Imagining the Future of Menopause

Maya Kaneko is interested in how design as a practice can be more deeply interwoven in conversations about human rights, specifically for marginalized populations. Throughout her thesis project she investigated the experience of menopause, how to break cultural silences and open discussions around ‘taboo.’ With the use of qualitative research methods, such as diary studies, interviews, questionnaires and participatory design workshops, she was able to alleviate feelings of shame and create moments of reflection, joy and community. Her work is synthesized in a newsprint magazine, summarizing not only the findings of this research but ideas of what the future menopausal experience could be, if more creative energy and funding was allocated toward this topic. Maya’s design approach is rooted in her training in Anthropology, shaping the way she sees not only the material world but also the systems and structures upholding injustice. She often reminds herself that everything is designed, which offers both an avenue for analysis and a call to action.

Read Medium post about the research phase.

See full project