leading european living lab dedicating to testing and validating novel products, services and mobile apps Client: digitalspaces.info , Digital Spaces Living Lab, Sofia, Bulgaria Project Type: End-to-end Platform UX | UI + Visual Identity Role: Lead UX | UI Designer + Brand Designer + Logo Design + Information Architecture + SEO Optimisation Industry: Living Labs, Healthcare, Education, Smart Cities, Technology Tools: Wix Studio, Figma, Adobe Illustrator, JS (Velo), HTML, CSS Duration: Q2 | 2025 View Live Platform MISSION For over 15 years , Digital Spaces Living Lab (DSLL) has conducted 45+ large-scale validation trials across fields from smart cities and textiles to educational apps, medical and sports devices , helping innovators, small and large companies test technologies in real-world environments, with direct user feedback . DSLL has won a number of European Living Lab competitions , partnered for a decade with the Galileo innovation ecosystem , and incubated numerous award-winning startups across Europe. CLIENTS Smart Cities & Mobility: Safety Truck (UK), Ampido (Germany), GoWalk (UK), Sinebus (Italy) Geo-Data: PanDia, Mosa-X (Germany), Geo-Coupon (Taiwan) Smart Infrastructure: Polar Bearings (Germany), PPP WizLite (France) Wearables & Sport Equipment: Tocsen (Germany), cleanSpot (Spain) Digital Storytelling: ArteMapp (Germany), Tag Story (Norway), Loupe (Netherlands) Gaming & XR: Epic Blue (Belgium), Vamos (Germany) Data Services: SellNews (Germany), Sawcer (Spain) VISUAL IDENTITY Inspired by Voronoi patterns , DSLL's logo represents interconnected cells of innovation, mirroring the collaborative ecosystems Living Labs create across the world. LOGO DESIGN #167E8E #145FAD #3B8DCC SITEMAP The previous DSLL website had a busy layout , with trials, projects, and events all merged into a single page . Each project and trial is now separately organised to highlight key details , including the client, timeframe, location, website, awards, distinctions, and a brief description of the project . UX & UI Highlighted trial information Live events page Responsive mobile interface Card-based project navigation Digital placemaking narrative Case-study style product pages wati app Up arca

multi-sensor cloud platform for storage, visualisation & analytics across Earth Observation, IoT, wearables & smart cities Client: llcloud.eu , Sofia, Bulgaria Project Type: End-to-end Platform UX | UI + Visual Identity Role: Lead UX | UI Designer + Brand Designer + Motion Effects + SEO Strategy + Ongoing Platform Optimisation Industry: Satellite Technology, Earth Observation, IoT, SaaS Tools: Wix Studio, Figma, After Effects, JS (Velo), Google Analytics Duration: 2024 | 25 View Live Platform LLcloud’s aims 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 decisions . CLIENTS The platform is built for developers , SaaS companies , startups , and digital businesses looking for scalable cloud infrastructure . LLcloud is targeted towards clients who need high performance , straightforward management and data analytics tools , and infrastructure that can grow and be customised with their products. Our Partners VISUAL IDENTITY LLcloud’s visual identity was inspired by Piet Mondrian ’s geometric abstraction and Powers of Ten by Charles and Ray Eames , translating the complexity of multi-sensor data into a structured, visually balanced system . By drawing on Mondrian’s grid-based art and the Eames’ exploration of scale , the brand expresses the fusion of complex satellite, IoT, and wearable data as something precise, dynamic, and interconnected . LOGO DESIGN #45A4D4 #171718 #777778 #BCBCBB MOTION EFFECTS I developed a custom motion library to visually abstract the fusion of multi-sensor data across the platform’s services . In each animation, moving dots represent data sources , while connecting lines illustrate the pathways through which information flows . IoT: Cyclist Air Pollution Tracking Wearables: GPS Zoning & Fencing Port Analytics: Cargo Flow & Distribution SITEMAP The client asked for a sitemap that emphasised the four primary application areas of the platform : wearables , IoT , Earth Observation (EO) , and other digital technologies . We structured the site architecture around these verticals to help users quickly navigate to relevant use cases . A dedicated Solutions section was also included to showcase practical applications of the platform in field research and industrial environments . The pricing structure was also redesigned to make feature differences, especially for EO workflows , more targeted. UX & UI Responsive mobile layout Vertical content structure Hamburger navigation menu Stacked pricing cards Desktop centralised homepage hub Highlighted application sectors (EO, IoT, Wearables, Technologies) Animated data-flow visualisations Quick access: Get Started / Sign In RESULTS & PERFORMANCE 45% increase in search visibility 5 min average site session 3000+ active page visits 75%+ traffic direct returns What we achieved in 2025 following the launch of the redesigned LLcloud platform in January: 6 new international data partners added (Swiss, Bulgarian, German) Slush 2025 wearable product demo invitation Cassini Hackathon 2026 Bulgaria organisers EU Space Days invited platform demo Team expansion across software and advisory roles arca Up wati app

