Zia

Challenge

Every month, half of the world’s population overlooks something incredibly valuable due to ingrained perceptions of it as waste. Cultural taboos, lack of scientific research, and a predominantly patriarchal society have prevented us from recognizing the potential of this resource. How can we begin to see menstrual blood as a vital medical resource capable of enhancing preventive healthcare for women globally?

Outcome

Zia researches the potential of menstrual blood as a non-invasive sampling technology through an at-home screening platform that unlocks personalized health insights from menstrual blood to improve preventative care.

Role: Integral design research, strategy, and production in partnership with Mimi Kigawa.
Timeline: 10 months

Understanding Zia

Screening and testing is a vital piece of preventative healthcare. Zia aims to facilitate patient screening by leveraging biomarkers present in menstrual blood through a systemic design approach comprised of 3 main elements: a recollection system, a POC screening device, and a companion app.

Dive deeper into each element by exploring the case studies in the links below!

Ideate, Iterate, Validate.

Zia is an ongoing project. Reach out if you want to know more!