Period Companion for Young Menstruators!
Period Companion for Young Menstruators!
Period Companion for Young Menstruators!
Design Engineer
Design Engineer
Design Engineer
My Role
My Role
My Role
Overview of my Project
Overview of my Project
This was my solo Masters thesis at Imperial College London and the Royal College of Art. I owned every part of it, from scoping the research question to casting the silicone enclosure, designing the clinical data architecture, and producing the GP report. Along the way I learned embedded systems, silicone moulding, and healthcare regulation from scratch. The research process was the foundation; I conducted individual interviews with parent-child pairs, ran a hands-on co-design workshop with teenagers and their mothers, and worked with clinical advisors across gynaecology, primary care, and data ethics to ensure every design decision was grounded in evidence.
This was my solo Masters thesis at Imperial College London and the Royal College of Art. I owned every part of it, from scoping the research question to casting the silicone enclosure, designing the clinical data architecture, and producing the GP report. Along the way I learned embedded systems, silicone moulding, and healthcare regulation from scratch. The research process was the foundation; I conducted individual interviews with parent-child pairs, ran a hands-on co-design workshop with teenagers and their mothers, and worked with clinical advisors across gynaecology, primary care, and data ethics to ensure every design decision was grounded in evidence.
Methodology
Methodology
Expert Interviews (clinical advisors)
Parent-Child User Interviews
Co-design Workshop
Clinical Guidelines Mapping
Embedded Firmware Development
Silicone & Hardware
Prototyping
User Testing & Validation
Expert Interviews (clinical advisors)
Parent-Child User Interviews
Co-design Workshop
Clinical Guidelines Mapping
Embedded Firmware Development
Silicone & Hardware
Prototyping
User Testing & Validation
Awards
Awards
Inclusive Design Award (IDE)
Inclusive Design Award (IDE)
01 Context
What is Bobo?
What is Bobo?
Bobo is a hand-held period companion that bridges the gap between a young menstruator's lived experience and the GP who needs to act on it.
Bobo is a hand-held period companion that bridges the gap between a young menstruator's lived experience and the GP who needs to act on it.
Bobo is a hand-held period companion that bridges the gap between a young menstruator's lived experience and the GP who needs to act on it.
Maya, 14 yrs
Maya, 14 yrs
Maya, 14 yrs
6 cycles tracked · Oct 2025 – Mar 2026
6 cycles tracked · Oct 2025 – Mar 2026
6 cycles tracked · Oct 2025 – Mar 2026
Download Report
Download Report
Download Report
Clinical Summary
Clinical Summary
Clinical Summary
Symptom Details
Symptom Details
Symptom Details
•
•
•
Maya has logged 6 cycles over 6 months. Her cycles are irregular, ranging from 21 to 34 days.
Maya has logged 6 cycles over 6 months. Her cycles are irregular, ranging from 21 to 34 days.
Maya has logged 6 cycles over 6 months. Her cycles are irregular, ranging from 21 to 34 days.
•
•
•
She consistently reports severe pain on days 1–2 of each cycle, scoring 8–9/10 at worst, with pain radiating from the lower abdomen into the lower back and upper legs.
She consistently reports severe pain on days 1–2 of each cycle, scoring 8–9/10 at worst, with pain radiating from the lower abdomen into the lower back and upper legs.
She consistently reports severe pain on days 1–2 of each cycle, scoring 8–9/10 at worst, with pain radiating from the lower abdomen into the lower back and upper legs.
•
•
•
She has missed an average of 2.3 school days per cycle and spent day 1 in bed in 5 of 6 cycles.
She has missed an average of 2.3 school days per cycle and spent day 1 in bed in 5 of 6 cycles.
She has missed an average of 2.3 school days per cycle and spent day 1 in bed in 5 of 6 cycles.
•
•
•
GI symptoms including bloating and painful bowel movements are logged consistently.
GI symptoms including bloating and painful bowel movements are logged consistently.
GI symptoms including bloating and painful bowel movements are logged consistently.
These patterns warrant further investigation.
These patterns warrant further investigation.
These patterns warrant further investigation.
