Own
Empowering Menstruators Through Personalized Sampling
Redefining the menstrual product consumption experience to eliminate the financial and product waste risk caused by bulk-buying unsuitable products.
Project Type
School Project
Timeline
May 2025 - Jun 2025
Team
Linda Xiao
Elaine Park
Pearl Zhong
Xinyi Zhao
Tools
Figma, After Effects, Final Cut Pro
Problem & Challenge
Menstruators often face the "bulk-buy" risk of spending money on large packs of period products that turn out to be uncomfortable or ineffective. This friction leads to financial waste and an accumulation of unused products.
Solution
Own is a "phygital" sampling ecosystem that allows users to choose custom period product samples in-store and track their individual experiences via a mobile app. By replacing blind bulk-buying with data-driven personal trials, Own empowers menstruators to find their "perfect fit".
What I did
Led interaction and interface design for the digital tracking experience.
Established the brand identity and visual systems, following WCAG accessibility standards.
Directed the project’s storytelling through storyboards, animations, and video.
Impact
Delivered an end-to-end experience that empowers users with informed choices and autonomy.
Eliminated the financial risk of blind bulk-buying.
Reduced environmental waste.
FINAL DESIGN
Own: A menstrual care service with in-store sampling experience and a digital tracking app, helping users make informed, confident choices for their bodies.
In-store sampling: Feel the product before choosing it
Customers create a personalized sample bag of menstrual products at local drugstores. Users explore products by touch and feel, selecting items by tapping the NFC-tagged bag against a dispenser’s reader.
Digital tracking: Log trial experiences to help users make the "perfect fit" decision
Seamless Onboarding
By simply tapping the NFC-tagged sample bag to their device, users instantly link physical samples to the app, creating a seamless experience after the in-store purchase.
Track sample status
Users can categorize sample statuses into "unused," "in use," or "used," which provides a clear mental map of their trial progress.
Structured Trial Reviews
With a combination of open-ended notes and simple preset questions, users can capture nuanced feedback immediately after use. This converts subjective feelings into concrete data, making it easier to compare different products later.
Intelligent Product Suggestions
The system generates personalized product suggestions by analyzing user feedback. The data-driven insights empower users to make informed decisions when purchasing full-sized packs.
RESEARCH & PROBLEM
The current period products consumption: Big Packs, Big and Costly Mistake
Research
To uncover the root causes and significance of this issue and inform design decisions, we conducted secondary research and primary research.
Literature review
A survey with 38 responses.
6 unstructured interviews.
According to our research data, we found that period products are:
Problem: Decision hesitation, financial risk, and disappointment
Based on the research findings, I created a storyboard mapping the emotional journey of menstruators. It highlights key friction points in the consumption process.
IDEATION
What if purchasing period products was like buying makeup?
We created a customer journey map and revealed two high-friction moments in the period-product purchasing experience:
Uncertainty at the point of selection
Dissatisfaction after the first use when products failed to meet user needs
Solution: Try the product before fully committing
We designed a sampling experience with a clear user flow for period products that lets users touch, feel, and try products before buying in bulk, paired with trial tracking to compare performance and choose the best option for long-term use.
"Curate Your Style"
With the sampling service, we envision building a meaningful experience that empowers menstruators with ease of choice, autonomy, and self-expression.
IN-STORE SAMPLING EXPERIENCE
Touch and feel products even before choosing the right samples.
In the “Own” section of local drug/grocery stores, clear signage guides customers to create a personalized sample bag, while shelf talkers highlight product types and pricing.
Customers explore products through touch and feel, then use a contact-minimized flow to choose samples by tapping their NFC-tagged bag at a dispenser. At checkout, a linked barcode automatically displays selected items and the total cost.
Concept & usability testing for user-centered iterations
We tested the in-store prototype with two participants at a local grocery store. While the concept resonated, dense instructions and unclear pricing caused confusion, leading us to simplify signage and clarify pricing.
In a second round, we tested the end-to-end flow from in-store sampling to digital trial tracking with three participants. Iterations included replacing jargon, adding product feature cues, and introducing QR codes on signage and sample bags to better connect the physical and digital experiences.
Before
After
DIGITAL TRACKING EXPERIENCE
Track, compare, and choose the period product that fits your own body.
I led the design of the digital trial-tracking experience. Users link samples by scanning the bag’s NFC tag, mark product status while using and after use, and log reflections through a short questionnaire to compare products over time.
User testing to reduce frictions through iterative design
I tested the sample trial flow with 5 participants in two rounds of user testing. Participants found the solution effective for identifying products that fit their needs, but noted frictions that I addressed in the following iterations.
In the 2nd round of testing, participants mentioned confusion around:
Complex information on the sample detail page
The length and format of the questionnaire
We aligned as a team on design refinements to address these issues.
BRANDING & ACCESSIBILITY
Playfulness, freedom, and autonomy
I led the branding design for Own, creating a stylish, feminine visual system that conveys playfulness, freedom, and autonomy. The logo’s circular “O” was refined to subtly reference a pad, reinforcing the brand’s connection to menstrual care.
Following WCAG accessibility standards
I prioritized accessibility in branding by adjusting the primary purple from #978AFF to a darker, more saturated #6E5DF1 to meet WCAG 2.1 AA contrast standards.
Before
After
PROJECT VIDEO
I planned, filmed, and edited this video to convey the value of Own, earn user trust, and communicate the design rationale with stakeholders.
OUTCOME
An effective, embodied experience make menstruators feel supported and empowered.
User testing validated Own’s value: the in-store sampling experience fostered meaningful, embodied engagement, and participants recalled the "phygital" experience as both useful and delightful.
WHAT'S MORE
Ensuring business viability, sustainability and user retention through pivoting and further design.
Business viability: Explore online sample bag ordering and full-pack discounts for sample users
Sustainability: Build a donation flow for unused products
User retention: Consider focusing on teens and first-time menstruators, positioning Own as an educational tool for early product discovery
Lo-fi design for online retail (sampling & full-pack) + donation