Creme de la Contraceptive is an awkward, playful, and tasty way to spark conversation on reproductive health amongst teens.

Ice cream sandwich prototypes made to scale from cost-effective materials including cardboard, butcher paper, string, and tape.

We explored how the empathy of service providers can be leveraged in gynecology and discovered an underlying stigma that inhibits healthy conversation on reproductive health. Creme de la Contraceptive intends to create a more welcoming opportunity to build empathy amongst providers.

The Challenge

What if teens openly discussed female reproductive health?

The Goal

We want to inform and empower teens by providing direct connections to reproductive health services and products in an environmentally conscious way.

Our Approach

Creme de la Contraceptive is a pop-up shop offering ice cream sandwiches shaped like reproductive health products, such as “Taro Tampon” and “Cookie Dough Condom.” They’re accompanied by napkins with anecdotes of other teens’ positive experiences with reproductive health. Partners provide science based information in real time, in familiar and fun encounters.

Ice cream is a fun, accessible treat for teens. Contraceptive-shaped foods play on the curious, emotion-driven personality of teens and it’s novelty sparks conversation and engages audiences both in person and on social media.

We envision the pop-up first appearing in a mall where there is high-foot traffic from teens, but the mobile nature of pop-up retail permits us to expand our reach. Our partner organizations, such as Girls Helping Girls Period, Berkey Water Filters, and local gynecology clinics, will be available onsite to answer any questions on reproductive health regardless of purchase.

The Outcome

This light-hearted approach not only promotes open conversation and de-stigmatization of reproductive health, but provides teens with direct connections to health care providers.