:1 interviews with students and young professionals living in shared spaces. Key themes emerged:
Uncertainty: “I don’t even know when the filter stops working.”
Distrust: “Brita says 2 months, but is it still effective?”
Inaction: “Even when I know it’s old, I forget to change it.”
These quotes shaped our design goals: clarity, reminders, and measurable water quality.
Contextual Inquiry – Living with Filters
We observed how users interacted with their water pitchers in shared kitchens. Many admitted they hadn’t replaced filters in months, citing forgetfulness 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.
Framing the Opportunity Space
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.
Key Insights
User behavior revealed critical trust gaps and unmet needs that shaped every design decision.
Visibility Builds Trust
Users felt uneasy drinking from pitchers that gave no feedback on water quality. The lack of transparency led to doubt even with fresh filters. The introduction of real-time TDS readings and filter status indicators helped users feel more confident in the product and the water itself.
“Out of Sight” Means “Out of Mind”
Most users admitted they forgot to replace filters or had no idea when they last did. Traditional stickers or timers were ignored. Smart notifications, on both the app and pitcher, made this maintenance task effortless and timely, significantly reducing neglect.
Education Drives Engagement
While users appreciated real-time data, many didn’t understand what TDS meant. Our solution included contextual tooltips and explainer cards to clarify unfamiliar metrics. When users understood the stakes, they were more likely to act like testing their water more often or replacing filters proactively.
Multi-Channel Reinforcement Works
The presence of both a pitcher interface and a mobile app increased usability. Users liked having quick info on the pitcher itself, but appreciated more detailed data and history in the app. This redundancy created reliability, especially when one channel wasn’t accessible.
The Solution
Cleanero empowers users through real-time filtration tracking via a smart pitcher and mobile app.
Smart, Connected Filteration
Cleanero combines powerful water filtration with real-time monitoring through an integrated system: a touch-enabled smart pitcher and a companion mobile app. The pitcher offers on-device readings like TDS levels and filter status, while the app provides extended insights, purchase support, and health education ensuring transparency in every sip.
Dual Channel User Experience
The product experience is accessible across two synchronized interfaces on the pitcher and on the phone. Users can start a water test from either device, view their filtration history, or be reminded to change their filter. This dual-channel approach makes Cleanero intuitive, flexible, and always within reach whether you’re in the kitchen or away.
Personalised Water Health Guidance
Beyond just numbers, Cleanero helps users understand what water metrics like TDS or toxin levels mean. Educational touchpoints within the app explain how to interpret data, what’s considered safe, and how to improve filtration. The result is informed decision-making and a sense of control over one’s health.
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.
Mapping the Functional Ecosystem
The early sketch explored how Cleanero’s ecosystem could integrate everyday tasks like filter shopping and device setup into a unified app flow. We began by listing necessary touchpoints: pitcher registration, model compatibility, filter marketplace, and notification control. This created a modular framework we could build the UI around.
User-Centered Navigation Flows
We emphasized quick access and clarity in user flows. Tabs like Shop, Settings, and Account were designed to align with mental models. A user could identify their pitcher model, instantly access compatible filters, and manage privacy or location settings all from a few taps, mirroring typical e-commerce behaviors.
Notifications as Trust Anchors
One standout idea from our early sketches was the automated notification system. It served multiple roles: alerting users when filtering was complete, when a filter needed replacing, or when TDS/toxin levels were high. This feature directly responded to user concerns around forgetfulness and water safety, and would become a central feature in later design stages.
Setting the Foundation for Fidelity
This low-fidelity concept acted as our blueprint for scalable, testable flows. It allowed us to focus on structure over style, ensuring that the logic and user goals aligned before visuals were applied. These wireframes paved the way for mid- and high-fidelity iterations, where typography, color, and interaction depth would enhance but not override the clarity born here.
Prototypes
A clear, calm, and confident interface—Cleanero translates smart water tech into everyday peace of mind.
Link Your Filter & Onboarding
Smart onboarding flow: Users can link their filter via camera or code, and optionally create a profile to track water quality over time.
Filter Setup Completion
After linking the filter, Rina is guided through her first water test to ensure everything is working properly.
Buying a New Filter
The in-app shop allows users like Rina to conveniently browse and purchase compatible replacement filters. With a simple tap, she can add filters to her cart and receive a confirmation pop-up. From the cart, Rina can edit quantities, review her order, and proceed to checkout by confirming delivery and payment details. This streamlined process ensures filter maintenance is never delayed or forgotten.
TDS
Dashboard & TDS measuring.
Rina can easily test her water’s Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) from the Dashboard by tapping “Measure.” A clear visual scale helps her understand the meaning behind her reading, and an expandable info section explains safe TDS ranges. For added transparency, she can view past test results in a calendar-style log, helping her monitor water quality trends over time. These features empower users like Rina to stay informed and make smarter, health-conscious decisions.
Pitcher Interafce
These low-fidelity pitcher screens demonstrate the full cycle of interaction, from initiating TDS measurement to viewing status updates and filter health. The layout remains minimal and readable, optimized for small displays with clear icons, large numerals, and bold color cues. Each state whether filtering, measuring, or prompting a filter change ensures the user is always informed at a glance.4o
Final Prototypes
This screen showcases the full Figma prototype of Cleanero, highlighting the complete user flow from onboarding to filter management. Alongside it, a walkthrough video demonstrates key interactions across the app and pitcher interface, bringing the product experience to life.
Future Opportunities
With more time, we would expand Cleanero to support multiple pitcher profiles, deeper water quality analytics, and AI-driven filter recommendations. Broader user testing across diverse households could further refine accessibility and trust-building features.
Reflections
Cleanero taught us that user trust is built through visibility, simplicity, and feedback. Designing for everyday health decisions pushed us to create not just a smart product—but a reassuring experience.
Ashish Dixit | 2025 | All rights reserved