vera: research phase

Objective

Conduct a research study to gather data, analyze it, and synthesize it into insights and research artifacts for the design phase.

My Roles

Recruitment, Interviews, Secondary Research, Thematic Coding, Insight Generation, Concept Modeling, Visual Design, Paper Writing

Timeline

11 weeks

Team

Kelda Baljon
Lan Vu

Smashing Ideas

Chris Hannon
Paola Reyes

Etsy

Brian Greene

Tools

Google Doc
Google Sheets
Google Forms
Illustrator
InDesign

Acheivement

Case Study Accepted to CHI Conference 2019

Early Discussion and Direction

For our capstone project, we began looking at spaces like social good to women empowerment to women’s health to menopause. Menopause. We knew that we knew not much concerning this area, and all the more reason for us to seek it out and bring it to the forefront to our peers and society.

Literature Review

As we narrowed into our space from social good to menopause, we conducted several literature reviews to gauge a better understanding of the landscape academically, industrially, and culturally. Afterward, we discussed what the design opportunity could be for us.

Recruitment

We recruited our participants by posting flyers in various socioeconomically ranging neighborhoods within Seattle, utilizing advertisements on Craigslist and Reddit, reaching out to various groups on Facebook and Meetups, and passing the project on through word-of-mouth. We included a link to our research study's website and access to our screener survey.

Experts-on-Menopause Interviews

We recruited and interviewed four experts within gender studies, medicine, and public health. Our interviews helped us to understand that menopause is a multifaceted phase of life which can occur during a time of social change and aging.

Interviews Pt 1

In our initial round of semi-structured interviews, we wanted to gain an understanding of their menopausal experiences from work to relationships to self-image.

Design Workshop

We held a participatory design workshop with eight women to provide a space for honest discussion. During one of the sessions, I led the focus group round-table.

Affinity Diagramming

We synthesized our findings from the experts, firstround of interviews, and workshop on to post-its to categorize into tangible insights.

Interviews Pt 2

For our second round of semi-structured interviews, we examined each participant’s main signals and the steps they took to alleviate them. We also asked them to reflect on their menopausal experience and what they want future generations to know.

With an overwhelming amount of data, we wrapped up interviews early and entered the analysis phase.

Thematic Coding

We transcribed, thematically coded, and reviewed all the interviews and workshop. We organized the codes into categories and organized a master code sheet of all paticipants.

Discussion & Synthesis

Once we were done with analysis, we were able to review the master code sheet to help synthesize the final insights as well as help with the personas, journeys, and conceptual models.

1.

Each experience is different

Menopause is highly variable between individuals, making it difficult to identify a “typical experience.”

2.

People don’t know what to expect

Since there are no clear expectations of menopause, women often feel uncertain about “the Change,” both before beginning their experience and during it.

3.

Menopause is silently endured

Menopause is a quality of life issue aging women are expected to silently endure, so there is a lack of interest in creating a broader discussion about it.

4.

Body literacy creates agency

Individuals can feel a greater sense of control through understanding their body’s behaviors.

5.

Aging and menopause are deeply intertwined

Menopause happens in the context of many unrelated physical (i.e. vision impairment) and societal changes (i.e. becoming an empty nester) that come along with aging.

Quality of Life

A person’s macro-environment, micro-environment, and individual traits affect a person's quality of life and how information and support is sought out.

Validation Model

When quality of life is disrupted by a signal, one will attempt to seek information or support or both. How one seeks interactions and the level of success from those interactions contribute to a variety of experiences.

Overall Menopausal Experience

When a signal disrupts quality of life, the individual will look for information and support through the validation model. This can lead to an action. The result can either improve quality of life, worsen it, or go unchanged. If quality of life is not improved, the individual may return to the validation model.

1.

Celebrate the change

Menopause should be celebrated and embraced. Valuing and honoring the body through all the changes it endures can be incredibly empowering.

2.

Recognize the natural phase of life

This is not a disease. This is a natural phase and should be treated like so.

3.

Consider the variety of experiences

Every body is unique, their quality of life is unique. And because of this so will their experience be through menopause.

4.

Be direct and clear

Because menopause can be a confusing time for a person, it is important to be direct and clear about what is happening and why.

5.

Respect agency and empower

Understand that the individual must ultimately decide their own decisions. We simply must provide them with the tools to guide them through their experience.

6.

Be sensitive about the taboo

This is a sensitive topic that not everyone is comfortable with. Be aware that individuals can be extremely reserved and of their culture not being entirely accepting.

Gender

Menopause is not exclusive to cisgender women. As so, it is important to proactively seek out the voices of other gendered individuals.

Induced Menopause

The experiences of those undergoing menopause through surgery, radiation, or prematurely, deserve further investigation.

Millennials

There are generational differences in how people view intimate health. Understanding these differences affects the design tremendously.