the Problem
Women on college campuses in Pakistan do not have access to urgent menstrual care when they need it.
In Pakistan, safe access to menstrual care is limited and given the context of the country, there is a need for something more.
the Context
Menstruation remains taboo in Pakistan
Often hidden behind the ‘brown bag complex’, where menstrual products are discreetly handed over in wrapped paper, reinforcing shame and silence
Student support exists but relies on small, informal networks
WhatsApp groups and close friends are leveraged to borrow pads in emergencies. While supportive, these are small and are not accessible to new students
Texts from Hostel WhatsApp Groups
Campus options like superstores and vending machines are unreliable
Stores close at night and have limited options, while vending machines are unreliable and rarely restocked.
Pad Vending Machine in a Female Restroom
the solution
Women on college campuses in Pakistan do not have access to urgent menstrual care when they need it.
In Pakistan, safe access to menstrual care is limited and given the context of the country, there is a need for something more.
Women on college campuses in Pakistan do not have access to urgent menstrual care when they need it.
In Pakistan, safe access to menstrual care is limited and given the context of the country, there is a need for something more.
The microinteractions
The like animation for the discussion forum
Introducing the
Care Package
Loading for the Map feature
Outcomes
of testers mentioned that they wanted the app to be a real thing
positive responses from students at LUMS
average score on
the System Usability Score
My Contribution
positive responses from students at LUMS
average score on
the System Usability Score
Now on to the full story
Secondary Resarch
What does current research about the topic say?
Not much. There is limited data on menstrual emergencies and immediate challenges faced by women.
There is very minimal research on product accessibility on Pakistani university campuses and on women's perceptions of sharing menstrual products in culturally sensitive contexts
Competitor Analysis
What are other products doing?
Existing applications provide period tracking features and communities to discuss issues but all have large audiences. Cultural issues are often lost in them.
There are currently no digital solutions that offer any support for women in times of urgent menstrual need.
An easy solution?
Why can't we just ensure vending machines are stocked properly?
A huge percentage of the maintenance staff in Pakistan consists of men that come from uneducated backgrounds. It may be difficult for them to understand the importance of menstrual hygiene which is why the machines were never stocked
While educating the masses is important, women at college campuses need better solutions for the present without waiting for what the future may bring.
Primary Resarch
How did we speak to women at LUMS about this?
151 Responses from surveys and questionnaires
20 semi-structured interviews
Contextual Inquiry for product availability and machine usability on campus
Auto-ethnography from female members of the team
of responders stated that they have been in a situation where they urgently need a menstrual product
Access
Limited Availability: Preferred brands often unavailable in vending machines or campus stores.
Usability Issues: Vending machines frequently out of stock or accepting specific currency notes only.
Stigma: Women reported discomfort purchasing pads publicly due to judgmental stares and societal taboos.
What should one do if a pad is not accessible in times of ugency?
Community
Many women rely on informal borrowing networks through WhatsApp or friends.
Late-night requests for menstrual products in hostel groups highlight the urgency of emergencies.
Willingness to lend pads in emergencies is high, but borrowing often depends on familiarity and comfort.
What can someone without a reliable friend do in times of emergency?
Preferences
Over 98% of users prefer pads over other products like tampons or menstrual cups.
Many are reluctant to use unfamiliar brands even in emergencies but will compromise if necessary.
What can be done to ensure that users do not have to compromise on preferences?
Idea generation
What did the brainstorming sessions bring?
The name BehanChara, translating to sisterhood in Urdu, was created.
The logo was a heart emoticon (<3) to appeal to college students.
The brand needed to embody the spirit of sisterhood and stand for community and support.
Purple was used as the main color as it is most associated with calmness and serenity.
The mind-map made to brainstorm the visual identity of BehanChara
General ideas
Features
Low fidelity Material
Sketches, storyboards and prototypes
The name BehanChara, translating to sisterhood in Urdu, was created.
The logo was a heart emoticon (<3) to appeal to college students.
The brand needed to embody the spirit of sisterhood and stand for community and support.
Purple was used as the main color as it is most associated with calmness and serenity.
The mind-map made to brainstorm the visual identity of BehanChara
Design identity
What did the app look like?
The purple color palette was chosen to create a calm and comforting atmosphere for users, reducing stress during emergencies.
Shades of lavender and blue evoke feelings of serenity, trust, and community, aligning with BehanChara’s mission of providing a safe and supportive space for women in need.
Some alternate designs that didn't make it
Heart Integration: While incorporating the heart symbol made the logo more expressive, it made the word "Behan" less recognizable for those unfamiliar with it.
Pad as 'B': Using a pad shape for the letter B was discarded as it made the text hard to read and limited the app’s identity to menstrual health, despite its broader functionality.
The ones that made the cut
Logo: The heart symbol is recognizable and unobtrusive, with the negative space in the inverted heart forming a house, symbolizing community and sisterhood.
Tagline: "Mushkil mai Sahara" - (Support in difficult times in Urdu) best reflected both sisterhood and practical support.
Testing
Did people actually like our designs?
27 Usability tests, each with 4 tasks, were conducted, followed by a Post-Test Questionnaire with each participant.
When compared to initial paper prototypes, testing showed:
a 42% reduction for Ping related to Ping,
a 54% decrease for Map
a 36% decrease for Care Package
in the average time required to complete tasks.
Most loved the Care Package feature, finding it intuitive and convenient
40% of users suggested an onboarding tutorial because of the novel nature of the product
Users struggled with unfamiliar icons and feature labels, especially in Ping.
Users were confused about whether the borrower or the lender of the pad would travel to the other person
26% of users suggested clearer store markers and details on available pad brands & sizes for the Map feature
A system usability score of 86.2 score was obtained through the post-test questionnaires
Average Time Taken Per Feature in Seconds (lower is better)
