Comma is a brand new sustainable menstrual product company aimed to be accessible to all who need them. It is also the creator behind the first and only HIPAA-compliant cycle tracking app.

→ No user’s journey is the same.
We know that users will have different needs when beginning to use the tracker, and it can even change halfway through if they want to focus more on ovulation because they’re trying to get pregnant. It can change even further if they do become pregnant. With this information, we needed a way to present users with a custom dashboard on sign up, and the ability to update that dashboard later on.

→ Health data is sensitive and personal for users.
We’ve seen people are generally cautious about inputting personal health information into an app. There is this fear that their data could be sold.

→ There is currently no product for sale.
Comma is a new brand, and the goal was to release a minimum viable product with the hope that it will scale to accommodate new products and features in the future. The problem is how to build in scalability at the start so that minimal rework is needed to implement this potential growth when needed.

→ Prioritize dashboard customization.
As a part of the users’ onboarding process, we have them fill out a short yet comprehensive questionnaire where the answers will tailor the dashboard modules to their needs. To further create a unique experience, we included a “hide” feature on each module so the user can focus on what’s important to them.

→ Ensure users’ safety and privacy.
It was a must to guarantee the safety and privacy of users by implementing some key features like the “Quick Exit” to easily close the application with one click that’s consistently in the same space and easy to find. Another was the “Discreet View” on the calendar—it hides sensitive information while still giving the user the ability to browse in public settings. We also sprinkled messaging across the dashboard centered around the importance of privacy and transparency about how their data is being handled.

→ Design a scalable e-commerce platform that can accommodate new products.
Since Comma’s site currently doesn’t have a product for sale, it acts as a promotional tool with a “notify me” as the driving call-to-action. We set up the site in a way that when the product hits the market, we can seamlessly pivot into a fully operational store. An index is pre-built and can be switched on as new products are added. The Comma website also has a robust design system so that components can be swapped in and out as needed with no additional development.