Women's Nutrition and Education
An experience design project on the education of women about their nutrition during their cycle through play
PROJECT TYPE
TIME FRAME
TEAM MEMBERS
DESIGN BRIEF
INTEREST & SKILLS
Interactive Experience Design
13 Weeks
Irene He
Dinara Janaratne
Emily Adler
This human-centred interaction design project required designers to define their own problem statement through user research, ideate solutions that incorporate creative technologies, prototype and iterate through usability testing, and produce a final high-fidelity prototype as a deliverable.
The project integrated three Sustainable Development Goals - Goal 3 (Health and Wellbeing), Goal 4 (Quality Education ) and Goal 5 (Gender Equality). The problem space was in women's health - in research and education. Our proposal was a travelling educational hub that focus on the mobility, adaptability and playfulness of educational content and experience.
Experience Design, Playful Design, Design for Social Impact
User Research, Usability Testing, Augmented Reality & Mixed Media
MY ROLE
Research Lead
Data Synthesis Lead
Innovation Lead
Women's Nutrition and Education
An experience design project on the education of women about their nutrition during their cycle through play
PROJECT TYPE
TIME FRAME
TEAM MEMBERS
DESIGN BRIEF
INTEREST & SKILLS
Interactive Experience Design
13 Weeks
Irene He
Dinara Janaratne
Emily Adler
This human-centred interaction design project required designers to define their own problem statement through user research, ideate solutions that incorporate creative technologies, prototype and iterate through usability testing, and produce a final high-fidelity prototype as a deliverable.
The project integrated three Sustainable Development Goals - Goal 3 (Health and Wellbeing), Goal 4 (Quality Education ) and Goal 5 (Gender Equality). The problem space was in women's health - in research and education. Our proposal was a travelling educational hub that focus on the mobility, adaptability and playfulness of educational content and experience.
Experience Design, Playful Design, Design for Social Impact
User Research, Usability Testing, Augmented Reality & Mixed Media
MY ROLE
Research Lead
Data Synthesis Lead
Innovation Lead
Women's Nutrition and Education
An experience design project on the education of women about their nutrition during their cycle through play
PROJECT TYPE
TIME FRAME
TEAM MEMBERS
DESIGN BRIEF
INTEREST & SKILLS
Interactive Experience Design
13 Weeks
Irene He
Dinara Janaratne
Emily Adler
This human-centred interaction design project required designers to define their own problem statement through user research, ideate solutions that incorporate creative technologies, prototype and iterate through usability testing, and produce a final high-fidelity prototype as a deliverable.
The project integrated three Sustainable Development Goals - Goal 3 (Health and Wellbeing), Goal 4 (Quality Education ) and Goal 5 (Gender Equality). The problem space was in women's health - in research and education. Our proposal was a travelling educational hub that focus on the mobility, adaptability and playfulness of educational content and experience.
Experience Design, Playful Design, Design for Social Impact
User Research, Usability Testing, Augmented Reality & Mixed Media
MY ROLE
Research Lead
Data Synthesis Lead
Innovation Lead
Research Process
Research Process
The research process was crucial in identifying the problem space, and it was two-prong - conducting background research, and conducting primary research for our own qualitative and quantitative data sets.
The research process was crucial in identifying the problem space, and it was two-prong - conducting background research, and conducting primary research for our own qualitative and quantitative data sets.
Background Research
Background Research
Intent
Methods
Content Analysis
10+ Peer-reviewed research papers
10+ News articles from reputable and trustworthy sources
2 Published books on women's health
I was heavily involved in the reading and background research, cross referencing information through a variety of sources. I led the team in understanding and defining the scope, and supporting them in understanding the project's importance.
Content Analysis
10+ Peer-reviewed research papers
10+ News articles from reputable and trustworthy sources
2 Published books on women's health
I was heavily involved in the reading and background research, cross referencing information through a variety of sources. I led the team in understanding and defining the scope, and supporting them in understanding the project's importance.
