ORA: Menstrual Cup and Applicator designed by Nihaarika Arora
New York, NY — Industrial designer Nihaarika Arora is advancing the future of adolescent health with ORA, an award-winning menstrual cup and guided applicator system created to make first-time menstrual care more accessible, predictable, and empowering. Designed specifically for young users, ORA addresses long-standing usability and confidence barriers that have prevented adolescents from adopting safer and more sustainable menstrual solutions.
Addressing a Critical Gap in Adolescent Health
Although menstrual cups are widely recognized as one of the safest and most sustainable menstrual products available, adoption rates among adolescents remain low. Research conducted during ORA’s development revealed that first-time users frequently abandon menstrual cups due to confusion around folding techniques, fear of incorrect placement, and discomfort during insertion.
“Menstrual cups are among the healthiest and most sustainable options available, yet young users often feel intimidated before they even begin,” says Arora. “I saw this not just as a usability issue, but as a behavioral design challenge. If adolescents are going to form lifelong menstrual habits, they deserve a system that builds confidence from day one.”
Through interviews with gynecologists, adolescent health professionals, and young users, Arora identified recurring pain points: difficulty mastering folds, uncertainty about whether the cup had opened properly, and anxiety around insertion depth. These findings shaped ORA’s core innovation.
The ORA System: A Guided, Three-Step Experience
How it works
ORA introduces a universal-fold menstrual cup paired with a translucent silicone applicator and push-stick mechanism, creating a simple three-step insertion process:
- Step 1: The push stick places the cup into the applicator without requiring manual folding.
- Step 2: The soft, translucent applicator head is inserted approximately two inches for controlled placement.
- Step 3: The push stick releases the cup, engineered with internal structural ribs to ensure full opening and proper sealing.
The system eliminates guesswork and transforms insertion into a repeatable, supportive motion.
“Our goal was to remove fear from the equation,” Arora explains. “Young users should feel in control of their bodies—not confused by them. ORA creates predictability, and predictability builds confidence.”
Crafted from medical-grade silicone, ORA prioritizes safety, comfort, and long-term sustainability, reducing disposable waste while supporting healthier menstrual practices.
A Holistic Brand and Education Platform
Beyond product engineering, ORA was developed as a comprehensive educational ecosystem. Arora and her team designed youth-focused packaging systems, high-saturation gradient visual identities inspired by overlapping botanical forms, and communication tools tailored for parents, schools, and health educators.
“Menstrual care is not just a product category—it’s an educational milestone,” says Arora. “Design has the power to normalize conversations that were once uncomfortable. ORA is about creating emotional reassurance as much as physical usability.”
The name ORA derives from the anatomical term “ora,” meaning an opening or passage at the cervix—directly anchoring the product in female physiology. The name also carries a cultural nuance: in Japanese households, parents often say “ora” to gently call a child’s attention. This layered meaning reflects the brand’s central mission—to provide reassurance, guidance, and calm during a formative milestone in a young person’s life.
Commercial and Industry Recognition
Final Product
Since its debut, ORA has attracted attention from consumer health and personal-care companies exploring collaboration and product development opportunities. The project demonstrates Arora’s ability to translate research-driven insights into scalable, market-ready innovation within the women’s health sector.
Nihaarika Arora is an award-winning industrial designer specializing in human-centered product systems at the intersection of wellness, sustainability, and behavioral design. Her work has received international recognition for innovation and social impact, positioning her as an emerging leader in the future of women’s health and inclusive design.
ORA has been internationally recognized for its innovation and social impact. It won the Core 77 Design for Social Impact Award in 2023, and was named Silver Winner, 2025 IDA Design Awards in Personal & Lifestyle / Health & Wellness Products.