brew 2022 Individual Project University of Edinburgh Service: Outdoor Appliances | Coffee Brewer Design | Collapsible Products | Metal Work | Welding | CAD | Sketching | 3D Printing brew is a compact and portable coffee maker that combines metal craftsmanship with digital making . Designed for campers and van lifers , brew offers a lightweight coffee brewing solution that is easy to transport and store . The design consists of a stainless steel base and a filter top that securely holds the coffee filter and grounds, collapsing together into a 5 cm tall cylindrical form. The project explores how conventional vessel design can be reimagined through a telescopic folding mechanism that improves portability. Developed as part of the New Making course, brew focuses on combining hands-on metalworking such as cutting and welding, alongside the use of CAD software (Fusion, SolidWorks) to prototype and test 3D-printed components. Across the UK, people consume 98 million cups of coffee every single day. 25% of that volume is fuelled by daily grind in office and university spaces . How can the iconic design language of the Bialetti Moka Express be translated into a modern, portable brewing experience ? To decode the Bialetti’s iconic octagonal geometry , I deconstructed its form into a 2D layout before reconstructing it in copper. The process of spot-welding helped me master metalwork foundations and eventually inspired the telescopic structure of brew's portable design. brew combines a CAD-optimized, custom designed 3D-printed PET-G filter and a stainless steel collector featuring a novel reverse-telescopic construction . Engineering the waterproof joints for this reverse taper was a challenge, but it ultimately allows the base to nest within the collapsed filter. The Brew Guide (50 x 90 mm collapsed) (1) Deploy: Uncollapse the filter and telescopic stainless steel base (2) Assemble: Place the filter unit onto the base (3) Prep: Insert a coffee filter into the top chamber (4) Dose: Add your ground coffee (5) Brew: Pour boiling water over the grounds to saturate (6) Extract: Wait for the coffee to filter into the collector (7) Enjoy: Remove the top and enjoy your brew flux Up touch eduscape

Sofia, Bulgaria JA Startup Hambar Bulgaria April 24 - 26 | 2026 digitalspaces.info/event-details Service: Marketing & Visual Branding | Web Design | Merchandise Design | Event Photography For the 11th CASSINI Hackathon in Bulgaria , I helped implement the branding and curate merchandise for a European Commission flagship space innovation event under the CASSINI Hackathons programme, part of its €1 billion initiative supporting space entrepreneurship. The hackathon brought together 50+ developers, designers, students and engineers working across hydro-engineering, computer science, AI and space technologies to tackle the Space for Water theme, addressing challenges like water scarcity, flooding, pollution and infrastructure inefficiencies using Earth Observation and satellite data to design real-world solutions for equitable water access and disaster risk monitoring. Working with Mozajka and Digital Spaces Living Lab , I contributed to the event’s branding, visual identity and gift design, helping shape the participant experience across the weekend. The Sofia edition took place as part of a simultaneous series across 10 European countries. Event Agenda Particpant Badges Promo Poster