Understanding and defining the scope of healthcare issues aligning with Sustainable Development Goals, therefore
Determining our target audience
Choosing our problem space in women's health
Narrowing the scope for market analysis
Defining research questions and 'How Might We' statements
Market Analysis
SWOT Analysis for 10+ current apps, websites, and personalities
Understanding market conditions and missing gaps in women's nutrition and education
Intent 1
Methods
Content Analysis
10+ Peer-reviewed research papers
10+ News articles from reputable and trustworthy sources
2 Published books on women's health
I was heavily involved in the reading and background research, cross referencing information through a variety of sources. I led the team in understanding, defining and persuading the importance of the scope of our project.
Understanding and defining the scope of healthcare issues aligning with Sustainable Development Goals, therefore
Determining our target audience
Choosing our problem space in women's health
Narrowing the scope for market analysis
Defining research questions and 'How Might We' statements
Market Analysis
SWOT Analysis for 10+ current apps, websites, and personalities
Understanding market conditions and missing gaps in women's nutrition and education
Intent 2
Methods
Initially, I identified some trends and challenges in women's health. Here are some of the key questions and research insights:
What is nutrition?
According to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (2023), nutrition refers to the process in which we consume, absorb, and use nutrients in food for growth, development and maintenance of life.
Why is women's nutrition important?
Health impact: Lack of access to accurate and comprehensive information about proper nutrition can lead to poor health outcomes for women - they lose more healthy years of life from living with disease and injury - 58% - than dying prematurely.
Economic impact: Women contribute to 37% of the global GDP - and this is excluding the unpaid work they engage in, such as cooking, cleaning and caring for the family.
Generational impact: The health of a new generation and future populations at large, depends on the mothers of today. It is estimated that 45% of deaths among children under 5 years of age are linked to undernutrition during early breastfeeding.
What are we missing in women's health?
Biased data: Many past research exclude women in research, and they are severely underrepresented. Within Australia, there is no mandatory rules to include women in research and clinical trials. If medical solutions are entrenched in biased data, what about nutritional guidelines?
Education: Many modern solutions such as wellbeing apps (e.g. MyFitnessPal, MyMacros) and other women-focused pages (e.g. Women and Children Hospital - Western Australia Health) have limited information on a woman's week-to-week nutrition. They are also often out of sight to many women. Our primary research focuses on the outreach of these information.
Initially, I identified some trends and challenges in women's health. Here are some of the key questions and research insights:
What is nutrition?
According to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (2023), nutrition refers to the process in which we consume, absorb, and use nutrients in food for growth, development and maintenance of life.
Why is women's nutrition important?
Health impact: Lack of access to accurate and comprehensive information about proper nutrition can lead to poor health outcomes for women - they lose more healthy years of life from living with disease and injury - 58% - than dying prematurely.
Economic impact: Women contribute to 37% of the global GDP - and this is excluding the unpaid work they engage in, such as cooking, cleaning and caring for the family.
Generational impact: The health of a new generation and future populations at large, depends on the mothers of today. It is estimated that 45% of deaths among children under 5 years of age are linked to undernutrition during early breastfeeding.
What are we missing in women's health?
Biased data: Many past research exclude women in research, and they are severely underrepresented. Within Australia, there is no mandatory rules to include women in research and clinical trials. If medical solutions are entrenched in biased data, what about nutritional guidelines?
Education: Many modern solutions such as wellbeing apps (e.g. MyFitnessPal, MyMacros) and other women-focused pages (e.g. Women and Children Hospital - Western Australia Health) have limited information on a woman's week-to-week nutrition. They are also often out of sight to many women. Our primary research focuses on the outreach of these information.
How much do women know about nutrition for the female body? Many women struggle to eat in a way that supports their energy, mood, and physical wellbeing throughout their cycle. Most of us were never taught how our bodies and nutrition intersect — and now, busy lives leave little time to catch up.
How might we provide, consolidate and distribute information on women's nutrition so that is accessible to Australian women and their caregivers? This project explores that.
How much do women know about nutrition for the female body? Many women struggle to eat in a way that supports their energy, mood, and physical wellbeing throughout their cycle. Most of us were never taught how our bodies and nutrition intersect — and now, busy lives leave little time to catch up.
How might we provide, consolidate and distribute information on women's nutrition so that is accessible to Australian women and their caregivers? This project explores that.
How much do women know about nutrition for the female body? Many women struggle to eat in a way that supports their energy, mood, and physical wellbeing throughout their cycle. Most of us were never taught how our bodies and nutrition intersect — and now, busy lives leave little time to catch up.
