Explore Ablen - the portfolio of Iana Nikolova, a Product Designer specialising in user-centred solutions, combining evolving product design with wearable tech and IoT for ergonomic, minimalistic, and accessible innovations. wati aq xoxo yoshimura pipistrellum flux vika TOM project brew foldiFi tubi touch eduscape

MA Degree Project September 2024 - July 2025 The Royal College of Art Awards & Publications The Problem User Group Electronics UI Design The Solution WATI Device Project Partners Wearable Ambient Temperature Indicator wati is a smart, stylish wearable designed to help you navigate the rising urban heat. With a minimalist touchscreen interface, wati keeps you cool, hydrated, and always informed of the weather and temperature on the go. Walking, cycling, or commuting, wati tracks live outdoor temperatures, counts your steps, and guides you through the coolest route, all through the paired wati mobile app. Clip it to your clothes, or wear it with a lightweight armband for outdoor activities. wati helps you move smarter, while contributing to a global crowdsourcing community that enhances cool-route algorithms and informs future city planning. The wati mobile app uniquely combines ground-level temperature data from users with satellite-based thermal imaging, creating a new layer of climate insight. The Problem For too long the world has been in a WAIT state when it comes to climate change and Earth temperatures rising. WATI is designed to address the urgent need for localised heat awareness in the face of intensifying urban heat islands, more frequent and prolonged heat waves, and climate change. Existing weather apps lack ground-level temperature precision, and fitness wearables and mobile devices do not track ambient environmental temperature. The Solution W earable Ambient Temperature Indicator (WATI ): measures hyper-localised outdoor temperature communicates data effectively and graphically to wearers of the device provides real-time alerts and advanced analytics which prompt real-time responses uses EO satellite thermal data for large-scale mapping , combined with ground-based data to create hyper-local thermal measuring precision and mapping aids the selection of cooler routes, ventilated and shaded places using the paired mobile app contributes to an interactive crowdsourced heat mapping application that will aid urban city planners User Group wati caters to anyone seeking relief from rising urban heat, including: outdoor athletes & runners elderly people young children pregnant women transportation & construction workers people working in food, pharmaceutical, electronic and energy industries WATI Device wati accurately measures live outdoor ambient temperature using a highly calibrated MEMS sensor, updating every 2 seconds. It displays six distinct temperature levels , each represented by its own heat-specific color code. wati features two flexible attachment options: a breathable, secure and adjustable sports armband worn on the upper arm or wrist, and a clip for attaching to clothes, a belt, or a bag. wati pairs with a mobile app featuring a map that combines EO satellite and ground thermal data, offering route options based on coolest, balanced, or shortest paths. It includes live crowdsourced tracking of other wati users, weather updates, a community feed for sharing running or walking achievements, and a minimalist summary of daily, weekly, and monthly temperature and step analytics. Enter your destination in the wati app, choose your preferred route type, and let the device guide you with simple directional arrows. You can also tap to view a live screen showing your step count and mileage. wati features an on/off button and a rechargeable USB-C battery that lasts up to 10 hours. Its high-resolution touchscreen lets you easily navigate the wati interface on the go. In addition to displaying ambient temperature, wati also provides live weather alerts and warnings in real time. While walking or running, wati flashes live alerts for high UV levels, heat zones, cool spots, and nearby hydration points. It also recommends when to seek shade, helping you stay safe and cool on the go. The System Electronics UI Design Wearable UI Design WATI Mobile App UI Design Heat Maps & Thermal Satellite Images from Data Providers London, United Kingdom, Urban Heat Maps provided by meteoblue Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, LST Fusion product provided by constellr Darwin, Australia, Thermal Infrared Imagery - © [2024] SatVu Data Providers & Supporters Project Partners touch eduscape Up aq

