Sprouts!
ROLE
Product & UI/UX Designer
DURATION
3 Months
2022
THEMES
Product Design, Women,
Entreprenurship, UI/UX
Problem
Puberty… is embarrassing
Growing up as a girl, I struggled with puberty, often findng embarrassment within my bodily changes. Through conversations with female friends, I discovered that my struggles with puberty weren't personal, but widely shared.
A common topic discussed was breast development and the challenge of finding the right bra size.
Research
Interviewing women
I conducted 50 user surveys/interviews with females aged 16-60 to learn about their experiences with breast development.
Through my designs, I aim to support girls going through puberty, as well as females of all ages and their parents.
Sample questions
How did you feel about the physical changes happening to your body?
What were some of the challenges you faced during puberty?
How would you describe your bra shopping experiences?
Core Insights
"As a plus sized girl I could never find any bra that fit me… nothing could support my boobs well. I literally hate bras."
"I remember only purchasing skin-toned bras so that they don't show through the shirt… I still do it till this date."
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Emotional Discomfort: Puberty brings insecurities about physical changes, a lack of support due to taboo topics, and embarrassment, especially when bra shopping.
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Physical Discomfort: Ill-fitting or new bras cause discomfort, as does the visibility of certain bra designs. Fluctuating breast size from hormonal changes adds to the physical discomfort.
For girls navigating puberty, emotional challenges like embarrassment and insecurity are compounded by the physical discomfort and frustration of finding the right bra.
How might we…
help young girls going through puberty establish self-confidence?
Development
Building the interface
Developing this app required a deep dive into how digital platforms can best support girls in building self-confidence. I focused on leveraging accessibility of apps to raise awareness and provide resources through a branded consumer application.
Through a process of user feedback and iteration, I created the visual sitemap for the app and subsequently the low-fi screens.
One Sprout at a Time
Designed for girls all around the world.
Solution
Sprouts! App
Community
These pages offer girls a simple and accessible way to explore female-related articles, blogs, and connect with online communities.
Shop
I designed the product listings to be fun and engaging, using bright colors and showcasing multiple product variations to appeal to a younger audience. I also incorporated the option to purchase individual bra parts to promote sustainability.
Next Involvements
Sprouts! Journal
In support of the Breast Cancer Foundation's 25th anniversary, the Sprouts! Journal was created to raise funds while also empowering young girls through puberty with reflective journaling. This project was done in collaboration with fraction design studio.
Reflection
To guide girls through a reflective journaling experience, the journal includes specific prompts at the beginning and end to encourage reflection on the overall journaling journey, and also dedicates pages with prompts for regular use, and monthly reflection sections.
Education
My design for this section prioritised accessibility and education, using illustrations to explain the menstrual cycle and breast health, incorporating cycle tracking, and providing clear breast self-exam instructions
Planner pages
These monthly and weekly spreads offer girls a flexible space to personalize their journal with dates and prompts. Reflective prompts and an objectives column support goal setting and reflection, while period tracker stickers provide a convenient way to track their cycles.