aq 2023|24 Product Design BA University of Edinburgh Awards & Publications: John L Paterson Service: UX Research | Electronic Design | Platform Design | Workshop | CAD | PCB Manufacturing | Casting aq is an elegant, compact wearable clip designed to raise air quality awareness worn stylishly with everyday clothing. It empowers informed decisions on commuting routes , ensuring every breath is clean. The attachable light ring displays local air quality via a soft, pulsing glow mapped to the Air Quality Index (AQI) scale . aq caters to everyone prioritizing health, from active commuters and athletes to those with respiratory sensitivities . Designed for life on the go, it attaches to your bag, wrist, belt, or jacket . The Problem In 2024, 97% of Europeans live in 'unsafe' air zones 15% increase in ground-level ozone spikes during 2024’s record heat £1.6 billion annual cost of air pollution to the NHS social care Good 0 - 50 Moderate 51 - 100 Bad 101 - 200 Hazardous 201 > 01 working city commuters - 2.5 x times PM 02 cyclists & courier drivers - 60% higher exposure to PM particles 03 runners & athletes - 10x polluted air intake 04 individuals with sensitive respiratory health conditions - asthma 05 children & elderly - developing or sensitive cardiovascular systems Ergonomics Air Flow Pristine Calibrated Ring Shaped Unobtrusive Flexible CMF Prototyping aq's CMF evolved through user-centered workshops into a minimalist, oval form that prioritizes clear communication and tactile comfort . The design features a white silicone gradient ring that uses pulsing light to signal air quality levels, paired with a dual-attachment system , a clip for clothes and a multi-use strap for bike frames, bags, and indoor use. Batch Production aq was produced in a small-batch prototype using plant-based resin, featuring a clear top and a grey back to symbolically signal air pollution. For durability, the electronics are waterproofed with a silicone encasement, while the custom-cast silicone strap and a tapered clothing clip provide a secure fit across various materials and thicknesses. Electronic Prototyping aq is coded using a combination of Java, C++, and Raspberry Pi , integrating two distinct data-fetching methods for electronic prototyping. First approach uses an on-board personal sensor to measure VOCs, large PM particles, and pressure every 2 seconds , while the second fetches local city station data every 10 minutes via API . Users preferred local sensor integration , valuing a more sophisticated, personalised device with data they could trust in real-time. Hardware Wearability Platform UI Product Ecosystem Bosch Sensor Technology: VOC | PM5 | CO2 Multiple-Attachment System: Clip | Strap | Indoor Monitor Data Visualisation: Bar | Graph | Mapped Custom Packaging: Device | Leaflet | USB-C | Strap Pressure | Humidity Data 8-Hour Battery Life Home Assistant Integration Detailed Setup Guide USB-C Rechargeable 45mm diameter 2 Second Accuracy Material Circularity yoshimura Up tom project

Edinburgh May 31 - June 9 | 2024 BA Product Design Graduate Show 2024 graduateshow.eca.ed.ac.uk Co-created alongside my entire class, the Edinburgh College of Art Product Design Graduation Show was a milestone for the cohort, and the stage for my final-year AQ wearable, a device designed to monitor and visualise air quality in real time, my BA dissertation project . My exhibit featured two prototypes, including a large-scale battery-powered build that ran live air quality monitoring for eight hours daily throughout the show. Visitors could explore an AQ design booklet, play with my first exploded prototype, and test interactive acetone and dust vials against the device, alongside a live Home Assistant demo visualising real-time air quality data in the city. Taking on the role of exhibition organiser and photographer , I helped shape the show's visual identity under the theme Connect , a reflection of the cohort's diverse backgrounds and a shared belief in design's power to connect people with themselves and the world around them. aq design booklet product design grad show catalogue

