GOJI
a minimally-invasive pelvic therapy toolkit to make healing more gentle, holistic, and accessible
MY ROLE
I took on the UI/UX portion of the project, creating the app that would accompany the physical tool. My role largely encompassed research and digital design, while also contributing to the visual identity and design of the physical model.
TEAM
Emi Tang, Anne Fernandez
DURATION
10 weeks
TOOLS
Figma
LET'S OPEN UP
How can we create a healing solution for people with vaginismus and chronic pelvic pain that is gentle and approachable?
Vaginismus is a condition characterized by involuntary muscle spasms in the pelvic floor, often leading to painful intercourse and general pelvic pain. Despite being a common condition, vaginismus is under-diagnosed, under-researched, and overlooked, leaving healthcare providers with limited understanding and treatment options.
Our research — through readings, interviews, and outreach — informed us that existing tools like dilators and pelvic wands are designed in ways that cater towards the male gaze and are not motivating or unpleasant to use. Understanding that the problem surrounding vaginismus includes limited accessibility, lack of support, and an intimidation factor, we created a holistic design system to provide users with gentle and compassionate care.
Research methods
We conducted market research to investigate tools address for pelvic pain and how users felt about using them.
INTIMATE ROSE WAND
Flexible wand designed for temperature pelvic floor therapy
INTIMATE ROSE DILATORS
A range of straight dilators meant to treat vaginismus
KIWI
Dual purpose vibrating entry pain reliever + tool for pleasure
We asked people online what their thoughts were on existing tools and what their pelvic health healing journey looked like.
HAS ANYONE EVER WISHED FOR LESS INVASIVE SOLUTIONS?
"I think it could probably be beneficial for anyone having issues with the [mental barrier of using dilators and tools] to first seek treatment with a therapist. I found that to be a valuable aspect of healing."
Reddit User #1
I'm thinking OF designing a transitional device that can help patients get comfortable with dilators.
"I think your idea is awesome! You're definitely not alone in wishing something like that existed. From the pelvic floor therapist (in training) perspective, I think a lot of the insertable tools at our disposal are built to address the muscular tightness without doing much to examine the emotional and psychological barriers."
Reddit User #2
We researched methods of physical exercises to help soothe patients with trauma, anxiety, and fear.
MITIGATING FEAR + ANXIETY
Positive self-talk
Radical self-acceptance
Meditation
Dialectic Behavior Therapy
PRACTICING MINDFULNESS
Observing your environment
Naming your emotions (after session)
Mindful breathing
Safe place visualizing
RESEARCH INSIGHTS + NEW CONSIDERATION
How can we support our target audience in more ways than just a physical tool?
People are often intimidated by the way existing tools look or feel like
Although there are tools on the market to address physical pain, there lacks solutions for addressing psychological and emotional pain
Healing is more than just physical
Seeking treatment with a therapist about mental barriers can be a valuable aspect of healing
INITIAL CONCEPT
Let's create a digital companion.
Since we knew we wanted to create a physical massage tool for our target audience, we imagined it would be beneficial to create a supplemental digital companion for users as well to track their progress and guide them as they use the tool.
HOW WE FEEL
An app developed by professionals to help users navigate emotions
HEADSPACE
A mental health app that makes meditation more accessible
ITERATIVE DESIGN PROCESS
A few weeks into our project, we interviewed an OBGYN to gain a professional's opinions on how they view the healing journey.
Speaking to a professional in the field helped us understand what patients struggled with and what she has seen from personal experience as effective healing.
NEW CONSIDERATION
Community support strengthens mental wellbeing. How can we incorporate a community aspect into the digital companion?
solution
KEY SCREENS
EXERCISES
A selection of exercises backed by therapists to help ease pain
PROGRESS
A feature allowing users to reflect on their growth through reflections and data summaries
AI CHAT
AI-powered chat helps answer pressing questions for further clarity
COMMUNITY
A space where users can support and learn from other users facing similar experiences
ADDITIONAL DELIVERABLES
In addition to the digital companion, I helped with the visual identity, copywriting, and overall branding of the additional deliverables: the pelvic massager, the manual, and the posters. Those are my hands in the product shots!
Takeaways
ADAPT TO NEW INFORMATION
During this project, I ended up adding onto our digital companion as we received more information and research. The process of pivoting and adapting can feel overwhelming, but when it's grounded in research, it's beneficial.
REVISIT DESIGNS WHEN YOU FEEL THERE'S ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT
I revisited this project a few months after I graduated after having done some UI design work at my contractor position. Having this hands-on experience and reviewing even more real-world examples gave me clarity as to how to improve my designs. If you're interested in viewing my designs previously, feel free to message me — they were a DOOZY.
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