Signal 3: Contraceptive Jewelry

Keeping pregnancy away — a subject fraught with tension and embarrassment for most women — is characterized by a fair amount of intricacy. For starters, most contraceptive methods require their users to go like clockwork. Even then, that is, after allowing for an astonishing degree of regularity on the part of their users, the treatment aspects of using contraceptives do not lend women control over their reproductive systems. Next, and perhaps more importantly, designs of these contraceptives grossly fail to take into account the needs of their target users. In turn conspiring in denying women greater leeway in making optimal choices.

Putting women at the center of the product design process, we find, a “moonshot” contraceptive jewelry ideation that somehow bends to the needs of women, unlike most existing products. This contraceptive jewelry — an everyday ornament like a bracelet, belt or earring — will be fitted with a contraceptive technology that releases compounds into the skin of its user. In terms of accessibility, the contraceptive jewelry comes with a replenishable cartridge that could be made available to women in places where they buy fashion and accessories.

This ideation that is rooted in women’s needs extended beyond target users to women’s social networks during its conception; in keeping with Human Centered Design ideals. This is a delivery mechanism that women will have an easy time embracing in many countries.