aq BA Degree Project September 2023 - May 2024 The University of Edinburgh Awards & Publications John L Patterson Award The Problem Electronic Design AQ Testing Research User Group Device Prototyping aq is a solution for an elegant, compact, and portable wearable indicator that raises air quality awareness and stylishly blends with everyday clothing. It prompts informed decisions about selecting better commute routes, ensuring every breath is a breath of clean air. The attachable light ring device shows users local air quality through a soft, pulsing glow based on the air quality index (AQI) scale. aq caters to everyone prioritising air quality, including active commuters, cyclists, athletes, the elderly, children, and individuals with respiratory issues. Wear it on the go, whether walking, biking, or in transit, and attach it to your bag, wrist, belt, or jacket. Stay mindful of the air you breathe with aq , prompting proactive measures to minimise personal exposure to poor air quality for a healthier lifestyle. User Group aq caters to every citizen of the world prioritising air quality, mainly: active commuters cyclists athletes elderly children and youths individuals with respiratory issues AQ The aq wearable air quality indicator is the smallest of its kind, measuring just 45mm in diameter . Designed for versatility, it can be easily worn on clothing, whether on your wrist, jacket, or shirt, using the clip on the back, or attached to your bag, belt, or bike with the adjustable silicone strap. Featuring an on/off push button and a USB-C charger opening, the device also includes a slot at the top of the clip for looping the adjustable strap. When air quality levels are poor (the device glows red) the device will emit a series of beeps. Each aq indicator comes in its own packaging set, complete with the adjustable strap, a charging cable, and a setup guide. The guide introduces the device's functionality, the data it measures, and how to use and interpret air quality readings. The aq device doubles as an indoor air quality monitor, providing real-time data on volatile organic compounds, carbon dioxide, temperature, humidity, and pressure levels. Connect it to your computer and track and map your air quality data using the Home Assistant platform that receives data from the device via your WiFi network. The Problem DESIGN JOURNEY My interest in designing a user-centred air quality device stems from living in Sofia, Bulgaria, one of Europe’s most polluted cities, where the surrounding terrain traps pollutants like particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, and carbon. The aq wearable highlights the designer’s role in making air quality data clear and accessible, underscoring the importance of clean air for respiratory health. Air Pollution Heat Mapping Installation of Sofia, December 2023 Around 91% of the world’s population lives in areas and indoor spaces where air quality exceeds WHO guideline limits. PM 2.5 4.2 million premature deaths are caused by air pollutio n, with respiratory infections resulting. CO 2 VOC PM 2.4 billion peop le worldwide cook using open fires and stoves fuelled by kerosene and biomass, creating harmful indoor air pollution. In London, 67.5% of respondents to an Asthma UK survey said their condition was caused by air pollution. Testing Research The aq wearable was developed through two electronic prototyping directions, each built on a mounted frame. The first prototype measured real-time air quality using a personal sensor that detected harmful gases like carbon monoxide and VOCs, alerting users to indoor and outdoor pollution sources. The second aq prototype connected to nearby fixed air quality stations, displaying real-time data from the closest source on its light ring. The visuals compare readings from central Edinburgh (good air quality) and Pirot, Serbia (poor air quality), taken simultaneously via the World’s Air Pollution mapping platform. Device Prototyping The aq wearable evolved through multiple design stages, inspired by minimalism and an oval form that suggests purified airflow. User-centred workshops explored different attachment styles and materials, revealing that a white silicone gradient ring with a pulsing light best communicates air quality data. A dual attachment system, a clothing clip and a strap for bags or bikes, further enhances usability. aq air quality board Bosch Gas bVOCeq & CO2eq Sensor RGB Light I2C STEMMA QT/ Qwiic Connector ESP32 with 2.4 GHz WiFi and Bluetooth On/Off Button USB-C Charging Port Reprogrammable GPIO Pins What does aq measure? CO 2 Electronic Design aq indicator exploded electronics view Clear Resin Light Cover Light Ring Air Quality PCB LiPo Battery Silicone Encapsulation for Light Ring Airflow Grid Micro Lipo USB - C Charger Resin Casing with Silicone Insulation wati Up xoxo

Yoshimura Family Project for Tatic Design Studio March - May 2023 Lund University Brief: The project aim, given by Alex Tatic, owner of the Milano-based Tatic design studio, was to create a unified design language for a chosen brand and target audience. The specific focus was the creation and development of a trio of cordless camping products, including a kettle, a lamp speaker, and a fan- heater. The Yoshimura Design Family consists of three cordless electric products designed for the renowned mountaineering brand Sea To Summit. Taking inspiration from the spatial art of origami folding, these products offer an immersive experience of enhanced portability. Through the seamless integration of interconnected hexagonal elements, the design achieves a perfect balance between stability and flexibility. The overall design process involved comprehensive market research, the formulation and exploration of design themes, iterative sketching of the chosen design concept, and extensive 3D modelling and rendering. Inspired by mountaineering brand Sea to Summit's commitment to quality, innovation, and sustainability, my design family introduces an origami-inspired foldable structure to enhance their renowned collapsible cookware, by incorporating an origami-inspired foldable structure. Tailored for snow trekkers and mountain climbers, and experienced winter hiking enthusiasts, the Yoshimura design seeks to elevate camping products for those who navigate challenging terrains annually. The design themes that I chose to work with are origami-inspired and faceted products that inspire foldability, which also match the design language of Sea to Summit. My initial set of five ideas revolved around integrating different types of collapsible folds, such as telescopic, bellows folding, and waterbomb techniques. The Yoshimura folding pattern is the main design language for my product line. This versatile origami technique involves repetitive folds that form a dynamic and intricate structure. Initially, I explored incorporating the pattern as a surface mapping but pushed the concept further by fully integrating the pattern to establish a cohesive collapsible design family. The main body of the kettle is designed to compress to a quarter of its original volume and half of its height, facilitating convenient transport and storage, particularly in camping rucksacks. xoxo pipistrellum

