Interview about Aquaventure Outdoor Woundcare, winner of the A' Camping Gear and Outdoor Equipment Design Award 2025
Aquaventure is a portable wound care device designed for outdoor and emergency use. It utilizes hydrogen peroxide generation technology to convert available water into a wound-cleaning solution. The device also incorporates silver ion technology to purify water for disinfection. Its lightweight design and user friendly interface make it suitable for outdoor enthusiasts, first responders, and emergency personnel, offering immediate first aid solutions in remote locations to enhance safety and accessibility.
View detailed images, specifications, and award details on A' Design Award & Competition website.
View Design DetailsThe dual-technology system at the heart of Aquaventure Outdoor Woundcare is the result of an unusual collaboration and a user-centered design pivot. The hydrogen peroxide generator technology actually originated from one of our supporting partners. At the time, their system—capable of producing low-density hydrogen peroxide through electrolysis—was being explored mainly for use in toothbrushes, air purification, and general surface sanitation. It was never originally intended for portable medical use, let alone survival in outdoor or extreme environments.Our team brought a very different perspective. Coming from the world of field exploration, motorcycle travel, and backcountry survival, we had direct conversations with outdoor users—people who live and explore beyond the reach of infrastructure. The central question we asked was simple but powerful: how can we help people survive and stay healthy without burdening them with complex medical kits? This user-first vision shaped the rest of the project.One of the earliest technical challenges was ensuring the device could work with any available water source. This is where silver ion technology came in—not initially as a sterilization agent for wounds, but as a pre-treatment filter. We integrated silver ion materials in the intake path to purify potentially unsafe water before it was electrolyzed into hydrogen peroxide. It was a practical decision—turning the device into a kind of universal tool that could operate off rivers, tap water, or even stored rainwater. But an unexpected benefit emerged: silver ions not only cleaned the water but also lingered in trace amounts, contributing to longer-lasting antibacterial protection on surfaces or wounds after use.In essence, silver ion technology played a dual role—first as an enabler, expanding the types of usable water sources, and second as a protector, enhancing the sterilization effect. This duality wasn’t planned at the start, but evolved naturally as we refined the system to better meet real-world needs. Just as Steve Jobs once said, we started with the experience and traced back to the technology—and ended up with a fusion of two scientific principles that now define Aquaventure's innovation.
Portability was not just a design preference for Aquaventure Outdoor Woundcare—it was a fundamental requirement from day one. We envisioned a product for explorers, motorcyclists, field researchers, and emergency responders who are constantly on the move, often carrying only what’s absolutely essential. The final dimensions (63mm x 64mm x 216mm) reflect a careful balance between functionality and discretion: compact enough to slide into a side bag or cargo pants pocket, but substantial enough to perform as a reliable wound-care device.Rather than being designed to hang on the outside of a backpack or clip to a belt—where it would be exposed to dirt, dust, and impact—the product is meant to travel inside a bag. Despite its rugged design, Aquaventure is still a medical product, and we wanted to ensure that users could maintain a basic level of hygiene simply by keeping it isolated from the elements. This discreet carry model aligns with the real-life habits of outdoor users, who often rely on inner compartments, dry sacks, or padded pouches to protect critical tools.Internally, the compactness presented an engineering puzzle. We needed to house the electrolysis system, a water chamber, filtration components, and the dispensing mechanism—all in a form that’s as intuitive to hold as a flashlight but far more specialized. Vertical stacking and spatial efficiency were key. Every internal millimeter was optimized to reduce bulk while still offering meaningful utility. Special attention was given to surface finish and proportions so that it feels ergonomic even when accessed quickly in unpredictable conditions.In short, the efficient form factor of Aquaventure was shaped by real user behavior: it had to be easy to carry, quick to locate, and clean to deploy. Instead of demanding that users change their routines, we created something that fits into them—without compromise.