Multidisciplinary product designer specialising in homeware, IoT , and smart consumer devices . My work combines UI/UX, web, platform and mobile app design, as well as physical product development, advanced rendering and prototyping, with a focus on accessibility and ergonomics . With a background in the startup and makerspace industries , alongside a range of industrial and graphic design work, I bring a novel and user-centered approach to every concept and project. I'm a team player dedicated to creating intuitive experiences for any design studio or company! Experience Product Designer LLcloud, llcloud.eu , startup Jan 2023 - Present, Remote Designs & develops LLcloud's visual identity, branding, website, and Ul for the multi-sensor cloud platform. Supports and leads product design teams for smart technology projects, research and production. Design Researcher Digital Spaces Living Lab 2021 - 2022, Sofia, Bulgaria Data analysis for DSLL project trials, coordinated events and workshops, produced analytical and product performance reports for clients including Shyn, Epic Blue, Loupe, and Vamos. Developed DSLL’s new branding identity and platform. Industrial Designer Tatic Design Studio Mar 2023 - Jul 2023, Lund, Sweden Three-month ID project, developing a branded trio of outdoor cordless camping appliances with advanced 3D modelling, rendering, animation, user research and profiling, creating collapsible origami products. Graphic Designer Memorabilia Pack Ltd. 2022 - 2023, Edinburgh, UK Graphic design internship, awarded through the University of Edinburgh, supported graphic and content creation for curated memorabilia packs/products, packaging design, and print layouting and production. Makerspace Assistant SmartFabLab 2018 - Present, Sofia, Bulgaria I assist with end-to-end operations, from event and workshop planning to organising technical training in digital fabrication machines and electronics. Education Royal College of Arts MA Product Design 2024 - 2025, London, UK The University of Edinburgh BA Product Design 2020 - 2024, Edinburgh, UK Lund University Industrial Design Exchange, Erasmus 2023, Lund, Sweden Software & Tools CAD & Rendering SolidWorks, Fusion360, AutoCAD, Blender, KeyShot, SketchUp UI/UX & Coding Figma, C++, JavaScript, CSS, HTML, Arduino, Dreamweaver Model Making Glass, Wood, Metal, Casting, Textiles, Laser & CNC, SLA | SLS, Soldering Photography & Video Premiere Pro, iMovie, Final Cut Pro Graphic Design Adobe CS (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, After Effects), Procreate AI Tools Midjourney, Perplexity, Notion, Gemini, Loveable

Helsinki November 19 - 20 | 2025 WATI x LLcloud expo slush.org Slush was a milestone moment, my first time showcasing at one of the world's most energising tech and startup events. Talks on AI, design's evolving role, and the future of technology from owners and teams at Lovable, Nothing, Google, Airbus Defence and Space, and Bolt made for an inspiring few days. Sponsored by CASSINI and EUSPA , I demoed WATI , an environmental and sports wearable built to help people move safely through extreme urban heat, born as my MA Product Design thesis at the Royal College of Art. A highlight I didn't see coming: joining the Digital Markets Act presentation alongside EVP Commissioner Henna Virkkunen and Bart Becks of the EIC Board, where LLcloud spoke to how businesses can use the DMA framework . Out of gallery

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.

New Designers 39th Edition London July 3 - 6 | 2024 BA Product Design Graduate Show 2024 Business Design Centre, Islington newdesigners.com/exhibitors | newdesigners.com Had the honour of exhibiting my final BA project, AQ, at the 39th edition of New Designers 2024 at the Business Design Centre in Islington . The show brings together over 3,000 emerging designers across disciplines from more than 100 universities in the UK . My installation featured two wearable AQ prototypes, including a large-scale, battery-powered version that continuously monitored air quality for 8 hours daily throughout the exhibition. The display also included the AQ design booklet, an exploded prototype, interactive acetone and dust vials for hands-on testing, and a live AQ wearable demo running Home Assistant to visualise real-time air quality data. Our graduate catalogue, Connect, reflects both our cohort’s collaborative diversity and the project’s core intent: encouraging connection, between people, design and their environments.

