Designing for pain relief must consider these dimensions. To understand them in the context of menstrual pain, a probe kit of six reflection prompts was distributed to ten participants.
Responses gave a deeply personal look into how people relate to their pain and care for themselves during it. Several patterns arose:
Relief is sensory
Comfort came from warmth, weight, and softness — the core elements of managing pain.
Comfort is emotional
Feeling cared for was as important as function, with emotional support creating physical relief.
Care is ritual
People built layered routines of heat, objects, and habits to create their own systems of relief
Concept Direction
A heat object that can be held and hugged.
Process
Exploration of form and size factors.
Evaluation of different filler materials through user feedback. Five sewn pouches were used to test heat retention, weight, and feel.
Rice
Clay Beads
Walnut Shells
Dry Beans
Silica Beads
A 50/50 mix of clay beads and silica beads had the best properties: heat retention and weight from clay, flow and flexibility from silica beads, and moist heat from both.
Physical prototypes and material testing throughout the process helped refine construction methods and layering techniques. Achieving the best heat distribution, materiality, and functionality.
Sensory-driven comfort that creates the feeling of being cared for.
Microwave heating
Dawn is heated in the microwave like a traditional heat pack. The tray elevates it off surfaces, keeping it clean.
In the home
The tray holds Dawn when not in use, keeping it visible, easy to reach, and part of the home environment.
Cotton stuffing
Provides cushion and insulation, directing heat towards the user’s body.
Clay and silica beads
Molds to the body with long-lasting moist heat and comforting weight.
Interior cushion
Inner cushion protects stuffing and fill material.
Removable cover
A removable cotton cover can be washed and maintained for long-term use.
Quilted and textured panels add tactile variety and softness.