Pain
Pain
Pain
Intensity
Intensity
Intensity
Average Pain
Average Pain
Average Pain
Worst Pain
Worst Pain
Worst Pain
Consistently 8–9 on day 1–2
Consistently 8–9 on day 1–2
Consistently 8–9 on day 1–2
LOCATION
LOCATION
LOCATION
Severe
Severe
Severe
Moderate
Moderate
Moderate
Low
Low
Low
Pain radiates — abdomen → back → legs
Pain radiates — abdomen → back → legs
Pain radiates — abdomen → back → legs
Duration
Duration
Duration
All day (6 hrs)
(day 1)
All day (6 hrs)
(day 1)
All day (6 hrs)
(day 1)
4 hrs
(day 2)
4 hrs
(day 2)
4 hrs
(day 2)
1–2 hrs
(day 3+)
1–2 hrs
(day 3+)
1–2 hrs
(day 3+)
Average episode length: 6–8 hrs on day 1 of cycle
Average episode length: 6–8 hrs on day 1 of cycle
Average episode length: 6–8 hrs on day 1 of cycle
Pain duration decreasing but present across all 6 cycles
Pain duration decreasing but present across all 6 cycles
Pain duration decreasing but present across all 6 cycles
Cyclicity
Cyclicity
Cyclicity
Symptoms present in ALL 4 phases; not only during period
Symptoms present in ALL 4 phases; not only during period
Symptoms present in ALL 4 phases; not only during period
MENSTRUATION
MENSTRUATION
MENSTRUATION
(Days 1–5)
(Days 1–5)
(Days 1–5)
FOLLICULAR
FOLLICULAR
FOLLICULAR
(Days 6–13)
(Days 6–13)
(Days 6–13)
OVULATION
OVULATION
OVULATION
(Days 14–16)
(Days 14–16)
(Days 14–16)
LUTEAL
LUTEAL
LUTEAL
(Days 17–28/34)
(Days 17–28/34)
(Days 17–28/34)
Pain
Pain
Pain
Fatigue
Fatigue
Fatigue
GI Symptoms
GI Symptoms
GI Symptoms
Daily Impact on Life
Daily Impact on Life
Daily Impact on Life
14
14
14
days missed across 6 cycles (avg 2.3/cycle)
days missed across 6 cycles (avg 2.3/cycle)
days missed across 6 cycles (avg 2.3/cycle)
Missed on day 1–2 of every cycle
Missed on day 1–2 of every cycle
Missed on day 1–2 of every cycle
5 / 6
5 / 6
5 / 6
cycles where day 1 was spent entirely in bed
cycles where day 1 was spent entirely in bed
cycles where day 1 was spent entirely in bed
Unable to attend school or activities
Unable to attend school or activities
Unable to attend school or activities
8
8
8
activities cancelled due to symptoms
activities cancelled due to symptoms
activities cancelled due to symptoms
Sports, sleepovers, family events
Sports, sleepovers, family events
Sports, sleepovers, family events
2–3
2–3
2–3
avg doses on day 1, 1–2 doses on day 2
avg doses on day 1, 1–2 doses on day 2
avg doses on day 1, 1–2 doses on day 2
Self-managed, limited relief reported
Self-managed, limited relief reported
Self-managed, limited relief reported
GP Report
GP Report
GP Report
02 Research & Discovery
Menstrual Disorders and Period Pain
Menstrual Disorders and
Period Pain
Menstrual disorders including endometriosis, adenomyosis, and PCOS affect an estimated 1 in 10 women worldwide and cost the UK economy £8.2bn annually through healthcare, lost productivity, and treatment.
Menstrual disorders including endometriosis, adenomyosis, and PCOS affect an estimated 1 in 10 women worldwide and cost the UK economy £8.2bn annually through healthcare, lost productivity, and treatment.
Affects 1 in 10 women
Affects 1 in 10 women
Affects 1 in 10 women
Average period of diagnosis for Menstrual Disorders like Endometriosis is 8-9 years!
Average period of diagnosis for Menstrual Disorders like Endometriosis is 8-9 years!
Average period of diagnosis for Menstrual Disorders like Endometriosis is 8-9 years!
don’t know when to seek medical help for period problems
don’t know when to seek medical help for period problems
don’t know when to seek medical help for period problems
6 in 10 UK Teens
6 in 10 UK Teens
6 in 10 UK Teens
93% Experience
93% Experience
93% Experience
extreme period pain
extreme period pain
extreme period pain
4% Registered
4% Registered
4% Registered
by GPs (physicians) in the UK
by GPs (physicians) in the UK
by GPs (physicians) in the UK
76% are at risk
76% are at risk
76% are at risk
of developing chronic pain in the adulthood
of developing chronic pain in the adulthood
of developing chronic pain in the adulthood
Communicating through metaphors and a pain scale is common practice and leads to misdiagnosis
Communicating through metaphors and a pain scale is common practice and leads to misdiagnosis
Communicating through metaphors and a pain scale is common practice and leads to misdiagnosis
Menstrual Health disorders are often misunderstood and misdiagnosed due to friction between patients and doctors.
Menstrual Health disorders are often misunderstood and misdiagnosed due to friction between patients and doctors.
