Case Study · Sexual Wellness Device
Designing an Intimate Wearable Discreet Enough for Daily Life
Adult toys keep growing in popularity, yet most still look too erotic to fit into everyday life.
The My Pod series set out to make a new type of adult toy, one you can carry like earphones or any other gadget. After the first My Pod, we designed its second product for CalExotics: a vibrating ring with its own pod.
Overview
Popular, but still awkward to show
Adult toys have grown in popularity over the past decade. More couples use them to bring more intimacy into their relationship.
But most people still find them awkward to show. Most toys carry an erotic look that is too out of tune to fit into daily life. For a ring worn by men, that problem comes with a second one: getting the size right.
Key successes
- Shaped a ring and case that read as a daily accessory, not an adult toy
- Tested a range of ring dimensions with mock-ups to find the best size
- Tried different UV-C wavelengths to find the right sanitizing intensity
- Closing the lid starts UV-C sanitizing, so the ring is cleaned every time it is put away
- Engineered the ring, the case and their electronics through to mass production
- Launched by CalExotics with a removable bullet and seven vibration modes
Approach
Three rules: portable, sleek, hygienic
We looked at everyday electronics, such as earbud cases, and reconsidered how this product should look and feel. That gave us three rules.
Portable: the pod had to be compact and fit in a single hand. Sleek: the form had to be simple, with fewer sharp angles, so it feels friendly and comfortable. Hygienic: for a product used this way, keeping it clean matters, so we built a UV-C sanitizer into the case.
Then we tested with mock-ups. We made rings in different sizes to find the best fit for men. For the sanitizer, we tried different UV-C wavelengths to find the right intensity.
The solution
One pod, three jobs
- Closing the lid starts the UV-C light→the ring is sanitized with no extra step
- Charging in the case→no cable to plug into the ring
- Palm-sized, rounded pod→easy to carry and discreet to keep out
- Soft, continuous ring form with a single button→simple to use
- Battery lights on the case→shows charge at a glance
Impact
The second product in the My Pod system
CalExotics launched the ring as the My Pod Enhancer Ring in July 2021. It comes with a removable bullet that also works on its own as a compact vibrator.
The launch kept the pod at its center. The case charges the bullet magnetically, and its UV light turns on by itself when the bullet goes in. The ring offers seven vibration modes from a single button. It sells on Amazon in the US and through retailers in Canada.