How might we provide, consolidate and distribute information on women's nutrition so that is accessible to Australian women and their caregivers? This project explores that.
Primary Research
Intent
Methods
4 Auto-ethnographic Cultural Probes from team members from different cultural backgrounds
Observing and understanding women's own life events, emotions and wellbeing for a span of two weeks, therefore:
Checking in on attitudes towards food and their changes with the hormonal cycle
Observing the impact of eating habits on their physical and emotional wellbeing
Gaining vocabulary on how to describe what they feel and need
31 Questionnaire responses from women in Australia aged 15 - 25 years old
31 Questionnaire responses from women in Australia aged 15 - 25 years old
Understanding young women's attitudes
Towards food in general
Their desire to learn about nutrition for their bodies
What they hope to learn
Understanding young women's attitudes
Towards food in general
Their desire to learn about nutrition for their bodies
What they hope to learn
Understanding young women's previous education on their own health
Previous knowledge on nutrition and/or their cycle
Impact of cultural backgrounds on attitudes towards nutrition
Understanding their current perceptions on health and wellness
Their opinion on nutrition in the context of their current life
What they hope to learn and challenges they face
12 Interviews conducted with young women aged 15 - 25 years old
Cultural Probe Data
Questionnaire data (one question)
Interviews (online version)
Problem Space
We identified a variety of missing gaps in women's health and nutrition, and its education, through background research. Our problem space was thus narrowed to:
Target Audience: 13 - 25 year-old females
Reasons: Educational level, Developmental stage and Psychological state
Problem Statements: Education and Awareness
Education-lens: How might we provide, consolidate and distribute information (i.e. educate) about women's nutrition, so that it is accessible and engaging to young Australians and their caregivers?
Awareness-lens: How might we make more visible the importance and impact of women's health so that future policies and solutions can be more comprehensive?
Problem Space
We identified a variety of missing gaps in women's health and nutrition, and its education, through thorough background research. Our problem space was thus narrowed to:
Target Audience: 13 - 25 year-old females
Reasons: Educational level, Developmental stage and Psychological state
Problem Statements: Education and Research
Education-lens: How might we provide, consolidate and distribute (i.e. educate) about women's nutrition, so that it is accessible and engaging to all Australians and their caregivers?
Research-lens: How might we make more visible the importance and impact of women's health so that future policies and solutions can be more comprehensive?
Problem Space
We identified a variety of missing gaps in women's health and nutrition, and its education, through thorough background research. Our problem space was thus narrowed to:
Target Audience: 13 - 25 year-old females
Reasons: Educational level, Developmental stage and Psychological state
Problem Statements: Education and Awareness
Education-lens: How might we provide, consolidate and distribute (i.e. educate) about women's nutrition, so that it is accessible and engaging to all Australians and their caregivers?
Awareness-lens: How might we make more visible the importance and impact of women's health so that future policies and solutions can be more comprehensive?
Primary Research
Intent 1
Methods
4 Auto-ethnographic Cultural Probes from team members from different cultural backgrounds
Observing and understanding women's own life events, emotions and wellbeing for a span of two weeks, therefore:
Checking in on attitudes towards food and their changes with the hormonal cycle
Observing the impact of eating habits on their physical and emotional wellbeing
Gaining vocabulary on how to describe what they feel and need
31 Questionnaire responses from women in Australia aged 15 - 25 years old
Understanding young women's attitudes
Towards food in general
Their desire to learn about nutrition for their bodies
What they hope to learn
Intent 2
Methods
Understanding young women's previous education on their own health
Previous knowledge on nutrition and/or their cycle
Impact of cultural backgrounds on attitudes towards nutrition
Understanding their current perceptions on health and wellness
Their opinion on nutrition in the context of their current life
What they hope to learn and challenges they face
Intent 3
12 Interviews conducted with young women aged 15 - 25 years old
Methods
e.g Interviews (online version)
Data Synthesis
Quantitative data from questionnaires were used to justify the importance and desire among young women to learn more about how nutrition supports their wellbeing. Auto-enthnographic cultural probes allowed us to be cautious how eating behaviours differ from cultural norms, previous knowledge and preconceived notions of what it meant to be "healthy". Interviews led us to use thematic analysis of responses to fully understand the attitudes towards nutrition create three main personas.