The insights we gained from interviewing motorcycle riders, campers, and first responders played a crucial role in shaping the functionality, scale, and usability of Aquaventure Outdoor Woundcare. These groups represent very different outdoor experiences—some focused on speed and endurance, others on long-term self-reliance, and others on fast, high-stakes decision-making in emergencies. Yet they all shared a common frustration: the lack of a compact, reliable, and self-sufficient way to manage hygiene or wound care in unpredictable environments.Motorcycle riders, for example, often have extremely limited space and weight tolerance for gear. They emphasized that anything larger than a water bottle—or anything fragile—would likely be left behind. This pushed us to prioritize a compact form that could slide into a saddlebag or a cargo pocket without demanding special handling. They also helped us understand the importance of quick usability: one hand on the device, one hand on the situation. That influenced our thinking around grip geometry and nozzle activation.Campers and backcountry users, on the other hand, stressed the unpredictability of water access. Their input made it clear that the device couldn’t rely on pre-filled liquid cartridges or factory-prepped consumables. That directly influenced the decision to use silver ion filtering to pre-clean user-supplied water and convert it into a sterilizing solution on demand. This gave Aquaventure a broader use case: it didn’t just store liquid—it created it from whatever was available.First responders added yet another layer. Their focus was on intuitive operation under stress—the device needed to be simple enough to use without instruction, even by someone with no medical training. Their feedback helped shape the product’s minimal interface and visual clarity, as well as reinforced our idea that the device should require no special storage or setup. It had to work right out of the bag.Ultimately, these conversations shifted the project from being just a “clever gadget” to something more holistic: a field-resilient medical tool shaped by real-world habits, limitations, and behaviors. Without the diversity of these user perspectives, the Aquaventure design would never have achieved its uniquely adaptable and functional form.
Yes, the dual-mode delivery system in Aquaventure Outdoor Woundcare—offering both a focused stream and a broad spray—was a highly intentional design decision driven by real-world use scenarios. Through our interviews with outdoor users, especially motorcyclists, campers, and emergency responders, we realized that wounds encountered in the wild are rarely predictable. Sometimes you’re dealing with a small abrasion that just needs quick disinfection. Other times, it’s a deeper cut contaminated with dust, mud, or even wood splinters that must be flushed out before any further care can be applied. These are not ideal clinical situations—these are messy, urgent, and often far from help.We understood that in outdoor and emergency environments, every drop of liquid counts. Users won’t have access to unlimited clean water, so rather than increase the volume, we focused on increasing the efficiency and adaptability of how that liquid could be used. The focused stream mode is ideal for targeted cleaning—delivering enough pressure to dislodge debris from a specific area. The broad spray mode, on the other hand, gently covers larger surface wounds, or can be used to pre-clean surrounding skin before dressing. Both modes are accessible through a simple, intuitive adjustment, requiring no complex settings.This flexibility in delivery is also a natural extension of our user-first design philosophy: rather than ask the user to carry different tools or make decisions under pressure, we designed one tool that adapts to their situation. It's the same logic behind our use of silver ion pre-filtration and hydrogen peroxide generation from any usable water source—we’re enabling resourceful medical care using minimal gear. The spray system, like the rest of Aquaventure, reflects our goal: empower users with simple, intelligent solutions when conditions are anything but.
While we cannot disclose the exact technical processes behind the hydrogen peroxide regulation system due to confidentiality agreements with our technology partner, we can confidently say that this component forms the heart of Aquaventure Outdoor Woundcare. The precision and reliability of the hydrogen peroxide output are entirely thanks to the incredible work of the company that developed and supplied this advanced electrochemical system. They brought deep expertise and rigorous quality control to the table—ensuring the liquid produced meets safety thresholds suitable for wound care use, especially in unpredictable outdoor settings.Our role, as the product design team, was to translate this reliable backend technology into a form that people could actually use—simply, intuitively, and confidently. We focused on how to house this tech in a compact, portable, and ergonomic format, and how to create an experience that doesn’t overwhelm or confuse the user. We wanted to explore how great technology, when embedded in thoughtful design, could become invisible—seamlessly integrated into people’s daily lives or emergency kits, without requiring them to understand the science behind it.This collaboration represents what we believe is the future of design: finding trustworthy, cutting-edge technology and building bridges between it and real human needs. Aquaventure is not just about disinfection—it’s about making advanced capabilities accessible, mobile, and meaningful for everyone from outdoor adventurers to first responders. We’re proud to be part of a larger ecosystem that’s asking, "How can innovation be more human?"
