Case study · ADES 1543 Final Project
Rethinking period tracking apps for the next generation.
01
Many young girls don't fully understand what's happening in their bodies, especially when they first begin experiencing changes like their period.
This project explores how a health app can make tracking and learning feel simple, safe and engaging, helping girls ages 11–14 build confidence and better understand their bodies.
How might we design a health app that helps girls ages 11–14 consistently track their health while also understanding their bodies in a simple, engaging and stigma-free way?
02
I started by talking to girls in the age group. These informal interviews gave me a first-hand view of how they feel about the health apps available today.
Started her period a few months ago. Doesn't use any apps.
“I don't really know what I'm supposed to keep track of. Like I know my period, but not the other stuff.”
Tried a period tracking app briefly.
“I used one before but I kinda stopped… I would forget, and it didn't really do anything when I opened it.”
Has some basic knowledge but still feels awkward about it.
“I don't like looking stuff up because it's kinda embarrassing, and sometimes it just makes me more confused.”
03
Girls ages 11–14 are often just beginning to understand their bodies, yet many lack accessible and reliable guidance.
Published studies backed up what I heard in the interviews, and pointed to two separate gaps: staying engaged, and getting a real education.
64%
Only 64% of adolescents maintained consistent tracking over time, even in a study designed for usability.
Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology, 2025“The majority agreed the app was easy to use… and helped track menses effectively.”
Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology, 2025Adolescents favored apps that were easy to navigate and visually engaging, especially with interactive features.
Systematic Review of Mobile Health Education Apps, 2023“Adolescents frequently lack adequate understanding of menstrual health due to insufficient education.”
“Puberty and menstruation education is often ‘pushed aside,’ leaving adolescents without adequate knowledge or support.”
Frontiers in Reproductive Health, 202204
Putting the interviews and research together, five problems kept coming up.
05
I reviewed three apps to see what already works and where younger users get left out.
06
A health app that helps girls ages 11–14 track their cycles while learning about their bodies in a way that feels simple, safe and engaging.
The app combines easy daily tracking with interactive, age-appropriate education to reduce overwhelm and build confidence. Prioritizing privacy and giving users control over their data builds trust and encourages consistent use. Overall, it creates a supportive, stigma-free space where young girls can better understand their bodies.
07
Two personas kept the design grounded in different needs: one girl who gave up on tracking, and one who tracks everything and still feels anxious.
08
I followed Aaliyah through Flo, from downloading the app to looking for answers about an irregular period. She starts out hopeful, then her experience drops at every stage as predictions stop matching what she's feeling.
The map's opportunities shaped what came next: guided onboarding, a “start simple” tracking mode, reassurance that imperfect tracking is okay, and clear explanations of what each result means for her.
09
Everything branches from Home into seven areas: My Pet, My Cycle, Learn, For You, Ask & Help, Rewards and Community. The pet gets its own branch next to tracking and learning, because it's what brings users back.
10
I worked out the flow on paper first. These low-fidelity wireframes cover the entry screens, the new user questions, and the core app: the home screen with the chosen pet, the symptom log, the calendar and the menu.
11
The app combines tracking, education and engagement in a way that feels simple and supportive for girls ages 11–14.
12
Here's Flow Friend, rebuilt from my prototype. The original five screens came first, and I extended them with the menu from my sketches.
This prototype is interactive. Tap the screen to use it!