Quantitative data from questionnaires were used to justify the importance and desire among young women to learn more about how nutrition supports their wellbeing. Auto-enthnographic cultural probes allowed us to be cautious how eating behaviours differ from cultural norms, previous knowledge and preconceived notions of what it meant to be "healthy". Interviews led us to use thematic analysis of responses to fully understand the attitudes towards nutrition create three main personas.
Thematic Analysis of Interview Quotes and Long-Response Questionnaire Questions
Thematic Analysis of Interview Quotes and Long-Response Questionnaire Questions
I created personas from thematic analysis, their purpose being:
Short demographic data: Laid out some attributes that may contribute to challenges that she may face
Biography: Provided an everyday scenario to contextualise a young woman's pain points.
Goals & Frustrations: Articulated the issues that we will need to address as designers, and finding balance between achieving goals and lessening frustrations - which may require choice analysis later
Motivations: Consolidated important internal drivers of behavioural change, and what would create meaning for them
I created personas from thematic analysis, their purpose being:
Short demographic data: Laid out some attributes that may contribute to challenges that she may face
Biography: Provided an everyday scenario to contextualise a young woman's pain points.
Goals & Frustrations: Articulated the issues that we will need to address as designers, and finding balance between achieving goals and lessening frustrations - which may require choice analysis later
Motivations: Consolidated important internal drivers of behavioural change, and what would create meaning for them
I created personas from thematic analysis, their purpose being:
Short demographic data: Laid out some attributes that may contribute to challenges that she may face
Biography: Provided an everyday scenario to contextualise a young woman's pain points.
Goals & Frustrations: Articulated the issues that we will need to address as designers, and finding balance between achieving goals and lessening frustrations - which may require choice analysis later
Motivations: Consolidated important internal drivers of behavioural change, and what would create meaning for them.
Personas
Insights
I believe that understanding the importance of nutrition is vital for a positive well-being.
I believe that the way you approach food highlights your relationship with food.
I believe that I have limited control over my nutritional choices due to external factors.
I think that my menstruation cycle has a massive influence over my nutritional choices.
I think that your attitudes towards food are a reflection of who you are.
I think that gaining knowledge on nutrition for every individual is important.
I believe that understanding nutrition can be complex since it is dependant on many different factors.
I think that I struggle learning about nutrition.
Design & Prototyping Process
Design & Prototyping Process
As one of the experience designers in this project, I explored solutions with the team through the stages of ideation, iteration, prototyping and testing. In this process, I developed and tested ideas that were both creative and aligned with the challenges of the personas.
The overview of the process was as followed:
As one of the experience designers in this project, I explored solutions with the team through the stages of ideation, iteration, prototyping and testing. In this process, I developed and tested ideas that were both creative and aligned with the challenges of the personas.
The overview of the process was as followed:
Crazy 8s: Each one of us carried out a round of Crazy 8s as a brainstorming tool to explore different solutions.
Crazy 8s: Each one of us carried out a round of Crazy 8s as a brainstorming tool to explore different solutions.
Consolidation of Ideas: Afterwards, we organised the ideas into different themes and discussed the solutions. We then combined them into three main concepts.
Consolidation of Ideas: Afterwards, we organised the ideas into different themes and discussed the solutions. We then combined them into three main concepts.
Three Main Concepts: I had hand sketched three storyboards to articulate the three main concepts, articulating their intent and potential features and interactions.
Three Main Concepts: I had hand sketched three storyboards to articulate the three main concepts, articulating their intent and potential features and interactions.
Decision Matrix: We used a decision matrix to help us evaluate the success of each concept using a range of criteria.
Decision Matrix: We used a decision matrix to help us evaluate the success of each concept using a range of criteria.
Four Components: Each one of us developed the experience, information and interactions that would make up 'The Female CAREavan'. I was leading the overall tie-in of the components, and was in charge of 'Playful Posters'.
Four Components: Each one of us developed the experience, information and interactions that would make up 'The Female CAREavan'. I was leading the overall tie-in of the components, and was in charge of 'Playful Posters'.