a running app with map navigation for runners, residents, and city planners 2024|25 Product Design MA Royal College of Art Awards & Publications Project Type: End-to-end App and Wearable UI + Branding Role: Sole UX | UI Designer + Brand Designer with support from my mentor Adrian Shaughnessy Industry: Health, Fitness, Satellite Technology Tools: Figma, FigJam, Notion, Loveable, JavaScript, HTML, CSS Duration: Q2 2025 View hi-fi prototype Extreme heat is becoming a growing global concern, yet most weather apps lack ground-level precision and current smart devices fail to track ambient environmental conditions . People navigating cities, whether commuting, exercising, or exploring, have limited awareness of real-time heat exposure, cooler routes, and localised temperature spike s, increasing health risks and fatigue during heatwaves. WATI addresses this gap by introducing a mobile app paired with a wearable urban companion that combines on-body ambient sensing with satellite Earth Observation data . The WATI app delivers real-time heat alerts, adaptive route guidance based on cooler conditions , and personalised climate insights , allowing users to navigate safely, reduce heat exposure, and build a network of crowdsouced combined health and ambient data that can be used for future city planning. 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 Why outdoor runners & athletes? 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 PERSONA & NEEDS Sandra Sippola 23 | HR Professional | Marathoner Sandra is training for a 15K in Milan this summer and wants to combine training with city exploration . Unfamiliar with the July heat, she needs a running app that guides her along scenic routes while highlighting water points, shade, and cooling wind paths . Stavri Nikolov 55 | Climate Researcher | Commuter Stavri works at a climate research startup, investigating into data-driven solutions for urban resilience . He's looking to combine pedestrian-level temperature data with satellite data to predict infrastructure needs and guide future building patterns in Sofia. Nikhar Yadav 28 | Designer | Cardio Active Nikhar has grown up with asthma but relies on cardio to balance her digital work. When running in Battersea Park, she needs an app that monitors temperature, heat spikes, and alerts her , while her connected watch tracks pulse, body temperature, steps, and hydration . PRODUCT USE CASE 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? LOW-FI WIREFRAMES GRAPHICS & BRANDING The visual language of the mobile app was finalised by experimenting with over 40 graphic interface variations for the wearable UI , exploring different layouts and icon systems. Through colour association and font-testing workshops, users showed a clear preference for clean interfaces, bright colours linked to temperature levels , and bold, legible icons . The final design draws inspiration from the Nothing community weather interface and glyph system , combined with Bauhaus typography . Weather Condition Icons Metrics & Utility Icons Alerts & Warning Icons WEARABLE UI The wearable UI mirrors the mobile app main menu, featuring eight minimalist tabs for on-the-go navigation . Early prototyping explored a rectangular screen resembling a thermometer, but due to aesthetic and electronic constraints, the design evolved into a circular touchscreen. The interface is fully rotatable and available in both light and dark modes . Live alerts and navigation arrows dynamically appear when users activate navigation and performance notifications. LIGHT ↔ DARK (CLICK) WATI APP UI DESIGN LIGHT ↔ DARK (CLICK) llcloud Up dsll

qb playground 2026 Duration 48hrs Freelance Project Service: Playground Design | Architectural Design | SketchUp | Modular Design | Climbing Walls | Play Experience Design qb is a modular playground concept inspired by two classic childhood table games, Cuboro and Georello , reimagined at an architectural scale to transform cube-based play into a spatial experience for children. The qb block is a cube composed of five interconnected walls, built from a combination of pine plywood and transparent plastic panels , with changeable climbing grip placements and an internal network of stainless-steel tubes, slides , and pathways that allow children to climb, slide, and navigate the structure. Conceived as a maze-like, interactive environment, qb offers long-term adaptability and gives playground companies the freedom to create countless configurations from a single, rearrangeable system of modular blocks . Cuboro is a modular wooden marble run game created by Swiss engineer Matthias Etter (1986) , which lets children combine wooden blocks in different configurations to build their own marble run systems . Georello is a colourful gear construction game created by Italian company Quercetti (1990s) , it introduces basic mechanics and interlocking gear combinations to children through hands-on building. Shown Above: Two playground formations using the same number of blocks and components, simply reconfigured into different layouts. The qb playground was inspired by the marriage of the logic of Cuboro and Georello , translating their modular and interlock building principles into a life-scale children’s playground system of five-walled cubes with interchangeable fitted panels that form tunnels, slides, and climbing walls. This flexible block system allows companies to reconfigure playground layouts regularly to keep children engaged, while reducing design, production, transport, and installation costs through a standardised modular approach . tom project Up foldiFi