Menstrual Health disorders are often misunderstood and misdiagnosed due to friction between patients and doctors.
Menstrual pain is subjective and hard to place on a scale
Menstrual pain is subjective and hard to place on a scale
Menstrual pain is subjective and hard to place on a scale
Lack of articulation
Lack of articulation
Lack of articulation
Outdated
Outdated
Outdated
The menstrual health app market is vast; yet it serves only one demographic. Every major product on the market is designed for adults tracking fertility. The result is a systematic gap that begins at the moment symptoms first appear and goes entirely unaddressed until young people are old enough to use tools that were never designed for them.
The menstrual health app market is vast; yet it serves only one demographic. Every major product on the market is designed for adults tracking fertility. The result is a systematic gap that begins at the moment symptoms first appear and goes entirely unaddressed until young people are old enough to use tools that were never designed for them.
03 Innovation
Not a tracker, a true companion
Not a tracker,
a true companion
Hand-held Period Companion designed specifically for young menstruators between the ages of 8 to 16 years old.
Hand-held Period Companion designed specifically for young menstruators between the ages of 8 to 16 years old.
04 Design Process
Building the Framework Together
Building the
Framework Together
I conducted multiple interviews and a co-creation session with teens to understand how they envisioned their period companion would look like. Using these as the blueprint, I worked on various versions of both the device and the character companion that encompassed fun and engaging elements.
I conducted multiple interviews and a co-creation session with teens to understand how they envisioned their period companion would look like. Using these as the blueprint, I worked on various versions of both the device and the character companion that encompassed fun and engaging elements.
Giving the device a form and personality!
Giving the device a form and personality!
Giving the device a form and personality!
Design (Form and Interactions)
Design (Form and Interactions)
Design (Form and Interactions)
The GP report was co-designed directly with clinicians across multiple rounds. I came to every clinical interview with one question: what would you actually need to see from a young patient to trigger investigation rather than reassurance?
The GP report was co-designed directly with clinicians across multiple rounds. I came to every clinical interview with one question: what would you actually need to see from a young patient to trigger investigation rather than reassurance?
Design (Inputs and Outputs)
Design (Inputs and Outputs)
Design (Inputs and Outputs)
Report co-created and tested with GPs and Researchers
Report co-created and tested with GPs and Researchers
Report co-created and tested with GPs and Researchers
"I've got painful periods" gets dismissed. "I've got painful periods, I'm missing school, using tampons every hour, vomiting from pain" triggers action. I can see that your report bundles that together very well.”
"I've got painful periods" gets dismissed. "I've got painful periods, I'm missing school, using tampons every hour, vomiting from pain" triggers action. I can see that your report bundles that together very well.”
"I've got painful periods" gets dismissed. "I've got painful periods, I'm missing school, using tampons every hour, vomiting from pain" triggers action. I can see that your report bundles that together very well.”
Dr. Angela Sharma (GP at The Pembridge Villas Surgery, UK)
Dr. Angela Sharma (GP at The Pembridge Villas Surgery, UK)
Dr. Angela Sharma (GP at The Pembridge Villas Surgery, UK)
Maya, 14 yrs
Maya, 14 yrs
Maya, 14 yrs
6 cycles tracked · Oct 2025 – Mar 2026
6 cycles tracked · Oct 2025 – Mar 2026
6 cycles tracked · Oct 2025 – Mar 2026
Download Report
Download Report
Download Report
Clinical Summary
Clinical Summary
Clinical Summary
Symptom Details
Symptom Details
Symptom Details
Cyclicity
Cyclicity
Cyclicity
Symptoms present in ALL 4 phases; not only during period
Symptoms present in ALL 4 phases; not only during period
Symptoms present in ALL 4 phases; not only during period
MENSTRUATION
MENSTRUATION
(Days 1–5)
(Days 1–5)
FOLLICULAR
FOLLICULAR
(Days 6–13)
(Days 6–13)
OVULATION
OVULATION
(Days 14–16)
(Days 14–16)
LUTEAL
LUTEAL
(Days 17–28/34)
(Days 17–28/34)
Pain
Pain
Pain
Fatigue
Fatigue
Fatigue
GI Symptoms
GI Symptoms
GI Symptoms
Daily Impact on Life
Daily Impact on Life
Daily Impact on Life
14
14
14
days missed across 6 cycles (avg 2.3/cycle)
days missed across 6 cycles (avg 2.3/cycle)
days missed across 6 cycles (avg 2.3/cycle)
Missed on day 1–2 of every cycle
Missed on day 1–2 of every cycle
Missed on day 1–2 of every cycle
5 / 6
5 / 6
5 / 6
cycles where day 1 was spent entirely in bed
cycles where day 1 was spent entirely in bed
cycles where day 1 was spent entirely in bed
Unable to attend school or activities
Unable to attend school or activities
Unable to attend school or activities
8
8
8
activities cancelled due to symptoms
activities cancelled due to symptoms
activities cancelled due to symptoms
Sports, sleepovers, family events
Sports, sleepovers, family events
Sports, sleepovers, family events
2–3
2–3
2–3
avg doses on day 1, 1–2 doses on day 2
avg doses on day 1, 1–2 doses on day 2
avg doses on day 1, 1–2 doses on day 2
Self-managed, limited relief reported
Self-managed, limited relief reported
Self-managed, limited relief reported
Squeezing is one of the most natural ways humans express pain. I wanted to capture that emotion directly. It became apparent that I would need to add a calibration step for squeeze input on onboarding to give an individual user experience.
