Through my consultancy, DARC Design Studio, I partnered with Astellas Pharma’s Rx+ program, Orchana, to provide creative strategy and product design services. The Rx+ program focuses on developing non-drug healthcare solutions, and Orchana aligned with this mission by creating a digital health platform offering virtual-first care through health and wellness coaching, community support, and science-backed resources for women navigating menopause.

As Creative Director and UX Design Lead, I guided the team in designing and testing platform features, refining the unique selling proposition, and preparing the product for market readiness. With the platform previously tested only within a small internal cohort, our work required a comprehensive technical assessment, reprioritization of key features, and development of B2B and D2C marketing strategies, alongside platform content, key art, and copy. This process involved close collaboration with executive leadership, subject matter experts, and legal advisors to ensure alignment at every stage.

After a year on the project, the team needed a breakthrough—an evolution from a coaching and resource platform to a behavior change solution. My research uncovered a potential link between blood glucose levels and common menopausal symptoms, such as hot flushes, sleep disturbances, and night sweats. This insight inspired a new direction for Orchana: integrating Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) with wellness coaching to empower women in managing their symptoms through real-time data and personalized care.

Unfortunately, while on the verge of product development, the program was discontinued in favor of a pharmaceutical solution addressing the same blood glucose relationship. Despite its conclusion, the project remains a testament to the power of human-centered design, strategic innovation, and the pursuit of impactful healthcare solutions.