Dongseo University, College of Design Student Team

Highly sensitive biosensors open up entirely new possibilities for designers. Five students at Dongseo University’s College of Design combined their individual strengths to develop an innovative wearable for visually impaired women. The small device features a graphene biosensor that is attached to the women’s underwear, where it detects even the smallest amounts of menstrual blood and communicates this to the user’s smartphone. In this way, even women with impaired vision are aware of exactly when they start and stop menstruating, which gives them additional freedom and security in their day-to-day life.

Interview with Youngseo Choi, Suin Son, Ahyun Jeong and Mingyeong Kim

Red Dot: Which touchpoints are important when you’re designing for visually impaired individuals? And how did you realise them in the project?

The most important thing to focus on when designing for people with visual impairments is the seamless integration of functionality into the product without causing any discomfort to the user. Since this product is attached to the undergarments, we prioritised an inconspicuous design that keeps the device concealed and doesn’t cause the user any psychological distress. People with visual impairments rely more heavily on their other senses, so we took special care to ensure that the wearable device feels comfortable and natural to use in everyday life.

What general user experience did you want to offer?

We aimed to give visually impaired women more independence, confidence and convenience in understanding and managing their menstrual cycle. A device with a biosensor that detects the start and end of menstruation and sends notifications to a smartphone eliminates the anxiety and discomfort associated with not knowing when your cycle has started. This allows users to reclaim ownership of their bodies, and it gives them more freedom to organise their daily activities without having to take extra precautions.

What new opportunities do graphene-based biosensors offer designers?

Graphene has been on the global radar recently, and many biosensors have already been developed using this material. The fact that graphene is incredibly thin yet remarkably strong means that it can be used for practically any purpose and in any form. The freedom to design graphene biosensors to suit different situations and individuals paves the way for innovations that blend aesthetics and functionality in wearables, fashion and healthcare products. This maximises scope and diversity in design and enables creative, user-centred and innovative design experimentation.