VAP
Design Concepts
This is a project focused on designing an e-cigarette, as well as an opportunity for me to explore a product category that is unfamiliar to me. I believe that by applying design thinking with a user-centered approach—conducting interviews and observations—I can gain a deeper understanding of users’ habits, behaviors, and pain points. This process helps uncover meaningful design entry points, allowing for the introduction of innovative concepts that align with user needs and expectations.
To structure the design process effectively, I adopted the Double Diamond methodology, which emphasizes divergent and convergent thinking. The process begins with user research, where insights are gathered through interviews and observations, followed by problem definition, ideation, prototyping, and refinement. By taking this systematic approach, I ensure that the final design solutions are not only creative but also practical and user-oriented.
BrassPuff Concept –
An interactive, fidget-friendly e-cigarette inspired by the form and ergonomics of a saxophone, designed to enhance both the tactile experience and aesthetic appeal.
Both concepts aim to push the boundaries of conventional e-cigarette design by integrating new interaction models and user-driven innovation. This project serves as an experiment in applying human-centered design principles to a niche industry while expanding my own design capabilities into unfamiliar territories.
In this design project, I explored two key conceptual directions:
FlavorFlex Concept –
A modular e-cigarette design that enables users to freely mix and match flavors, creating a personalized vaping experience.
Design Method helps design even close to user requirement. By the Double Diamond process of design, we may “Discover” what’s the user need, what’s their pain-point, and what’s their behavior of usage. “Define” those requirements and grouping the issues to filtering the piority of problems to finding the new oppurtunities for the product design for business. “Develop” for new direction and product strategy by discussion and brainstorming. compairing the most protential direction and sketch to visualize the form that cater to the user persona, and “Deliver” the Concept proposal.
Double Diamond
Discover
In taking the first step of the design process, I did not immediately start sketching concepts. Instead, I began by developing a fundamental understanding of the product, analyzing current market trends, studying the sales performance of competitors, and examining the key features of the top five competing products. Additionally, I conducted hands-on product experiences to gain deeper insights.
Among these activities, the most time-consuming yet valuable aspect was user interviews. Through direct communication with users, I aimed to uncover the small details that matter to them—what aspects of the design they appreciate and, conversely, what drawbacks they dislike. These insights not only deepened my understanding of the product but also helped identify key areas to focus on when developing creative concepts in the later stages.
What we Discover ?
In the first phase, through numerous user interviews, we identified two key creative opportunities for development:
Emotional Value of Fidgeting –
The product itself can provide an interactive, tactile experience that enhances user engagement and enjoyment.
Preference for Flavor Selection –
Users value the ability to customize and mix flavors to suit their personal tastes.
Definition
During our interviews, we also explored and refined the design direction, particularly in terms of appearance, usability, and technological integration. We aimed to identify aspects of the exterior design that could enhance the user experience, ensuring that both aesthetics and functionality contribute to a more satisfying interaction with the product.
After we understand the Product and the User Behavior. There would be 3 things we need to know for designing the Vaping Device. Which are the Size , the Mouthpiece, and the type of the interface. These are all about the Definition of what kind of the experience we want to provide to users/ vapors. We use questionnaire to survey as the reference data. And we interview few experts who are the Vape Customers , Seller, vendors.
What’s the most suitable size for the Best Usage ?
What’s the Best mouthpiece for User ?
Should we set it as Smart device ? Will Customers need it to be smart if it’s just the disposable device ?
These insights helped us define the design approach: a compact yet high-puff device with an ergonomic grip, an optimized mouthpiece for comfort, and a streamlined, screen-free design that prioritizes user needs over unnecessary tech integrations.
Develop
With a clear definition in place, we had everything we needed to move forward. We gained a solid understanding of user behavior when using vaping devices and focused on achieving a balance between two key factors: designing a size that provides a comfortable grip and discreet usability while also meeting the demand for higher puff capacity.
To achieve this, we decided on dimensions of 40mm in width, approximately 100mm in height, and a depth of 20 to 25mm. This volume allows for 15,000 to 20,000 puffs, which aligns with the preferences of most vapers.