Squeezing is one of the most natural ways humans express pain. I wanted to capture that emotion directly. It became apparent that I would need to add a calibration step for squeeze input on onboarding to give an individual user experience.
05 User Validation
Impact Through Validation
Impact Through Validation
I conducted multiple interviews and a co-creation session with teens to understand how they envisioned their period companion would look like. Using these as the blueprint, I worked on various versions of both the device and the character companion that encompassed fun and engaging elements.
I conducted multiple interviews and a co-creation session with teens to understand how they envisioned their period companion would look like. Using these as the blueprint, I worked on various versions of both the device and the character companion that encompassed fun and engaging elements.
Going back to Co-creation workshop participants for user testing and feedback!
Validation involved → User Testing + Feedback session with MHP Youth Board + Feedback from two GPs
“It’s so soft and squishy that I want to fidget with it all day. I can see myself using this just as something to comfort me during the period pain”
“If this product existed when my daughter got her periods, it would have made having the first conversation so much easier. I’m sure she would have appreciated a cute gift to start her periods with!”
“I got diagnosed with Endo at 19 despite suffering from pain since 12 years old! Having something like this would have made the consultations easier and less frustrating!”
Tamar (age 15)
Nirit (Parent of a 17 year old)
Zayna (20 years old, part of the Youth board of Menstrual Health Project)
Going back to Co-creation workshop participants for user testing and feedback!
Validation involved → User Testing + Feedback session with MHP Youth Board + Feedback from two GPs
“It’s so soft and squishy that I want to fidget with it all day. I can see myself using this just as something to comfort me during the period pain”
“If this product existed when my daughter got her periods, it would have made having the first conversation so much easier. I’m sure she would have appreciated a cute gift to start her periods with!”
“I got diagnosed with Endo at 19 despite suffering from pain since 12 years old! Having something like this would have made the consultations easier and less frustrating!”
Tamar (age 15)
Nirit (Parent of a 17 year old)
Zayna (20 years old, part of the Youth board of Menstrual Health Project)
Going back to Co-creation workshop participants for user testing and feedback!
Validation involved → User Testing + Feedback session with MHP Youth Board + Feedback from two GPs
“It’s so soft and squishy that I want to fidget with it all day. I can see myself using this just as something to comfort me during the period pain”
“If this product existed when my daughter got her periods, it would have made having the first conversation so much easier. I’m sure she would have appreciated a cute gift to start her periods with!”
“I got diagnosed with Endo at 19 despite suffering from pain since 12 years old! Having something like this would have made the consultations easier and less frustrating!”
Tamar (age 15)
Nirit (Parent of a 17 year old)
Zayna (20 years old, part of the Youth board of Menstrual Health Project)
Product Design (Colour and form Decisions)
Designed to be carried boldly and facilitate conversations around periods
“If it were clipped to my bag, I wouldn't think twice about people seeing it, that's not really their concern. I would love to see my other friends carry it with me”
-Naomi (age 15) (during user-testing)
Product Design (Colour and form Decisions)
Designed to be carried boldly and facilitate conversations around periods
“If it were clipped to my bag, I wouldn't think twice about people seeing it, that's not really their concern. I would love to see my other friends carry it with me”
-Naomi (age 15) (during user-testing)
Product Design (Colour and form Decisions)
Designed to be carried boldly and facilitate conversations around periods
“If it were clipped to my bag, I wouldn't think twice about people seeing it, that's not really their concern. I would love to see my other friends carry it with me”
-Naomi (age 15) (during user-testing)
#Hire me
I design experiences that matter and connect with people :)
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#Hire me
I design experiences that matter and connect with people :)
want to know more?
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2026 Anoushka Sawardekar