Design Aspects

Designs aspects include how the international health issue of poor menstrual hygiene management in Kenya (including lack of access to feminine hygiene products) is portrayed in art and design, and how design is used to create and innovate products or services to better address the problem.

Evidence indicates the following design features for how poor menstrual hygiene management is portrayed in art and literature in Kenya or globally:

1. Days for Girls' Website

The colors used for the logo and the website are mostly oranges, greens, yellows and a little purple. All of the colors are attention grabbing and bright. The bright colors are used to draw attention to problem and seem to be expressing urgency. The website does not use much of the color pink which is stereotypically a girls' color. This may represent how Days for Girls is changing ideas of femininity and challenging menstruation taboos in countries like Kenya.
They use a flower in their logo; flowers generally represent femininity in art and literature or can even be used to represent female anatomy. Therefore, Days for Girls' use of the flower is relevant.
Showing pictures of women and girls smiling and working helps feed into their goal of empowerment, instead of showing pictures of downtrodden people. Days for Girls isn't doing this work out of sympathy, they are doing this work to truly empower women.

2. Feminine Care brand, Always' launch of “Stand Up” Campaign in Kenya

#AlwaysStandUpKe is the hashtag under which girls encourage others and share the dreams and aspirations they are going to stand up for.
The girls in their ad pictures and in their video are dressed in a school uniform promoting the idea of going to school on your period.
In their promotional video, the phrase "don't skip" is repeated throughout. Once again, the idea of attending school even while menstruating is promoted.

3. Ruby Cup Infographic

The infographic uses the color red, perhaps to symbolize blood or the color associated with pain and shame. This connection may not be a literal one but rather a way to show how menstruation is seen by some.
The use of a flower to symbolize femininity or female anatomy is used again by Ruby Cup, a company who sells feminine hygiene cups that are washable and reusable.
The expression of the girl is sad which may relate to the current state of MHM in Kenya and other countries.
The girl is hiding herself behind the foliage, not wanting to be seen which again may be symbolizing the taboo and cultural practices of those in Kenya and other attitudes towards menstruation.

4. Menstrual Hygiene Day’s Emojis for Menstruation

Pink droplets with feminine features carry out positive activities such as graduating from school, teaching, reading, and giving a thumbs up on Menstrual Hygiene Day's website.
These are images they use in teaching materials for Menstrual Hygiene Day. The idea of carrying out these positive activities while on your period is expressed in these symbols.
These images challenge the idea of isolation and restricted activity that some practice in Kenya.

5. “To Bleed Without Violence” by Aranya Johar

The video is black, white, and red to express the severity of the issue and perhaps to represent blood.
Imagery of empowerment (“moving mountains), hope (“we could live in a world where…"), taboo (“bleeds with violence"), and education (“a period does not equal a stop”) are used in her poem.

Evidence indicates the following design features for how creativity and innovation have been used to better address the problem of poor menstrual hygiene management:

Ruby Cup Instructional Diagram

Very sparse instructions feature simple clean lines with little elaboration.
The use of the color pink to represent femininity is implemented in this diagram.
Ruby Cup uses these simple instructions for a reason. No words equal no provocation of taboo towards female anatomy and menstruation that is often seen in Kenya.

2. Janipad: a Sustainable Solution to Menstrual Waste Disposal

A low cost biodegradable pad made from water hyacinth paper (an invasive species found in Africa, and was proposed by a team of Swedish students.
The pad is made from the invasive species which will decompose if disposed of.

3. Days for Girls’ DfG Kits

Days for Girls creates kits made of reusable and washable pads that can last as long as 4 years.
Days for Girls incorporates education on menstrual hygiene management during the distribution of the kits.
The kits are small, discreet, use little water to wash, light, use bright colors to camouflage staining, and unfold to look like washcloths so they may be washed and dried without embarrassment or shame.
The kit includes panties because some girls do not have panties that can accommodate pads.
The kit includes a bar of soap for washing and a ziploc baggie for storage.