For the innovation aspect, we aimed to integrate insights gathered from user research. Two key findings stood out: the strong preference for customizable flavor selection and the emotional satisfaction derived from fidgeting. These insights became the foundation for our design exploration, ensuring that the final product not only meets functional needs but also enhances the overall user experience.
Introducing
Concept 1
This product redefines the vaping experience by offering users the freedom to mix and match flavors, creating a highly personalized and enjoyable experience. Our user research revealed key insights that directly influenced our design direction.
COMBINATION
FREE FLAVOR
FlavorFlex
Design Concepts
Through data analysis and user interviews, we discovered that flavor preferences vary by gender—male users tend to favor cooling flavors like mint, cooling lemon, and watermelon, while female users prefer sweeter, aromatic flavors such as mango, berries, and dessert-like notes. This insight presented a challenge: the same flavor may need to be formulated with different sensations to suit diverse user preferences. Rather than seeing this as a limitation, we embraced it as an opportunity for creative innovation, designing a customizable POD system that allows users to freely combine flavors based on their mood and taste preferences.
Unlike the flavor cartridge-swapping systems commonly found in the market, which are often inconvenient to manufacture, limit users to a single brand’s offerings, and increase production costs for manufacturers, our approach takes a different path. Instead of requiring users to change flavor cartridges, we leverage a straw-like mouthpiece design with an offset configuration on a single vape pod. This innovative structure not only enhances the vaping experience by providing a more ergonomic inhale but also allows two pods to be used side by side, enabling users to directly experience the synergistic effect of two flavors combined. This clever design ensures that vapers can effortlessly enjoy unique blends, making every session a customized and immersive experience.
By combining flavor customization, ergonomic design, and a user-centered approach, this product goes beyond traditional vaping—it becomes a personalized, seamless experience tailored to individual preferences and lifestyle needs.
To enhance usability, we incorporated a minimalist screen that displays only essential information: remaining battery life, e-liquid level, and Turbo mode status. The device features a single button, allowing users to press once to check the current status and hold for three seconds to activate Turbo mode, ensuring a simple and intuitive user experience.
Color & Flavor example : Cool Mint
Vaping is more than just a smoking alternative—it’s also a way for users to relax and relieve stress. Through our research, we observed an interesting behavior: many users unconsciously fidget with their vape device, much like a fidget toy, enjoying the tactile engagement while vaping.
Design Concept
BrassPuff
ENJOY PLAY
ENJOY PUFF
Introducing
Concept 2
For the aesthetic and structural inspiration, we drew from musical instruments, incorporating a U-pipe shape that gives the device a unique and memorable identity.
Internally, one side houses the PCB and battery, while the other side contains the e-liquid tank. A LED light bar runs through the center, gradually illuminating from bottom to top as the user vapes, creating an engaging visual interaction that enhances the overall experience.
In response to user preferences, we opted for a small, discreet screen that displays only the battery life, e-liquid level, and mode status. The screen is seamlessly integrated around the fidget ring, which also functions as a control button for the lighting effects, keeping the interface minimalist yet functional.
Additionally, user interviews confirmed that a straw-type mouthpiece provides the best vaping experience, so we designed the device with this in mind. This not only improves usability but also strengthens the instrument-inspired aesthetic, making the design more iconic and recognizable. We believe this combination of functionality, sensory engagement, and unique design will leave a lasting impression on users, making them more likely to remember and return for both the design and flavor experience.
Throughout this e-cigarette design project, I ventured into unfamiliar territory, gaining valuable insights by understanding users and learning from their perspectives. I also gathered input from various retailers, manufacturers, and industry experts, integrating their recommendations into the design process. This collaborative approach allowed the final design to be both diverse and engaging, aligning more closely with user preferences while offering a fresh and innovative experience.
J O H N S O N S H I H
I N D U S T R I A L D E S I G N
To enhance this experience, we integrated a rotatable ring into the design. This ring adjusts the vaping mode while also producing a satisfying grinding or clicking noise, creating a tactile and auditory feedback loop that enhances user interaction. Unlike traditional fidget-like vape designs that compromise durability, our ring is designed for stability and hassle-free mechanical quality, ensuring a premium feel with every turn.