WOOHEE BYUN

Code Red

Code Red is a donation platform designed to address the often-overlooked issue of menstrual product insecurity. Built from the ground up, it introduces a donation flow with urgency-based filtering, sustainable product options, and location-aware matching—reimagining access through a lens of empathy, speed, and community care.

Timeline –

07.2023-11.2023

Role –

Team Lead
Strategist
UX Designer

Team –

Uijin Yang, UI Designer
Seongjun Jeon, Strategist
Geon Kim, Motion Designer Problem –

Period poverty is a global issue that affects millions of people who lack access to menstrual products and hygienic facilities.

Outcome –

We created a mobile platform that works as both a period tracker and a place to help people in need of menstrual products.

Final Design –

Community

Share your concerns or get the right information about female health in this safe, no-judgement community.

Period Cycle Tracker

Track your period cycle and record physical and emotional symptoms to identify your own patterns!

Donation Map

Donate cash or items to girls and women nearby. You’ll get a thank you message from supportees and create a stronger emotional bond between you two.

Let’s get down to the nitty-gritty!

Desk Research –

Period Products Taxed as Luxury

Every month, 1.8 billion people across the world menstruate, according to UNICEF. As period supplies like tampons and sanitary towels are a necessity for women, it is taxed in many countries under the name of “tampon tax.”

It is no exception in developed countries. In fact, the stigma of menstruation remains even in more advanced nations.

Competitive Research –

Who are the competitors?

Based on transparency and ease of use, two core principles for a digital donation platform, I was able to map out the competitors in the matrix.

Problem Identification –

Disconnected from the support that exists

With various approaches to solve the issue - period supply drive, free product dispenser, and donation - I have discovered issues with the current solution:

Ideation –

We’ve all been there—you, me, and her.

According to BMC Women’s Health, the unpredictable nature of periods and the common experience of not having a menstrual product available when needed resulted in the culture of product sharing.

I focused on this common experience and designed an app to trigger a bonding experience as well as a sense of community by sharing.

Edge Case –

23% of donors drop out after their first donation

We have identified the consistent drop-out of donors. According to the Fundraising Effectiveness Project, around 23% of donors churn just 6 months after their first donation, which means almost 70% of donors give only once to an organization.

To prevent these common friction points in the donation system, we have added features to strengthen the emotional connection between donors and donees.

User Persona –

Connect two targets to enhance sustainable donation

Based on the donation system, we set two separate user personas – a supporter who takes an interest in the period poverty issue and donates & supportee who is looking for help to get period supplies.

With details in our user persona, we were able to thoroughly create the system that both target users can benefit from.

Information Architecture –

Wireframes –

Solution –

A safe space without stigma or the stress of affording menstruation

Through an intuitive donation flow and community-focused UX, Code Red helps users give or receive period care without fear of stigma or financial burden. Beyond the app, we designed campaign posters and a vending machine concept to create visibility in real-world spaces for those who don’t have access to mobile devices.

Branding –

Building a Brand Identity

We created a comprehensive design system that goes beyond what is used in the final design. We built this following the WCAG AA accessibility guidelines.

Outcome & Impact –

Where It Landed

Code Red was awarded the Red Dot Junior Award, recognizing our ability to turn a socially driven concept into a functional, emotionally resonant product.

Reflections –

What did I learn from this project?

From Concept to Clarity

Our original idea for Code Red barely scratched the surface. Through rounds of ideation, feedback, and prototyping, the concept grew into something far more powerful. Every iteration unlocked new perspectives—not just on the product, but on the real needs we were trying to meet.

Speak Early, Move Faster

One of the biggest lessons was internal: clear communication is everything. Even when I hesitated to speak up, thinking I might slow things down, being open actually made our process smoother and more aligned. Collaboration only works when everyone feels informed and involved—and I’ll carry that into every team I join.

©Woohee2025

woohee.ux@gmail.com

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