Aether
Saving time for what matter the most
Timeline
Sep - Dec 2024
Role
UX/UI Designer
Researcher
Front-end Developer
Tools
Figma
Adobe Illutrator
NextJS
React
What is Aether?
Aether is an AI-powered form-filling application created to make paperwork management easier for caregivers. The project focuses on reducing the time, stress, and confusion involved in completing complex documents, especially for caregivers who manage multiple profiles, forms, and personal information across different care situations.
01 | Problem Statement
Caregivers are often responsible for more than direct care. They also manage forms, medical instructions, appointments, insurance details, and service applications, often while balancing work, family, and emotional stress.
Caregivers often face long forms, unclear instructions, and unfamiliar terms that make paperwork stressful and easy to get wrong. Aether uses AI to simplify and clarify forms, helping caregivers complete them faster and with more confidence.
Aether was created to reduce the burden of caregiver paperwork by using AI to summarize, clarify, and simplify complex forms. Instead of leaving caregivers to navigate confusing language and repetitive document requirements on their own, the application provides a more guided experience that helps them understand, complete, and manage paperwork with greater confidence and less stress.
02 | Competitive Analysis
A competitive analysis was conducted to refine insights and enhance design concepts, ensuring Aether stands out from other form-filling apps. This analysis helped identify strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for a more user-friendly and distinctive experience.
The comparison showed that existing tools are useful for individual document tasks, such as paraphrasing, OCR scanning, autofill, and file uploads. However, most are built for general productivity rather than caregivers who need clearer, faster, and less stressful support when completing complex forms.
This revealed an opportunity for Aether to combine form simplification, document scanning, autofill, and real-time editing into one caregiver-focused experience, helping users not only process forms but better understand and complete them with confidence.
This analysis helped position Aether not as another general document or paraphrasing tool, but as a caregiver-focused form assistant designed to reduce confusion, simplify complex information, and support users through the full form-completion process with more clarity and confidence.
03 | Shaping Insight Into Product Decisions
The research findings shaped Aether's target users, experience principles, and core values, creating a clear foundation for the product’s structure and direction.
Core Vulues
User Flow
04 | Design Process
Aether's visual system was designed to feel calm, clear, and supportive. Soft colors, readable typography, and consistent UI elements help create a trustworthy experience for caregivers managing important paperwork.
Fonts, Color & Workmark
05 | Wireframes
The interface was designed to break complex paperwork into clearer steps, helping users understand what to do next without feeling overwhelmed.
Lo-fi Wireframe
Hi-fi Wireframe/ Final Interface
06 | Commercial
To support Aether beyond the app interface, a set of promotional materials was created, including an introductory ad video, business cards, and a brochure. These deliverables were designed to communicate the app's purpose, highlight its key features, and present the project in a clear and accessible way for caregivers, users, and showcase visitors.
Ad Video
This video shows the frustration caregivers face when dealing with complex forms, then introduces Aether as a simpler, calmer solution. By clarifying information and making paperwork easier to manage, Aether helps turn an overwhelming task into a more confident experience.
Bussiness Card
Brochure (click to flip the brochure)
07 | Results & Reflections
Aether was presented at the D3 / FSWD Annual Student Design & Technology Showcase on December 6, 2024, an event focused on AI-driven digital solutions for real-world challenges and underserved communities. While the project did not place in the top three, it gave our team the opportunity to share a thoughtful solution designed to reduce the stress of caregiving paperwork and support people in a practical, human-centered way.
Aether was one of the most challenging projects our team worked on. Without dedicated backend developers, we had to research and learn new technical skills while building the app, especially when integrating AI to help analyze and simplify uploaded documents.
The design also went through several major changes, including a complete redesign just four days before the showcase. This pushed the team to work closely under pressure to refine the interface, improve the app’s functionality, and prepare everything in time for the final presentation.
Although the process involved tight deadlines, technical issues, and team disagreements, it became a valuable learning experience. We learned how to adapt, communicate more clearly, respect different working styles, and move forward together when the original plan changed.
Lastly, I would like to thank the D3 program for giving us the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in both design and development, from turning an initial idea into a working app.
I am also grateful to my teammates for their hard work, support, and dedication throughout the project. The challenges, late nights, laughs, and stressful moments we shared while building Aether made this experience unforgettable and meaningful to me.