Ooill Bolganey

Ooill Bolganey

Oil Bubbles

In her book, ‘Invisible Women’, Christina Criado Perez brought to public attention the reality that women are not receiving the same quality of healthcare as men due to stigmatisation and a data gap surrounding the female body. In essence, due to misogynistic cultural behaviour our approach and understanding of women’s health continues to be marginalised and under-studied. In particular, reproductive issues continue to be highly stigmatised with limited treatment options for women. A survey run by Plan International UK in 2018 found that while 79% of girls have been concerned about their symptoms, 54% did not seek medical advice due to misinformation, 27% felt too embarrassed and 13% were told they were exaggerating. This misinterpretation and stigmatisation of women’s health issues is preventing women’s right to healthy lives.

Within this context I have researched deeply into the menstrual cycle and designed vessels that support and address one of the most common menstrual problems, dysmenorrhea.

To achieve this, I firstly surveyed women to record first-hand insights into their cycles. I engaged with a wide variety of women to record the physical and psychological responses to their cycle, creating an in-depth survey that allowed me to analyse the data from 50 responses. I also began meticulously tracking my own cycle and recording daily moods and symptoms to build up a bank of detailed monthly research. My results found that pre-menstrual symptoms such as anxiety and stress were exceptionally common. Women also reported psychological stress during their periods resulting in insomnia and a lower mood. Muscle cramps, tender breasts, and exhaustion were the main symptoms that occurred with home remedies such as a hot water bottle, massage oils and light exercise used to soothe the pain. For my design, I chose to target the physical effects of muscle cramps which should, in turn, cause an improvement in the psychological problems.

I then spoke to healthcare professionals to gain their expert advice surrounding scientific research into the menstrual cycle and the effectiveness of natural healing remedies. Through detailed interviews I gained insight into the practices of acupressure, aromatherapy and herbalism. By combining the data from my survey, professional health practitioner interviews and published scientific research, I concluded on the positive effects of herbal treatments, including antispasmodic herbal oils. A 2012 nursing study found that the use of a lavender massage oil greatly reduced feelings of cramps and discomfort. Furthermore, the use of massage has been scientifically proven to boost the immune system and overall health, including improving relaxation and reducing muscle tension. By designing my product around this information, I aimed to target the physical discomfort of dysmenorrhea and reduce feelings of menstrual tension by relaxing the user.

My final design offers four sandblasted glass vessels filled with antispasmodic oils to be massaged into the body, slowly released through inserted rollerball mechanisms. Each piece has been tested to fit perfectly into the average women’s hand. Indentations have been cut into each piece, suggesting alternating grips for self-massage to reach deeply into the muscle tension. Within the set of four, the vessels curve towards either the stomach or back, each offering a slightly different degree of curve. The vessels can hang across fluctuating areas of pain to naturally sweep across the body or be massaged into the skin, a direct infusion of lavender oil into the cramping muscles. By using scientific research, data collected directly from women and consultations with professional healers, I have designed wearable vessels that actively contribute to women’s health, utilising holistic healing benefits that work in rhythm with women’s lives. A collection to simplify cyclical treatments, reduce painful symptoms and create soothing moments through meditative healing rituals.

My design dialogue opened a conversation with modern women, listening to their needs and respecting their own understanding of their bodies. By gathering data communally, I began to re-kindle the rich traditions of communal healing that once connected and supported women. Historically, women were recognised healers and wise women, with vast herbal knowledge passed down from mother to daughter. Due to the demonisation of women by the Church and State, this once treasured oral knowledge and female inheritance has been lost in time. As women were increasingly removed from positions of power, their independence over their own bodies diminished. To counter this culture, I envisioned a design capable of communal and holistic healing, offering a return to our traditional co-existence with nature’s resources, re-connecting us to our ancient foremothers. Walking the line between the past and the future I rebirthed women's lost histories, returning to our traditional ways but supported by modern knowledge. From the seeds of an idea to a finished product, my design aims to foster these traditions, nurturing a healthcare process which includes women, connecting our future community whilst respecting the wise women that came before.

To co-exist with the planet, I selected my materials to speak to a changing world, a world where environmental considerations are becoming increasingly important. All materials within my design are fully recyclable and the vessels designed for future disassembly. Glass, silver, wood, lavender and herbal oils - the recyclability of my materials and the fugitive nature of my processes means these offerings will not exist forever, a uniquely human concept. The natural world is constantly changing, growing, evolving and dying – briefly existing before making room for new life. These vessels will change over time, their current form being only the beginning of their lifespan.

