Alåra — Max Bubenheim Design

How do you stay comfortable during trips for your profession?

How do you define Comfortability?

During interviews with travelers, a business person and an astronomer, I discovered that comfort is found in the food you eat, the activities you partake in during your travels, and the quality of your accommodation. I decided to focus on comfort in accommodation.

Results from my survey showed that:

91% of the participants don’t wake up comfortably during their trips abroad

$504 billion industry

In 2019 the business traveling industry was worth $504 billion and is expected to rebound after covid-19.
Research, Military & Oil rig workers

Whether you travel for business, research, or military the experience can be uncomfortable.
Wellbeing

Healthy sleep and wake-up routines are vital for optimum productivity, social interaction, and mental health.

Comfort in the mornings

Sounds

A wide range of sounds from nature, people, and music help provide comfort in the mornings.

Scents

Most scents (the good ones) help induce comfort. Scents can be associated to actions like falling asleep or waking up.

Colors

Warm colors help us feel comfort while cold, dark, and neon colors can do the opposite.

Business or Consumer Product?

This product could be offered to accommodations to provide it as a service to the consumer but could take away from the personalization potential. It might run into the same problem that accommodation has already, it is designed for the general audience.

Alternatively, the product could be focused as a consumer good. This would allow it to be easier to personalize and allow the user to take it wherever they want, rather than relying on the accommodation to provide it.

Durability for withstanding transit. Lightweight for your carry-on luggage.
It should work well with existing TSA security regulations.
Great at what it does and more! The more tasks it can complete the more likely travelers to use it.

Cylinderic vs. boxy

Survey participants said they prefer the size of a small book than a small cylinderic bluetooth speaker.
Form vs. function

The form of the device reflects the current LED, loudspeaker, and oil difuser technologies.

covid-19 style mock-ups

90 x 90 x 35 had the best and most realistic proportions.

What is Alåra?

Alåra is a portable device that can create a wake-up environments using personalized soundscapes, artificial sunrises and essential oil scents. These environments promote comfort in accommodations for travelers, improving your energy levels and productivity.

powered by your phone

Volume, light, and scent are controlled via app while a power button and mic-mute switch are on device.
3-in-1

A wake-up light, a conference speaker, and a bluetooth speaker walk into a bar…
green & comfy

Aluminum unibody, mycelium leather, and linen fabric offer sustainability and comfort.

Durable & cool

The aluminum unibody offers durability during transit while also dissipating the heat from the oil diffuser and wake-up light.

Press to eject

Press down on the cartridge to eject it. Put it in your toiletry bag to pass through TSA security care-free. Press it back into place when you need it again.

Small footprint

The upright design ensures ålara takes up as little night table room as possible.
Essential oils

These are easily refilled by unscrewing the lid of the cartridge.