CASSINI Entrepreneurship Days Prague 2025 October 8th - 9th WATI x LLcloud expo cassini-ed.eu This year, I had the opportunity to attend the CASSINI Entrepreneurship Days 2025 in Prague as Product Designer for LLcloud, the multi-sensor cloud platform for joint data gathering, analysis, and visualisation from satellites, drones, IoT devices, wearables, and other emerging technologies (llcloud.eu ). At the Start-up Jungle, LLcloud presented WATI - the Wearable Ambient Temperature Indicator and your personal urban heat guide, that merges space and ground data. WATI was also the focus of this year's LLcloud stand at CED 2025. Paired with a mobile app integrating Meteoblue urban heat maps, WATI helps users navigate cities via the coolest routes, keeping them in the shade and near hydration points. A big thank you to the CASSINI Entrepreneurship Days organisers for an inspiring and well-organised event, and for the opportunity to connect with so many satellite and AI-driven start-ups from across Europe! Out of gallery

LLcloud llcloud.eu Client: LLcloud Sofia, Bulgaria 2024 - 2025 Tools: Logo Design Exploration Company Identity UI Design Graphic Development Website Flow Brief: To create a new visual identity for LLcloud Ltd and a new visual language for dynamically showing the ingestion, processing, display, and analytics of various multi-sensor data from satellites, drones, ships, IoT and wearable sensors, etc. Company Mission: LLcloud’s mission is to empower developers by simplifying the integration of multi-sensor data into a unified platform . LLcloud provides an easy way to collect, analyse, and visualise data from diverse sources, including satellite, IoT, and wearable sensors, enabling better decision-making. By offering a seamless cloud solution for data fusion and analytics, LLcloud helps users leverage comprehensive insights from various data streams to drive smarter, more informed decisions. My Role: As the lead UI/UX and product designer at LLcloud, I was responsible for shaping the platform’s branding and design to make complex Earth Observation, IoT, and wearable data accessible and visually engaging to the companies clients. I worked alongside the team to ensure easy multi-sensor integration, using custom animations inspired by Piet Mondrian’s visual language and the Powers of Ten film by Charles and Ray Eames. My work included wireframing, prototyping, creating the visual identity, optimising the SEO and conducting usability tests to ensure the platform was intuitive and visually engaging. Logo Design Exploration Logo Design Exploration #45A4D4 #171718 #777778 #BCBCBB Graphic Development Graphic Development The new visual identity of LLcloud draws inspiration from Piet Mondrian’s abstract geometrical style and the Powers of Ten film by Charles and Ray Eames . Our main goal was to create animations and graphics that interactively represent the flow of data across various scales of Earth Observation (EO, IoT, wearables) . The colour palette I developed evokes a similar sense of the vastness of the space and sky. I developed three distinct animation styles and corresponding logo variations, each exploring the dynamic contrast of colours. Company Identity Company Identity Quicksand is the main font for both LLcloud's website and logo. The main homepage animation features moving dots along lines, symbolising the dynamic flow of multi-sensor data. Across different platform pages, various animations in this style illustrate data movement within diverse geospatial environments and scenarios. Website Flow Website Flow The client had a specific vision for the page organisation, which we refined through iterations to create an effective layout that effectively showcases projects and client use cases. We reworked the entire pricing plan structure to make plan features for specific EO applications stand out and digestible. UI Design User Interface Design Desktop Experience: The homepage serves as the central hub, immediately displaying key target markets - Earth Observation, IoT, Wearables, and Technologies. The animated homepage visuals showcase moving dots along lines, symbolising real-time data flow across geospatial environments. A top navigation bar ensures quick access to core sections, the Get Started and separate Sign in function allows new visitors to join and current users to log in. Mobile Experience: The mobile version is fully responsive, adapting the structured layout into a streamlined vertical format. The main navigation menu collapses into a hamburger menu. Animations and dynamic elements, such as the moving data visualisation are optimised for touch interactions and smaller screens. Key platform sections, such as pricing plans , are reorganised into stacked cards for readability.

