Role
UX/UI Designer, Product Designer, 3D Environment Designer
Duration
September 2025 - December 2025
Tools
Figma, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Unreal Engine
Overview
OZON3 is a solo speculative design project that explores how physical spaces and digital tools can work together to support healthier relationships with technology. The name comes from “Offline Zone” and from ozone, with O3 referencing the ozone molecule as a symbol of protection and clarity.
I began by developing an architectural plan for a dedicated offline space and then translated it into an immersive 3D environment in Unreal Engine. This environment models what an OZON3 location could look and feel like, including zones, interactions, and the moment a visitor’s phone powers down when they enter.
To complement the space, I designed a fully interactive mobile app in Figma. The app extends the concept by offering features like digital detox settings, class schedules, community programs, location routing, and a crowd-level indicator that supports user decision making. The project combines product design, UX thinking, spatial design, and world-building into one integrated system.
The Problem
People are increasingly overwhelmed by constant digital stimulation, work notifications, and the pressure to stay connected. Many want healthier boundaries with their devices but lack environments or tools that support real disconnection. Existing digital wellness apps rely on the same phones users are trying to step away from, while public spaces rarely encourage offline presence or community interaction. There is no integrated system that combines a physical experience with a supportive digital companion to help people disconnect, reset, and reconnect with others in meaningful ways.
OZON3 addresses this gap by creating a dedicated offline environment paired with an app that guides, prepares, and supports users through intentional digital detox experiences.
Research
User Personas
Joe Jackman
Age: 28
Job: EMT
Location: San Diego, CA
“I’m around noise, screens, and alerts all day. I’m looking for a space where I can shut everything off and reset before the next shift.”
Needs
Predictable, calming environments
Relief from constant alerts and noise
Spaces designed for recovery, not productivity
Freedom to disengage without explanation
Goals
Create a consistent post-shift recovery routine
Lower stress and nervous system fatigue after emergency work
Spend intentional time offline without feeling disconnected from others
Improve sleep quality through better wind-down habits
Find spaces designed for recovery, not stimulation
Painpoints
Difficulty mentally decompressing after emergency calls
Adrenaline staying high even after shifts end
Constant alerts and notifications tied to work and training
Irregular schedule that disrupts sleep and routines
Limited access to calm, quiet spaces in the city
Maya Edelman
Age: 20
Job: Student
Location: Los Angeles, CA
“I’m on my phone and laptop all day for school, so I really value spaces where I can unplug and just be present for a bit.”
Needs
Clear separation between work time and personal time
Environments that support intentional disconnection
Structure that helps transition out of work mode
Goals
Maintain a healthy balance between academic work and personal well-being
Create consistent offline routines during busy school weeks
Reduce mental fatigue from constant multitasking
Find quiet spaces to reset between classes
Support physical and mental health through movement and mindfulness
Stay present without feeling pressure to be productive
Painpoints
Constant screen switching between classes, assignments, and social media
Difficulty fully disconnecting due to school notifications and deadlines
Campus environments that are noisy or overstimulating
Feeling mentally drained even during downtime
Pressure to always be available and responsive
Limited access to calm, affordable wellness spaces
Jordan Alexander
Age: 35
Job: Remote Data Analyst
Location: Waco, TX
Needs
A quiet, low-stimulation environment
Clear boundaries between work and rest
Gentle structure for offline routines
Spaces that feel welcoming, not intimidating
“I work online all day, so I need places where I can fully disconnect and still feel connected to real people.”
Goals
Create stronger boundaries with work notifications
Reduce digital burnout from constant screen use
Spend free time more intentionally
Build a healthier daily routine outside of work
Meet people and engage socially without screens
Painpoints
Always “on” due to remote work expectations
Difficulty mentally clocking out after work hours
Blurred boundaries between home and office
Reliance on passive scrolling to unwind
Feeling isolated despite constant online interaction
Part One: Prototyping the Physical Experience in Unreal Engine
To bring the concept of OZON3 into a tangible experience, I created a fully modeled environment inside Unreal Engine. This build serves as a spatial prototype that demonstrates how an Offline Zone could function in the real world. Starting from an architectural plan I designed, I translated the layout into a 3D environment that includes designated areas for entry, community interaction, classes, and restorative activities.
A key design challenge was visualizing how a user’s device would shut off the moment they entered the space. I implemented a trigger box system to simulate this transition. When the player crosses the designated boundary, on-screen text displays “offline mode,” illustrating how the environment enforces digital disconnection. As the player enters the building, relaxing nature sounds fade in, reinforcing the shift away from digital stimuli. This interaction communicates the core value of OZON3: a seamless, automatic transition from digital overload to presence and clarity.
The Unreal Engine build not only prototypes the physical form of OZON3 but also allows viewers to experience the tone, flow, and functionality of the space, making the speculative concept feel immersive and real.
Part Two: Mobile App Product Build
Information Architecture
User Flows
Wireframes and Planning
I created low-fidelity wireframes to translate OZON3’s concept into a simple, intentional digital flow. This phase focused on reducing friction and visual noise, ensuring users could complete key actions quickly before going offline.
Primary flows included onboarding, setting an offline duration, discovering locations, and viewing classes. Layouts emphasized clear hierarchy, minimal interaction steps, and calm design principles to support short, purposeful app use.
These wireframes established the foundation for refining usability and moving into high-fidelity UI design.
Home Screen UI Iterations
Final Design
Results and Outcomes
This project resulted in a fully realized speculative product that connects spatial design and digital experience. I independently developed an architectural concept for OZON3 and built a complete environment prototype in Unreal Engine to visualize how an offline-first space could function in the real world. In parallel, I designed an immersive companion mobile app in Figma that supports intentional disconnection, location discovery, and session planning.
The experience reframes being offline as a deliberate and positive action rather than a restriction. By guiding users through a clear transition from planning offline time in the app to entering a phone-free physical environment, OZON3 reduces cognitive load and encourages presence, rest, and community interaction. Visual cues such as the phone screen fading on entry reinforce the shift from digital to physical engagement.
The Unreal Engine environment was presented during a class critique and received generally positive feedback from peers and faculty. Reviewers noted that the spatial prototype helped make the abstract idea of digital detox feel tangible and believable, validating the use of immersive tools to explore nontraditional UX problems.
Through this project, I strengthened my ability to design across platforms and mediums, translating UX principles into both interface and spatial experiences. OZON3 demonstrates how product design can extend beyond screens to shape behavior, environment, and community.