Want your own air purifying cloud? Airtomo by Kevin Chiam is here to help

Designed by Kevin Chiam for users on the go, Airtomo is a 3D printed wearable device using biomimicry to purify the air above and underground.

It has been a very challenging time, especially during a pandemic. As we start to see the light at the end of the tunnel and start spending time outside, we realize there are still other persistent problems that need our attention, problems like air pollution.

According to the WHO, 9 out of 10 people worldwide breathe air that contains high levels of pollutants, which poses a major threat to our health and our climate. We might think the battle with air pollution lays just above the ground, but the truth is, there is a major battle going on under as well. I’m talking about pollution on underground transport. But, what can we do about it? Well, once again design comes to the rescue, and this time in the form of a wearable air purifier called Airtomo.

Created by industrial designer Kevin Chiam, Airtomo is a 3D printed wearable system designed to remove air pollution from the user’s surroundings using just water vapor. Wanting to target the problem of air pollution in the London Underground, which according to the designer’s research can be 20 times higher than roadside air, Chiam proposes a decentralized and dynamic way to purify the air around us with a minimal and colorful design.

What to know more about wearables air purifiers? Don’t miss The breathing experience of ATMOBLUE by Blue Sky Labs

Airtomo - underground pollution — Air pollution in the London Underground can be 20 times higher than roadside air – ©Kevin Chiam

How does it work?

With biomimicry in mind, Chiam was inspired by how nature uses rain to clean air. Mimicking this process, Airtomo releases dry, atomized water vapor through a process called aggregation in order to remove any pollutant present.

Through this process, the water droplets released from the device bind harmful particles and form heavy aggregates that fall on the ground, therefore removing all particulate matter which is the primary pollutant, from the air.

The cool part about this process is that after the pollutants are on the ground, they no longer resuspend even if the water has evaporated, and can be later removed from the ground. How amazing is that?!

Airtomo - colorful and minmal design — Kevin Chiam proposes a decentralized and dynamic way to purify the air around us with a minimal and colorful design – ©Kevin Chiam

Airtomo and its modules

Thinking about every situation in which we might need a little bit of cleaner air, Chiam created a complete system around Airtomo consisting of different wearables and modules that use the exact same process and satisfy a variety of needs. Every Airtomo wearable offers you a personal vapor cloud that actively cleans the air around you and reduces resuspension of particles as a result of foot motion.

Airtomo - usage — Airtomo releases dry, atomized water vapor through a process called aggregation in order to remove any pollutant present – ©Kevin Chiam

Designed for users on the go, Airtomo wearables can house about 30 to 50ml of water and its power can last for an hour, the average time a person commutes. Need it for longer? No need to worry! Airtomo can be quickly charged using a micro-USB cable and its water can be replenished whenever it’s needed!

Airtomo - on the go — Every Airtomo wearable offers a personal vapor cloud that actively cleans the air and reduces resuspension of particles as a result of foot motion – ©Kevin Chiam

What comes next?

While Airtomo is in its prototype phase, Chiam has bigger plans for expanding its incredible system and is eagerly looking for partners to make it a reality and bring it to the market. In the meantime, we are counting the days until we have our very own personal air purifying cloud.

Curious to know more about products that help you fight air pollution? Don’t miss Natede – Technology, design, and nature joined in one to fight against air pollution.