Rhea

Cosa fa?

Rhea is a wearable device that uses integrated biosensors to monitor and support women’s psychophysical well-being. Its first component, a collar, includes a heart rate monitor and a cortisol-sensing patch.

La tua ispirazione

The inspiration for this project comes from two scenarios related to sexuality and emotions, focusing on care for the female gender. It highlights women’s psychophysical health, often hidden or underestimated. Personally, I wanted to raise awareness and break taboos around the menstrual cycle. Rhea supports both diagnosed women and those with symptoms or concerns, promoting early diagnosis. It is a speculative design project aimed at normalizing and raising awareness of female health issues through the union of function and form.

Come funziona?

Starting from the concept of care and focusing on women's psychophysical health, Rhea was developed following research into Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) - a severe and often underdiagnosed condition that affects around 12% of women of reproductive age, causing significant emotional, physical, and behavioral distress. Rhea is a wearable device that uses integrated biosensors to monitor and support women’s psychophysical well-being. It consists of two combinable elements: The collar, which represents the technological component of the device, includes a heart rate monitor and a cortisol-sensing patch. The data collected is processed through a dedicated app. The necklace, an ornamental structure with strong symbolic value, complements the device by adding an aesthetic and identity-driven dimension.

Processo di progettazione

The design process began with the analysis of medical-scientific literature, which confirmed a correlation between cortisol levels and premenstrual dysphoric disorder. For the physical form of our device, we chose a body-hugging structure to optimize monitoring and to metaphorically represent a “second skin”: an armor that protects the woman during a moment of rebirth. This concept led to the creation of the collar element, made from nylon fabric. To convey a message of normalization and awareness, challenging the taboos still surrounding this topic, an additional aesthetic element was introduced: the necklace, a second component 3D-printed and then hand-colored.

In che modo è differente?

Rhea stands out as one of the few wearable devices specifically designed to address Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD), a severe yet often overlooked syndrome in both medical research and the development of technological solutions. Unlike other generic wearables for menstrual or stress tracking, Rhea is the result of a focused and in-depth study on a specific condition that affects a significant percentage of women. At the heart of Rhea lies the concept of care, not only as physical support, but as an empathetic and conscious gesture. The device is designed to fit the body comfortably and respectfully, becoming part of the wearer's identity rather than just a tool to “use.”

Progetti per il futuro

In the future, additional sensors could be integrated to further enhance the device’s technological capabilities. At the same time, establishing collaborations with doctors or other specialists would be valuable to clinically validate and refine the project. Another key area of development is the improvement of the app connected to Rhea, making it more comprehensive and personalized. It would also be interesting to design multiple versions of Rhea tailored to different needs and lifestyles, and to expand the product line with new devices dedicated to women’s hormonal and mental health.

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