Industrial - Bachelor
Daily hormone gel treatment involves more than application. It means remembering, dispensing, storing and planning ahead. CADENCE is a countertop dispenser concept designed to support these everyday tasks through automatic dispensing, gentle reminders and a removable cartridge. It brings home and portable use together around one considered, personal treatment routine.
Menopausal hormone therapy (MHT), often called HRT, is a prescribed treatment used to manage menopausal symptoms. Transdermal gels deliver oestrogen through the skin. For people using daily gel, treatment also involves remembering to apply it, operating the pump, allowing drying time, and managing supply.
This project explored that everyday experience through secondary research, product benchmarking, 26 survey responses and five interviews with three MHT users, a women’s-health GP and a compounding pharmacist.
“There’s no way of knowing just how much you’re receiving”
Participant 1, MHT user interview
The research highlighted three connected challenges: remembering treatment when routines change, uncertainty around dispensing, and maintaining treatment away from home.
Among survey respondents, 65.4% reported uncertainty about whether they had already used their treatment or forgotten it. Among gel and cream users, 55% were unsure whether the intended quantity had been dispensed.
These findings informed a focused design opportunity: make daily actions and product information clearer, while supporting continuity between home and travel.
Reminders and a visible treatment record respond to uncertainty about whether the daily routine has been completed. The interface distinguishes a dispensing event from a user-confirmed application.
A removable cartridge supports use at home and away. This direction responds to the practical work of carrying, storing and maintaining treatment when routines change.
Soft curves, a white gloss housing and silver detailing give CADENCE a discreet presence in the home. The appearance recognises treatment as part of someone’s personal environment.
Automatic pump actuation was selected to reduce repeated manual pressing. A generous opening beneath the nozzle provides space for the hand during dispensing.
Hand detection activates the proposed motor-driven pump mechanism, reducing repeated manual pressing in daily routines and delivering the perfect dosage.
The cartridge can be accessed through the housing and removed for portable on-the-go use.
The system includes remaining-supply information to help users plan ahead. Accurate sensing and tracking across cartridge removal and dispensing.
The companion interface brings daily prompts, application records and routine history into one place.
Ada McKie is an emerging industrial designer drawn to the connection between people, creative thinking and practical problem-solving. Collaboration is central to her approach. Ada enjoys listening, exchanging perspectives, and helping teams reach shared goals. She is motivated to enhance people's lives through thoughtful, effective design and meaningful solutions.
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