The choice of black aluminum alloy for the casing and dark orange transparent PVC for the fluid chamber of Aquaventure Outdoor Woundcare was absolutely intentional and carefully considered—not only from a technical standpoint but also from a visual and emotional perspective. We wanted to break away from the traditional, almost clinical design language often found in healthcare or emergency products—white, red, sterile. Instead, we asked: Why can’t essential gear also reflect identity, energy, and style?Black, in this case, communicates a sense of rugged confidence and seriousness. It visually aligns with outdoor gear and motorcycles—both of which have aesthetics deeply rooted in performance and personal expression. The aluminum alloy gives the casing structural integrity and resilience against shocks, drops, and rough handling, while the anodized matte black finish resists scratches and blends seamlessly into the outdoor environment without looking overly tactical or aggressive.On the other hand, we knew visibility was still key—especially in low-light or chaotic conditions. That’s where the dark orange transparent PVC comes in. It not only adds a high-contrast visual pop that improves findability in a crowded bag or natural environment, but it also serves a functional purpose. The water tank needed to be shielded from direct sunlight to avoid UV degradation or heating, which could alter the chemical stability of the liquid. The orange tint acts as a filter, reducing light penetration while still allowing users to monitor the fluid level at a glance.There’s also an emotional layer. Just like how sports motorcycles and performance gear use color and form to evoke energy, Aquaventure was designed to retain that sense of excitement and empowerment—even in moments of injury or stress. We didn’t want the product to feel sterile or depressing. We wanted users to feel like they were holding something purposeful, powerful, and personal—something they’d be proud to carry, even if they never need to use it.
The growing need for reliable medical care solutions in remote or off-grid locations can only be meaningfully addressed when products become portable, affordable, and self-sufficient. That was our guiding vision for Aquaventure Outdoor Woundcare. While the product is still in its pre-commercial stage, its compact form factor—just 63mm x 64mm x 216mm—was carefully designed with the long-term goal of mass accessibility in mind. It’s small enough to fit into a backpack, side pouch, or emergency kit, but powerful enough to generate medical-grade wound disinfectant from virtually any water source.One of the key design decisions supporting this vision is the integration of a universal battery system. While Aquaventure includes a pre-charged, legally compliant rechargeable battery, we designed the casing to also accommodate standard AA batteries, which are globally available—even in rural stores or remote outposts. This allows users to stay operational in situations where power outlets or charging devices are unavailable. By simply packing a few extra AA batteries, users can ensure continued function, adding another layer of reliability and independence to the product’s use in the field.When we think about how innovation reaches remote communities, we look to past revolutions in accessibility. The early days of computing were limited to large, immobile machines—then laptops made them personal. And now, smartphones—compact, multifunctional, and relatively affordable—are ubiquitous even in the most rural villages and mountainous regions around the world. Why? Because they’re tangible, concentrated, and designed to do more with less. That’s the trajectory we imagine for Aquaventure as well.Its form factor isn’t just about convenience—it’s a deliberate strategy for distribution. When the device becomes easier to carry, easier to power, and potentially affordable through scaled manufacturing, it becomes viable for field medics, aid workers, rural clinics, and even individual households far from centralized care. And because it doesn’t rely on factory-filled cartridges or complex supply chains—just clean water, an internal generator, and a universal battery system—it can operate independently in places where infrastructure is minimal or nonexistent.Ultimately, we believe Aquaventure represents more than just a piece of camping gear or outdoor equipment—it’s a step toward democratizing wound care through design, enabling basic medical hygiene to reach further, travel lighter, and respond faster when it matters most.
