FLOJO: Responding to Gaps in Menstruation Education

Within this University project, students were prompted to design an 'Instructional Tool' for primary school aged children. Applying the skills of communication design and user-centred thinking, we were asked to communicate a topic of our choice through a comprehensive learning tool and accompanying teacher resource. The intended outcome should champion 8 weeks of extensive research that informed communication strategies and design decisions, with an overarching focus on the nuances of 'instructing' and educating children.

FLOJO is informed by 8 weeks of intensive research including an interview with a leading Sexual Health practitioner, literary and artefact reviews, empathy maps and a comprehensive survey. In this way, the project satisfied and surpassed the expectations of the brief with clear and consolidated research findings informing the design process. Following research, three prototypes were developed, actioning the research findings regarding communicating a complex topic to children. The prototypes displayed evidence of a professional design process given the distinct material, form and aesthetic iterations at each stage.

Recognised as a finalist in the Victorian Premier's Design Awards, FLOJO champions Victoria's focus on the importance of creativity and education as vessels for implementing social change. FLOJO recognises a distinct gap in education and women's health, and thus seeks to introduce critical menstruation education early, positively and inclusively, addressing the reality many women face of being uneducated and unfamiliar with critical body literacy. In this way, FLOJO has the potential to act as both a commercially available education tool and a method of advocacy, having a profound impact on the health of Australian women long-term.

FLOJO combines the findings from a diverse range of existing tools to provide a comprehensive menstruation education, that can be used both in place of or in conjunction with existing sexual health curricula. Key features include:- Mobility and transportability - designed so that menstruation education can encouragingly penetrate spaces and households where the topic is evaded or suppressed.- Teacher/Carer Resource - FLOJO is accompanied by an extensive teacher resource and instruction manual with a step-by-step process for best practice and supplementary resources that equip teachers and carers with the ability to approach this complex topic with confidence. - Inclusive language - FLOJO utilises inclusive language to promote a comprehensive and supportive understanding of menstruation, menopause and period conditions (PCOS, endometriosis) for all children to engage with.