EquiPad: Usability study of a Period Product Dispenser

Usability research conducted by the UW HCDE Research Team to inform the soft launch of the Equipad dispenser prototype in Summer 2025.

Overview

Equipad aims to reduce variability in access to period products—ensuring free, comfortable, and reliable availability for menstruators in public restrooms. The patent-pending dispenser provides tampons and pads, designed for ease of dispensing and restocking.

This study focused on evaluating usability of the prototype to inform its soft launch, emphasizing two core processes: dispensing a period product and restocking the dispenser.

Study Overview

The UW HCDE Research Team conducted usability testing from February 28th to March 5th, 2025. Participants included menstruators and custodial staff in a variety of settings including UW campus, private residences, and a café. Sessions lasted 20–45 minutes each.

  • Recruitment via email to UW community and personal connections
  • 7 participants: 4 menstruators, 3 custodial staff
  • Age range: 20–40+ years
  • Data collection included task completion (quantitative) and participant feedback/observations (qualitative)

Key Findings

  • Dispense Functionality: Participants found dispensing time-consuming; the feeder was narrow and pad thickness caused errors. Recommendation: widen dispenser opening and modify internal design.
  • Viewer Panel: Glass/plastic panel was distracting and unnecessary. Recommendation: remove or reduce the panel size for aesthetics and clarity.
  • Restocking: Custodial participants found restocking time-consuming compared to current products. Recommendation: gather further feedback and explore process improvements.
  • Overall Design: Participants noted bulkiness and suggested design refinements to increase adoption and usability.
  • Positive Insights: Users found the product intuitive; custodial participants agreed a lock & key is necessary; all participants felt comfortable sharing honest feedback.

Recommendations

Short-term: Improve dispensing efficiency, reduce product waste, remove viewer panel, and add clear signage.

Long-term: Offer multiple dispenser sizes for different spaces and consider adding QR codes with instructions for dispensing and restocking.

Conclusion

This study provided critical insight from both custodial and menstruating users. While the prototype was moderately intuitive, features like the dispensing mechanism and pad thickness limited usability. Findings will guide future design iterations prior to market launch.