About Page
Hello, I’m Mark - the founder of Aardelia.
Aardelia is an evolving project - building practical digital tools and, in time, responsibly designed physical products - all grounded in clarity, structure, and long-term thinking.
Back story
In 2023 my body was failing, I was admitted to hospital and diagnosed with decompensated ALD (Cirrhosis). I was discharged 9 days later, well enough to go home with help and medication.
My NHS treatment and ongoing care has been exceptional. But upon reflection I realised that beyond this, there was little structured guidance around day-to-day living and what to expect.
Shortly after discharge I had to re-attend for a further procedure. The Consultant started a conversation in regards to diet and mentioned foods to avoid with my diagnosis. She also gave me a basic photocopied list on a sheet of A4, I’m grateful for the advice and the basic list.
Research
While convalescing, I started to research my weird symptoms. They were to my surprise, not uncommon and were reported online, often in medical papers or on clinic websites.
Later, I started reading books and medical papers focussing on diseases and their relationship with poor nutrition. I became interested in the supporting role of macro and micronutrients, and the lack of, within the ‘Western’ diet.
Following on, I explored:
Software to create a free, digital family cookbook (discovering Notion)
Keeping a basic diary, daily symptoms, energy, small wins (very poor short-term memory)
Cooking equipment and techniques - nutrient and food preservation.
I started questioning cooking equipment design and their materials. I became aware of the framework, “Cradle to Cradle”, and learned more about “The Circular Economy”, I took a deeper look into design, material and delivery options.
What started out as researching my symptoms evolved into wider systems thinking.
Realisation
I realised that insights and knowledge coupled with simple systems can be applied to help us with our own health management.
And principles, framed within simple systems geared up for end of life product pathways, provide the basics for long-term environmental sustainability.
Aardelia’s Philosophy
Aardelia was born from the simple realisations mentioned above.
When faced with, and living with a diagnosis you may have appointments, treatments, medications, diet and exercises, possibly physical aids and assistance with day to day care.
These all need managing by you or your carer. However you choose to do it, some structure and organisation is needed.
I found that traditional methods, (filing paperwork, the NHS App, keeping paper notes) seemed to be a scattered and disjointed approach. I found myself often re-visiting the same or similar information.
Aardelia’s simple digital tools are designed to centralise these new day to day events, creating your own knowledge hub to record, easily revisit and reflect.
Aardelia’s three core beliefs
1. Clarity Creates Confidence
When faced with health challenges or lifestyle changes, information can feel overwhelming.
Aardelia focuses on the fundamentals - structure, balance and understanding - so people can make informed decisions without unnecessary complexity.
2. Simple Tools Lead to Sustainable Habits
The best systems are the ones people actually use.
Aardelia designs low-friction practical digital tools for personal and business applications. Simply designed to provide solutions for everyday use, with minimal input producing meaningful insights for reflection.
3. Responsible Design Matters
Thoughtful design should improve the performance of any product or service.
Digital products or software, should be easy to use, minimal input with useable outcomes.
For physical products, design with consideration to the material ingredients, the products lifespan, and an end of life pathway that benefits the environment.
What Aardelia is building
Personal
Aardelia offers a growing suite of digital tools designed to support a healthy, sustainable life with a particular focus on health recovery.
Currently we provide Health Recovery Journals and Journal Hubs - digital, easy-to-use journals available in Free and Premium editions - with the premium versions offering extended functionality and views for reflection.
Soon we will be releasing digital cookbooks with a free and premium version.
Create your own digital cookbooks easily, both will include various tags, enabling a range of views.
Premium editions contain access to Aardelia’s curated CoFID nutritional information which may be used to support dietary adjustments often needed during recovery.
Learn more about our digital Tools.
Business
This year Aardelia is considering a range of Business digital tools covering key administrative functions.
These systems will be designed with disciplined practices in mind such as Pareto 80/20, Eisenhower Matrix and Zettelkasten.
A lean approach requiring minimal user input while producing maximum usable output for reflection and action.
Free and Premium versions will be available.
Physical Products
Longer term Aardelia aims to stock a curated selection of kitchen tools and equipment.
These will embrace Environmental Practices drawing upon the principles of ‘Cradle to Cradle’.
Tactile, well crafted products (hopefully made here in the UK) with their design:
focussing on practicality
Material ingredients (technical and natural nutrients)
And end of life product pathways.
Learn more on our Environment page.