Fowls & Flowers: Design Solution for Sexual Activity Preparedness
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) believes that the insufficient information about reproductive health and the shortage of health services are causing the rapid increase of unwanted pregnancies in the Philippines.
Together with Riane Yulo and Isen Alejo, we decided to come up with an informative sexual activity preparedness and emergency kit which contain comprehensive information on sex and various aspects related to it. Our stakeholders are university students in the Philippines.
The kit contains three main features: Preparedness, Emergency, and Let's Talk About Sex. All separate features are grouped together in a purple kit with their responding color. The design decision on the organization was due to the fact that most of our stakeholders (male and females) have found themselves in emergency sexual situations (e.g. failed contraceptive) or in a situation of discerning whether to have sex or not.
The kit also aims to address the lack of one repository of information regarding the topic, considering various webpages and blogposts have either unorganized list of information or a clinical visual appeal.
Prototype Making
Materials used: cardboard, glue, colored paper. Packaging image outside was printed on a sticker paper, while other reading materials were
printed on typewriting bookpaper. The blue and yellow boxes follow an envelope/file box design while the pink and purple boxes follow
a folder/shelf design. Chicken figurines came from the local toy store. Plastic flowers bought from a local department store.
printed on typewriting bookpaper. The blue and yellow boxes follow an envelope/file box design while the pink and purple boxes follow
a folder/shelf design. Chicken figurines came from the local toy store. Plastic flowers bought from a local department store.
Kit prototype by Isen Alejo
Layout and Design Direction by Diana David
Photography and Research by Riane Yulo
Fowls & Flowers
Prior to the design decision of using Fowls (phallic) and Flowers (yonic), the designers tested several styles such as 1) historical (inspired by willendorf), 2) psychedelic (60s and 70s sexual freedomi in the United States of America), 3) no-brand brand (think Glossier, Dr. Jart+), and 4) phallic and yonic symbols to their stakeholders. With several drafts, the chosen stakeholders found the phallic and yonic symbols of birds and flowers to be the most appealing, least intimidating, and most approachable.
Conclusion and Recommendations
For further studies and exploration, we recommend supplementing this kit by integrating more systems into the solution, such as a website, an awareness campaign, or even talks. To reach quality content, this kind of project must be collaborated with professionals in the medical field. This project can also be explored in order to be more inclusive for all sexual orientations, besides heterosexual sex.
The size of the kit can be smaller in order to be more convenient in times of emergency situations.
If you are interested in improving this project, drop me a line at dianafdavid@gmail.com
