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Project Summary
Pearl is a reproductive health app intended to improve the quality of life for people by providing access to cycle syncing and period cycle education.
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For the first half of this project, I followed the design process, starting with research and ending with a polished prototype. At that point, I conducted usability testing, made iterations to the original design, and built a finalized prototype.
RESEARCH OVERVIEW
PRIMARY RESEARCH
SECONDARY RESEARCH
Survey
Expert Interview
Competitive analysis
Market analysis
HUMAN CENTERED FRAMEWORKS
Jobs To Be Done
Persona Generation
I surveyed 35 people who menstruate, ages 18-60 to understand their knowledge of period cycle health and their priorities for tracking their period.
RESULTS
88% of respondents don't utilize cycle syncing but 54% are aware of it
82% of respondents can't identify
which phase they are in
80% of respondents have experienced
symptoms of hormone imbalance
INSIGHTS
Opportunity to implement cycle syncing education
People who menstruate don't have the resources to understand their bodies
Hormone imbalances are affecting quality of life and need to be easy to track
INTEGRATIVE HEALTH PRACTITIONER & BSN REGISTERED NURSE
INSIGHTS
• Multiple factors that affect hormones
• Gut, mental, and hormone health are linked
• Thoughts and feelings are linked neurochemically
SAM SHATEK
ETHNOGRAPHIC RESEARCH TAKEAWAYS
EDUCATIONAL GAP & AWARENESS
"I wish I could understand the mood swings that I have a few days prior to getting my period"
"The lack of ability to truly regulate hormones since I don't want to achieve pregnancy so I take birth control"
CONFIDENCE
“I am concerned about not being consistent about tracking my cycle”
“I’m just always concerned about my cycle, I don’t like the idea of hormonal birth control because it just masks symptoms rather than helping you understand what’s happening”
"We were taught to not trust our bodies"
"I've never even learned about cycle phases"
“I have gone to talk to a gynecologist but they were no help.”
DATA SECURITY
“My main concern with an app is the 3rd party selling of data. There is evidence from other apps that women’s data has been used as a target for anti-choice legislation”
“I wish I knew, I don’t feel comfortable using apps.”
“I currently track on paper. I also have stayed away from apps because I do not want my information to be sold to 3rd parties.”
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COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS TAKEAWAYS
Users need the ability to learn and understand their hormones.
Only one app on the market that has resources for cycle syncing but doesn’t get enough visibility.
Even if users don’t log their symptoms, they want to see how to fix current issues.
JOBS TO BE DONE
WHEN I MENSTRUATE,
I WANT TO...
Understand the cycle phases
See when my period will come
See my cycle history
Be educated on cycle health
SO I CAN...
Balance my hormones
Expect what to feel
Be informed on my body's patterns
Know how to fix symptoms
WHO IS THE USER?
NEEDS
• Information on period cycle
• How cycle phases work
• Menstruation tracking
FRUSTRATIONS
• Not confident in her understanding of reproductive health
• Doesn’t know the right foods to eat during her cycle
• Finds it difficult to know what phase she’s in her cycle
USER GOALS
Understand what my hormones are doing.
How to improve my daily life.
What foods and meals will help my body.
What exercises will help my body.
HOW MIGHT WE ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO EDUCATE THEMSELVES ABOUT THEIR REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH TO COMBAT HORMONE IMBALANCES & LEAD BETTER LIFESTYLES?
PROBLEM
People who menstruate, don’t understand the causes and symptoms of hormone imbalance.
GOAL
Minimize the negative effects of hormone imbalance by optimizing food, movement, and moods/emotions with education and food/general health recommendations.
DESIGN CRITERIA
• Visualized data
• Educational
• Lifestyle suggestions
• Mental/emotional awareness
• Period forecasting
USABILITY TESTING
I conducted usability testing with potential users and utilized the System Usability Scale to measure ease of use.
TAKEAWAYS
USER
2
USER
3
USER
1
USER
4
• Would like to see an ingredient breakdown
• Expects to see saved collections in one place
• Recommendations based on recent activity
• Would like more visuals with descriptions
• Need color changes for calendar
• Really likes the affirmations
• Expects a period countdown
• Combine log period and symptoms
• Wants to see recent activities
• Cycle length should be on the calendar
IDEATION
SKETCHES
WIREFRAMES
Log data and view tips for the current phase
HOME PAGE
See your current phase at a glance and
what to expect mentally and physically.
DESIGN CRITERIA
Mental and emotional
affirmations/guidance
lifestyle suggestions • mental & emotional awareness • record period data
WHERE DO I LEARN ABOUT CYCLE SYNCING?
View phase-specific food/meals, and
exercises, and understand how to fix symptoms
DESIGN CRITERIA
Explore what foods are better to eat at each phase
Look through suggested phase-specific meals
educational • lifestyle suggestions • mental & emotional awareness
View your recent activities
Filter through different phases to see suggested activities
Explains root of issue and
provides "fixes"
HOW DO I LOG DATA?
Record period dates and symptoms you are experiencing on this day.
DESIGN CRITERIA
period forecasting & tracking
MOOD BOARD
COLOR
ICONS
HEADING
SUB-HEADING
COPY
STYLE GUIDE
PHASE SUMMARY
CYCLE HISTORY
CYCLE SUMMARY
EXPLORE
SAVED
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