Presenter: Brittany Lang
Faculty Mentor: Trygve Faste, Susan Sokolowski
Presentation Type: Oral
Primary Research Area: Design
Major: Product Design
Feminine Hygiene is often a taboo topic in America. Feminine hygiene is and will continue to be an integral part of a woman’s life for years to come. Most Americans do not have much knowledge of hygiene care products and education. In this study, articles were summarized and placed into three categories of menstrual care: social, economical, and environmental. Eighty women were also interviewed and surveyed to discover other problems within their hygiene care methods and menstrual cycle experiences. This information then helped form, from a design perspective, what is missing in hygiene care. Current priorities for users are that products be cheap, accessible, and easy to use. Environmental priorities are: producing less waste, less chemical use, and increased use of natural materials. The current hygiene market has sustainable options called menstrual cups, which are the least harmful, most economical, and most sustainable form of care even though they are not as popular as tampons. This study hypothesizes that because of a lack of education, cultural acceptance, and product presence in the United States; menstrual cups are not making their way into American stores. There is also not a current menstrual cup product on the market geared towards the modern American woman. American women need a product that empowers them, educates them about their body, is convenient, and creates minimal environmental impact.