Prototyping: Each component used a range of usability testing methods to derive feedback
Prototyping: Each component used a range of usability testing methods to derive feedback
Evaluation & Iteration: Qualitative and quantitative feedback were used to improve the four components and the overall experience of the idea
Evaluation & Iteration: Qualitative and quantitative feedback were used to improve the four components and the overall experience of the idea
Click on each below to view more!
Click on each to view more!
Click on each below to view more!
Crazy 8s: Each one of us carried out a round of Crazy 8s as a brainstorming tool to explore different solutions.
Consolidation of Ideas: Afterwards, we organised the ideas into different themes and discussed the solutions. We then combined them into three main concepts.
Three Main Concepts: I had hand sketched three storyboards to articulate the three main concepts, articulating their intent and potential features and interactions.
Decision Matrix: We used a decision matrix to help us evaluate the success of each concept using a range of criteria.
Four Components: Each one of us developed the experience, information and interactions that would make up 'The Female CAREavan'. I was leading the overall tie-in of the components, and was in charge of 'Playful Posters'.
Prototyping: Each component used a range of usability testing methods to derive feedback
Evaluation & Iteration: Qualitative and quantitative feedback were used to improve the four components and the overall experience of the idea
Final Prototype: Playful Posters & Spin-the-Wheel
Our final proposal - 'The Female CAREavan' - is a travelling educational hub that consisted of four interactive components: Turning Heads, Nutri Lens, Meals & Match, and Playful Posters. Each one of these components was led by each team member.
My role lay in creating and prototyping the graphical focal point of the hub, and tying-in the narrative of this experience. This came in the the Playful Posters, articulating the nutrients needed at every stage of the cycle, and a take-home Spin-the-Wheel to extend the content and experience beyond the hub itself. It included elements of Augmented Reality to enhance both experiences, with the intent of lessening stigma and the safety of learning in public spaces.
These posters highlight the nutritional needs for an average woman during her cycle. Visitors use the WebAR browser to scan the posters as objects, and more information will appear on screen in Augmented Reality.
Information include all the major nutrients that women should be consuming during that phase of the cycle, and examples of foods (i.e. Iron - Beef).
Information is displayed in AR for engagement, but also to reduce stigma for some communities where open discussions about women's health and cycle are less readily accepted.
Drag out to view them!
A similar concept was used for the quadrants in this spin-the-wheel.
These wheels were intended for young women to refer to when they require more information on their nutritional needs during their cycle.
There was another QR code at the back of the wheel, where a grocery list would be available for them to use during their cycle.
A similar concept was used for the quadrants in this spin-the-wheel.
These wheels were intended for young women to refer to when they require more information on their nutritional needs during their cycle.
There was another QR code at the back of the wheel, where a grocery list would be available for them to use.
Playful Posters & Spin-the-Wheel
Our final proposal - 'The Female CAREavan' - is a travelling educational hub that consisted of four interactive components: Turning Heads, Nutri Lens, Meals & Match, and Playful Posters. Each one of these components was led by each team member.
My role lay in creating and prototyping the graphical focal point of the hub, and tying-in the narrative of this experience. This came in the the Playful Posters, articulating the nutrients needed at every stage of the cycle, and a take-home Spin-the-Wheel to extend the content and experience beyond the hub itself. It included elements of Augmented Reality to enhance both experiences, with the intent of lessening stigma and the safety of learning in public spaces.
Drag out to view them!
Visitors scan a QR code to open the WebAR browser, then scanning the posters as objects for an AR experience. Information in AR show examples of nutrients needed for that cycle phase, and the foods high in those nutrients (e.g. Iron - Beef, Spinach, Oysters).
A similar concept used for Spin-the-Wheel - a take-home material for women to refer to during their cycle.
Another QR code at the back of the wheel generates a grocery list that they can use.
These posters highlight the nutritional needs for an average woman during her cycle. Visitors use the WebAR browser to scan the posters as objects, and more information will appear on screen in Augmented Reality.
Information include all the major nutrients that women should be consuming during that phase of the cycle, and examples of foods (i.e. Iron - Beef).
Information is displayed in AR for engagement, but also to reduce stigma for some communities where open discussions about women's health and cycle are less readily accepted.