When we first began developing Aquaventure Outdoor Woundcare, the biggest challenge wasn’t in purifying water itself—it was in realizing why we needed to.At the early stage of design, we assumed that users in most outdoor environments—hikers, campers, emergency responders—would likely have access to what appeared to be clean water. But the more we researched and tested, the more we recognized a hard truth: visually clean water doesn’t always mean safe water. It may contain bacteria, biological contaminants, or other unseen hazards that make it unusable for medical purposes. That realization fundamentally changed our design trajectory.Instead of assuming access to safe water, we made a key shift: what if we could make water safe—on demand, at the point of use?That was the idea behind integrating a first-stage purification system into the device. Before the electrochemical sterilization even begins, the water first passes through a purification step that reduces biological and particulate contaminants. This step transforms uncertain water sources—streams, lakes, even tap water of questionable quality—into something safe enough to serve as the base for a wound care treatment.It wasn’t about solving a technical problem from the start—it was about confronting a real-world condition we initially underestimated. And the answer wasn’t just about adding a filter—it was about creating a self-contained ecosystem inside the device, one that could confidently handle water from unpredictable sources.In essence, the purification system became not just a helpful feature, but a necessary foundation—the starting point for every healing function that follows.
Looking ahead, I see the Aquaventure Outdoor Woundcare system as more than just a single-use product—it’s a platform that hints at how future emergency medical tools can evolve.On the technology side, sure—improvements will come. We can expect faster liquid generation, more powerful electrochemical reactions, perhaps even smarter control over dosage and sterilization strength. But honestly, those are the kinds of refinements our technology partners are better suited to address.What excites me more is the conceptual direction—this idea that a compact device can transform raw, readily available resources—like water—into immediate, usable medical solutions on-site, without requiring centralized infrastructure or pre-assembled medical supplies.That’s powerful.It's similar to how a portable power generator turns fuel into electricity where it’s needed. Aquaventure is doing the same—turning a basic input (water) into a highly specific output (sterilization liquid), wherever and whenever it's needed. That idea could open the door for a whole ecosystem of field-ready medical generators: devices that don’t store pre-made products but create what’s needed on the spot.In disaster zones, conflict areas, or extremely remote regions where transportation is limited, the ability to generate critical medical treatments on demand—without the need for cold chains or bulky supplies—could radically change the game. It’s not just about AquaVenture; it’s about what this approach could inspire.If this product sparks new thinking around portable, resource-based medical care, I believe it’s already made a meaningful contribution to the future of humanitarian aid and emergency health support.
From a design education perspective, I think one of the most valuable lessons from Aquaventure Outdoor Woundcare—and really, from most of our work—is that great design always starts with being honest.Yes, we often categorize products into very different worlds: medical devices, cameras, farm equipment, sports gear, consumer electronics. But at the core, the design mindset shouldn’t change too much. Whether you’re working on a life-saving device or a lifestyle product, the real challenge is to stay grounded in the reality of your users and their environments.We like to joke in the studio—“just keep it real.” And that’s actually the serious part. That means:• Confronting the reality of the application scenario—not the idealized one, but the messy, unpredictable, sometimes chaotic environments your product will face.• Understanding human needs, not just on a functional level but also on an emotional one.In Aquaventure, we designed for motorcycle riders, campers, and first responders. People sometimes assume these groups are purely practical—but no, they’re humans first. They take risks, chase excitement, live with purpose. They want their gear to be functional, but also to reflect their identity. Even first responders—some of the most serious professionals out there—still want tools that feel empowering, sharp, reliable, maybe even a little heroic.That’s why we didn’t separate functionality and emotion. We worked hard to blend performance and style, to make the product not only useful in a crisis but also cool enough to feel proud of. Because yes—motorcyclists want to look cool. First responders are badass. Even in a medical device, that sense of confidence matters.So if I were speaking to aspiring designers, I’d say:• Don’t romanticize the “medical” part and forget the “design” part.• Don’t reduce users to their roles—respect their humanity.• Don’t aim for beauty alone—but never settle for function without soul.Your job is to create harmonious solutions that meet both real-world needs and emotional expectations. That’s the balance we tried to strike with Aquaventure, and that’s the lesson I hope young designers take forward: be honest, stay real—and design like it matters.
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