Lunar — Shona O'Bryant

A project by Shona O’Bryant and Amanda Han

Prioritizing environment, education and ease

Lunar is a an app paired with a smart case system that reimagines and redesigns the experience of using and refilling birth control. Lunar aims to improve experience of the second most used contraception method in the United States.

The Problem

The pill has been widely accessable since 1960, however for the past 60 years this medication has stayed stagnant in design, packaging and system. Lunar addresses three problems with oral contraception as we use it; sustainability, education and ease.

Environment

This monthly medication is distributed with materials that can largely only be thrown in a landfill after use. The image below is what comes with a one month supply.

Education

If you have taken oral contraception, you are probably familiar with the large map-like instruction pamphlet or the confusion that can ensue from everyday life; “I missed a pill, what should I do and am I still protected?” “I am trying a new medication, are there any complications?”

Ease

The pill is a daily medication which can become tiring and troublesome to remember. In a survey conducted by my partner for this project and I, 82.4% of people reported that their largest problem with the pill was taking it everyday. I can personally empathize with setting a daily alarm, turning it off because I’m busy and missing a dose for a day.

The Solution

A mobile app + smart case combo that tracks each time you turn the case for a pill. In addition to keeping you accountable to your schedule, the app also incorporates easily accessable info about your pill, symptoms, drug interactions, prescription refills, and shipment dates.

The case itself is designed for you to keep with a subscription service that sends refills each month

Lunar App

This is a mockup for the home page of Lunar, the app.

The home page displays your progress through your monthly supply, time until the next pill, and an estimate of how effective your pill is based on the times logged for the past month.

Concept Story Board

Lunar’s Circular System

To reduce waste, Lunar adopts a completely circular system where items are returned to the company to be sanitized and refilled. The case is also sent back yearly for a maintenance check up and any needed repair.