2017-2019 | Nula Reusable Menstrual Pad

Nula is a reusable menstrual pad that was designed for South African women. Pia Findlay began the design research project as a BA Industrial Design student in 2017 and then extended the project into an MA Design (in Industrial Design) from 2018-2020. During both these projects I was her main supervisor, and during the Master’s Despina Christofordiou, from Lund University  (Sweden), joined as the co-supervisor bringing with her expertise in behavioural design.

Overview:

The aim of this design research project was to develop a method of encouraging the acceptance of Nula, a new reusable menstrual pad in South Africa. The project initially explored the complexity of trying to introduce a radical innovation and taboo product into the South African market. What makes radical innovations problematic is that they fall outside the frame of reference of potential product users, and therefore often do not reach their full potential when initially introduced. A radically innovative menstrual product adds the additional complexity of taboo to market acceptance. Methods that have been developed to introduce radical innovations are often post-design and product-centric and do not take the user or their context into account. Therefore, behavioural design was selected as a method for behaviour around menstruation to be unpacked in the South African context. In order to engage with the complexity of this behaviour, Activity Theory was used as a systemic theoretical framework. A behavioural hypothesis was formed through the exploration of literature and expert interviews, which was refined to a behavioural statement through interviews with participants. Three problematic themes were identified as encouraging menstrual taboos, namely: uncleanliness, concealment and sexuality. Young adult women were identified as the target audience for the introduction of the Nula pad.

A honing strategy was devised as a way of guiding the design development of Nula. The strategy was comprised of four design methods: appropriate technology, designing affordances, designing meaning, and designing mindfulness. All methods were aimed at influencing product design and user behaviour to make the acceptance of a new menstrual product more probable. They sat on a spectrum that ran from continuity, in alignment with what already exists, to development, which challenges problematic preconceptions and mindsets. This spectrum accommodated user’s cultural and social norms, whilst allowing the designer to encourage appropriate shifts. The honing strategy was finally implemented during the design refinement of the Nula reusable pad, which tackled the three themes identified during the behaviour mapping. The success of the strategy in encouraging the acceptance of the Nula pad, was finally evaluated through participant feedback.

The approach of this design research project in encouraging the acceptance of a radical innovation which is taboo is valuable not only in menstrual health, but could find use in the introduction of similarly innovative and taboo products.

Form more information please contact Pia Findlay.

Outcomes

Acknowledgements:

In 2018 Pia received a SANORD BOC scholarship that allowed her to spend 3 months at Lund Univeristy in Sweden during the first semester for 2019. The experts she was able to engage with at Lund University where critical to the realisation of the project outcomes. They also lead to her connecting with Despina who became her co-superviser on the project.