Case Study - Red Box

The problem

Thanks to a scholarship from the University of Málaga, I had the incredible opportunity to attend the Entrepreneurship Bootcamp at the University of California, Berkeley. There, I teamed up with a diverse group of people and we got to work on creating and exploring our own project. We decided to tackle an area that’s often overlooked: menstruation.

Menstruation still carries a stigma in our world, affecting a huge portion of the population. While we’re seeing more innovation and the rise of sustainable, comfortable products, many women and non-binary people still don’t know what to try or what works best for them—they’re often left guessing and in need of guidance.

The goal was to create a product that not only helps women and non-binary people discover the most comfortable options for their needs but also promotes eco-friendly choices, empowering them to make sustainable, confident decisions.

Understanding the challenge: Pain Points

To better understand the problem, we went out to the streets—well, more like the Berkeley campus—and started talking to women. We had some truly insightful conversations where a variety of issues around menstruation came to light, including:

1. Lack of information about the topic
2. The taboo nature of the topic, which makes it difficult to talk about at times
3. The absence of personalized recommendations and guidance when it comes to choosing the right products

Goal statement and features

Based on the problem to solve, the proposed solution and its impact on users, the goal statement can be summarized as follows:

The main features developed to tackle users' pain points included:

• An AI algorithm that recommends users period products based on their preferences and feedback
• A monthly subscription service delivering eco-friendly period products directly to their doorstep

My proposal: user flow

Gaining insights into user interactions was essential in shaping the experience, so the main user journey progressed as follows:

-Design-

Sketching

After collecting all the insights, we moved into the design phase, where we focused on bringing the ideas to life. We kept the key takeaways in mind—such as user needs, pain points, and the overall journey—and began shaping the concepts, setting the stage for the final outcome.

Hi-Fi Design

We wanted the accent color to be red because our goal was to empower women and shift the narrative around menstruation—moving away from treating it as a taboo subject. Red is bold, vibrant and strong, representing both confidence and the natural power of women.

The overall aesthetic is modern and minimalist, focusing on clean lines and simplicity to keep the user experience intuitive and pleasant. The rest of the color palette features soft, pastel tones to balance out the boldness of red, creating a calming and approachable feel. This combination not only represents strength and empowerment but also ensures the design remains welcoming and comfortable for the user.

Circular calendar to track your period and stay relaxed

Easily monitor your menstrual cycle with an intuitive circular calendar. Stay informed about your upcoming periods, ovulation, and symptoms to feel more in control and at ease throughout the month.

Prepare your next monthly box and discover new products

Explore a selection of sustainable and eco-friendly products tailored to your preferences. Get recommendations based on your interests and past choices, making it easier to adopt a greener lifestyle while discovering innovative products.

Share feedback on the products from your last monthly box

Review and rate the products you received in your latest subscription box. Your feedback helps improve future selections and ensures you get items that best suit your needs while also supporting sustainable brands.

Evaluation and reflecting

• My passion for creating projects with a positive impact on people: This experience reinforced my drive to work on projects that not only solve problems but also contribute to making people's lives better. I realized that creating something that truly helps others is what excites and motivates me the most.
• How much deeper your understanding of a project becomes when you engage in face-to-face conversations: Discussing the project directly with people, hearing their stories, and diving into their pain points really opened my eyes to the details of the issue at hand. These real, authentic conversations brought out insights that I might have missed otherwise and allowed me to approach the project with a more empathetic perspective. It also led to fascinating discussions that sparked new ideas and directions for the project.
• Collaborating in multicultural environments has shown me that there are no real barriers when people from different cultures come together with the intent to understand each other. Despite our differences, we share many common pain points, challenges, and experiences.

Honed skills