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Royal College of Art MA Graduate Show 2025 July 17th - 19th wati - wearable ambient temperature indicator MA Degree Project 2025.rca.ac.uk/school-of-design I exhibited my final MA project, WATI, at the Royal College of Art's 2025 Design Products MA show on the Battersea Campus. I also took on the role of bay representative and exhibition organiser for my section, which was all about digital and interactive products. My exhibit featured two final WATI wearables. One was mounted on a custom aluminum plinth with a light ring, inviting visitors to interact with its touchscreen display. The exhibit also included two versions of the WATI app MVP, running on Figma on a phone and a tablet. This digital component showcased a looped "cool route" demo from the RCA campus to Battersea Power Station, highlighting the app and the device's core functionality.

ARCA - RCA Material Archive rca-material-archive.com Project: AcrossRCA Royal College of Art 2024 - 2025 Tools: Material Archive Digital Store ARCA Team & Roles Sustainability Material Index RCA Material Archive Project Showcase Brief: Students responded to four interdisciplinary themes: Being Digital, Caring Society, Social Justice, and Climate Crisis, which served as prompts for ambitious cross-programme collaboration and were further explored through sub-themes reflecting emerging considerations. RCA Material Archive Project We are a team of five RCA students from Graphic Design, Design Products, Architecture, Contemporary Art Practice, and Painting, brought together through AcrossRCA, an interdisciplinary programme connecting students across all MA pathways. United by a shared interest in sustainability, we set out to explore the environmental impact of materials within our creative practices. As part of the Climate Crisis theme, we developed a proposal for the Material Archive - a growing collection and resource of sustainable materials at the RCA. To guide evaluation, we created the Hexagon Material Index, a simple framework for assessing materials based on six factors: responsivity, decomposition, reusability, sourcing, material characteristics, and potential as an alternative. The first iteration of the Archive was exhibited at the Battersea Campus Library and Design Products studio. Inspired by the hexagonal index, the display takes the form of a modular, beehive-like structure with hexagonal tiles. Each tile can be handled physically and links via QR code to the digital archive, where visitors can explore details, applications, and sourcing information. The Material Archive is designed to grow collaboratively, inviting contributions from students and staff across the RCA. Together, we hope to build one of the UK’s most dynamic university-based material libraries, expanding possibilities for sustainable, responsible making. ARCA Team & Roles Iana Nikolova Design Products ablen.com Georgie Richardson Architecture Joe Hodway Painting joehodway.com Jean Stepanov Contemporary Art Practice jean-stepanov.com Jamie Doh Visual Communication jamiedohart.com/ My role in the AcrossRCA project was to lead the development of the Material Archive by coordinating and curating a list of sustainable alternatives to existing making materials. I designed the initial concept for the physical library, through sketches and renders, and developed/coded a web store (mobile and desktop) featuring an updatable material archive with an integrated blog for students to share projects made with their sustainable materials. I assembled and photographed the first RCA Material Archive as well as all of the individual sustainable materials. Initial Library Concept Renders Sustainability Material Index We tested existing sustainability tools like Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) , the Material Circularity Indicator , and the Higgs Index , but found them overly complex and data-heavy for creatives needing quick, practical guidance. Realising that material sustainability is understood differently across disciplines, we developed the Sustainability Material Index, a framework that balances diverse priorities to assess and compare materials. RCA Material Archive Project Showcase PROJECT SHOWCASE Study for the Relic of the Future Emulsion Paint Sculpture, by Joe Hodway. Media used, post consumer emulsion paint. Dimensions H: 30 cm x W 20 cm x D 14 cm. Joe Hodway, MA Painting student, repurposed post-consumer emulsion paint into a sculptural bust, highlighting the potential of discarded materials as refined artistic mediums. By transforming a durable acrylic polymer with a silky finish, his work challenges traditional sculpting practices while sparking dialogue on sustainability in art. Material Archive Digital Store The RCA Digital Material Archive , designed by myself, is a platform to purchase, compare, and share sustainable materials for design, art, fashion, and making . It acts as both a library and community hub , where RCA creatives can showcase projects made with sustainable material alternatives and upload or validate their own materials. This idea follows earlier initiatives such as the “Inspiring Matter” conference in 2012, which featured a curated exhibition of innovative materials. Though temporary, it functioned like a physical library, demonstrating the value of a dedicated materials resource at the RCA, supporting its role as a pioneed in sustainability and creative innovation.