Recipe for use:
Antispasmodic oils are poured into tactile glass vessels to be massaged into the abdomen or back, reducing cramps and feelings of tension. Feel the lavender melt into your muscles, slowly sliding between them, unknotting the waves of tension that ripple through your body. As your hands cup the smooth glass orb, intuitively feel for the indentations that will work for you today. Move through different motions of self-massage, kneading and smoothing your oiled fingers deep into the tissue, the glass vessel gliding with you, silently releasing its herbal ointment. These pieces are designed to be adapted to your needs. Each vessel offers a different variation of curve, fitting into multiple pockets of the stomach and back as the areas of pain fluctuate. Ready to be filled with your personalised ointments, awaiting a wide array of massage meditations. You will find that these vessels are built to change as they are needed, evolving with you as your body bleeds, sweats and changes with them.

Four glass blown bubbles, designed to curve perfectly into a woman’s hand, each vessel around 8cm x 6cm. The vessels curve at varying degrees towards the stomach and back with indentations of around 2.5cm x 1cm cut into the glass to suggest grips for massage. Inserted into the glass are 0.5cm hand cast silver cups holding glass rollerballs which softly glide over the skin allowing for a small release of herbal oil. Naturally sourced lavender oil fills the containers. The top is stoppered with hand carved wooden plugs and sprigs of home-grown lavender.

https://2021.rca.ac.uk/students/treeney-harkin

https://vimeo.com/610088874

Website: www.treeneyharkin.com Instagram: @girl.yh

The Panasonic prize supports a simple message, to contribute to societal development and the wellbeing of people worldwide through design. My design directly approaches this objective by tackling one of the most common problems experienced in our society. Dysmenorrhea, or period pain, affects up to 90% of women, afflicting the daily life of 1 in 5. But despite how common dysmenorrhea is, there are limited treatment options available and it remains poorly understood. In a recent survey published in the British Medical Journal, it was discovered that period pains caused a loss of 33% productivity in women with 14% having to take time off work. Furthermore, in younger women, up to 20% reported missing school or university due to period pain. The absence of a suitable pain management treatment for women is not only affecting women’s ability to freely continue their lives but is also impacting their ability to contribute to society. For younger women, who often suffer more severe pain, the knock-on effect of missing vital education during crucial academic years could have serious effects on their futures. Compromised educations for women go on to affect the entire community. Statistics show that educating women results in less young mothers, fewer and healthier children and increased economic growth for society.

Having surveyed women to record first-hand insights into their cycles, meticulously tracked my own cycle and engaged with healthcare professionals, I built a design system that directly engaged with the people that would use it. By involving the users of the design, I hoped to inspire them to feel encouraged and listened to as well as creating a product that directly served their needs. For instance, by making this design wearable I integrated women’s need to access this treatment whilst being free to continue their daily lives. By conducting design research with users, it removes the creation of unsuitable products, a waste of resources that can no longer be tolerated in today’s environment.

Whilst considering women in my design I also worked to consider the environmental impact of my product. All materials within my design are fully recyclable and the vessels are designed for future disassembly. By using recyclable materials, no chemicals and removing the need for non-removable connecting joins, I have worked to extend the future lifespan of the materials. The other natural materials within this design have been locally foraged or home-grown.

I also considered the global range of the issue and the attitudes and of the market surrounding it. This year, 2021 has proved itself to be a wake-up year in many ways, in particular for female orientated products, or more catchily known as, ‘femtech’. The term ‘femtech’ covers digital and physical products designed to offer medical assistance to gender specific problems. Having traditionally been ignored in the industry, with only 3% of health-tech funding being allocated in 2020, the market is predicted to double to more than $65 billion in 2027, according to Global Market Insights. Unlike men, women are 75% more likely to adopt new tools for healthcare and furthermore, these tools are more likely to be required by the 4 billion women on the planet at various stages of their lives. With improving statistics of increased funding and an awakened understanding of the routinely ignored health issues that women face, now is the time for increased design and creative thinking surrounding this issue. My design not only works to fill this gap but to support the increase in female health orientated products and foster an interest in the growing industry for stakeholders and investors alike.

Finally, my design aims to do more than just help the physical aspects of dysmenorrhea – it starts an important conversation to tackle the taboo that still surrounds women’s periods, working to create a more understanding community. Period shame and a societal inability to tackle a health bodily function causes bullying, missed school and long-term mental health effects for women worldwide dealing with repeated shame. Historically, women had rich communal traditions of healing in which they cared and supported each other through these times. Through our misogynistic history, these communities have been torn down, divided through fear and patriarchal control. By referencing these lost histories in my design, I aim to remind our modern world of the injustices that women have borne, which can still be felt in today’s medical mistreatment and stigmatisation. Only by remembering the past can we avoid making the same mistakes again. By vocalising these issues in my design, I hope to unite men and women to become more vocal about the health issues that regularly affect women’s daily and working lives. By making more people aware of the issue we can begin to create a more inclusive community which designs and cares for women. Consequently, by improving the quality of life for women, positive knock-on effects will be felt throughout all aspects of society.