Mobile & Wearable App MA Degree Project 2024 - 2025 The Royal College of Art Tools: Wearable UI Mobile App UI User Research Problem Statement Project Type: End-to-end mobile app, branding, wearable UI, and coding A mobile app paired with a wearable sports and environmental device that helps users navigate to their destination or choose routes based on cooler climate and temperature conditions. Weather apps lack ground-level precision, and current wearables don’t track ambient temperature. WATI bridges this gap by combining on-body ambient sensing with Earth Observation data to deliver real-time heat alerts and adaptive route guidance, helping individuals reduce risk, stay safe during heatwaves, and build daily climate resilience. WATI is an end-to-end system combining a companion mobile app and a wearable device designed to help users navigate heat safely. Developed over a year at RCA, the project integrated user research, testing, and iterative design to address needs such as real-time ambient temperature, weather alerts, route selection based on cooler conditions, and community sharing. The mobile app includes personalized heat profiles, live satellite thermal maps with route options, crowdsourced environmental data, live weather updates, and analytics tracking steps, mileage, and temperature exposure. The wearable UI mirrors the app with eight minimalist tabs for on-the-go navigation, inspired by 1980s IBM mainframes and the Nothing grid weather aesthetic, and can be worn on the arm or clipped to clothing. Problem Statement How can I navigate to my destination via the coolest and safest route available? How can I protect myself from rising urban temperatures in my daily routine? User Research 01 outdoor athletes and runners - ideal user group for testing 02 elderly people - heat related mortality increases by 85% 03 young children ( 0 to 4) and pregnant women - struggle with thermoregulation 04 individuals with chronic health conditions - cardiovascular, kidney, respiratory problems 05 transportation and construction workers - bus drivers, train drivers, bikers, delivery drivers high physical exertion outdoors 12–18% slower: non-elite marathon runners’ pace drops in ~25 °C sensitive to heat stress & dehydration 10 – 21 per 10,000: runners in 10 km races face exertional heat illness optimise performance with temperature awareness 90% adoption: recreational runners use tech (watches/apps) to monitor performance used to and open to trying new sports wearable tech $18.4B market: global sports wearables valuation in 2023 Why outdoor runners & athletes? Wearable UI Click to toggle WATI UI: Light 🔆 ↔ Dark 🌙 Mobile App UI Click to toggle WATI UI: Light 🔆 ↔ Dark 🌙

Digital Spaces Living Lab digitalspaces.info Client: DSLL Sofia, Bulgaria January, 2025 Tools: Logo Design Exploration UI Design Company Identity Website Flow Brief: To create a new visual identity for Digital Spaces Living Lab, including its many trials and projects. Company Mission: Digital Spaces Living Lab (DSLL) is a leading European living lab dedicated to enhancing novel products, services, and applications that transform daily life by testing them in real-world environments. Over the past 14 years, DSLL has conducted more than 45 large-scale product and technology validation trials across diverse sectors, including smart cities, location-based services, Earth Observation, smart agriculture, mobile applications, wearables, well-being, sports, museums, art galleries, gaming, and digital media. DSLL contributes to one of the few platforms worldwide that enables multi-scale, multi-sensor Earth Observation, facilitating the seamless integration and joint analysis of Earth Observation, IoT, and wearable sensor data. DSLL co-founded Smart Fab Lab, the oldest digital fabrication lab in Sofia, Bulgaria. My Role: I was responsible for redesigning DSLL’s website, logo and visual identity, and restructuring the web flow. The company had an extensive portfolio of projects, partner collaborations, trials, and events that needed a more organised presentation. The new branding draws inspiration from the mathematical elegance of Voronoi diagrams , combining structured geometry with more organic forms. My work was wireframing, prototyping, and developing the website’s graphic and visual design language, restructuring the site’s layout, refined navigation, and optimising SEO . Logo Design Exploration Logo Design Exploration #167E8E #145FAD #3B8DCC Company Identity Company Identity Codan is the main font used for both DSLL’s website and logo. Graphical elements inspired by the logo appear in the About and Services pages. These elements incorporate varying sequences of geometric Voronoi patterns. digita spaces iving lab Website Flow Website Flow The previous DSLL website had a very cluttered layout, with trials, projects, and events all merged into a single page. I worked with the client to establish a well-defined structure that distinctly separates these categories . Each project and trial is now organised to highlight key details, including the client, timeframe, location, website, awards, distinctions, and a brief description of the initiative . UI Design User Interface Design Desktop Experience: The homepage serves as an entry point, providing a organised overview of the platform’s content. A top navigation bar ensures quick access to key sections. The layout is spacious, with content blocks arranged to enhance readability. Each content section is distinctly separated. Mobile Experience: The mobile version is fully responsive, reformatting the structured desktop layout into a streamlined vertical format. A collapsible hamburger menu replaces the full navigation bar. Interactive elements and hover effects are optimised for touch gestures, for good performance on smaller screens.