Top 9 Careers for Women in GENNEXT: 9. FemTech Product Designer

-

 

 Career Spotlight : Crafting the Future of Women’s Health

In recent years, technology has transformed every aspect of our lives, and women’s health is no exception. The rise of FemTech—technology specifically designed for women’s health and wellness—has opened up exciting new career paths, including the role of a FemTech Product Designer. In this article, we will explore what it means to be a FemTech Product Designer, the industries and opportunities available, the skills and education required, and why this career is particularly suitable for women.

What is a FemTech Product Designer?

A FemTech Product Designer is responsible for designing products and services that address the unique health and wellness needs of women. These products can range from apps and wearables that track menstrual cycles and fertility, to medical devices for pregnancy, menopause management, and pelvic health. Product designers in this field create user-centric solutions that not only solve medical issues but also enhance the overall experience for women navigating various stages of their life.

FemTech Product Designers must have a deep understanding of both technology and women’s health. They work closely with healthcare professionals, engineers, data scientists, and end-users to develop products that are intuitive, effective, and safe.

Real-Life Example: Making Menstrual Health Empowering

Consider a product like Clue, a popular period-tracking app. The product designers behind Clue focused on creating an app that allows women to track their menstrual cycles in a simple, empowering way. Through collaboration with health experts and leveraging user feedback, they designed an interface that not only tracks periods but also provides valuable insights into reproductive health. The success of Clue highlights how impactful FemTech product design can be, offering women more control over their health.

Industries and Applications

FemTech is a rapidly expanding sector, and product designers in this field have opportunities to work across a variety of industries, including:

  • Reproductive Health: Apps and devices that track menstrual cycles, fertility, and pregnancy.
  • Maternal Health: Products supporting women through pregnancy, childbirth, and postnatal care, such as smart breast pumps and prenatal monitors.
  • Menopause Management: Devices and apps helping women manage symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes or sleep disturbances.
  • Pelvic Health: Solutions for conditions like pelvic floor dysfunction, urinary incontinence, or postpartum recovery.
  • Mental Health: Tools and platforms that focus on women's mental well-being, often tailored to the emotional and hormonal fluctuations throughout different life stages.
  • Personalized Health: Wearables and devices that provide data-driven insights into a woman’s health, offering personalized recommendations for lifestyle adjustments or medical care.

As FemTech continues to grow, product designers will find increasing demand in biotechnology, healthcare startups, and health tech platforms, creating endless possibilities for innovation.

Education and Skills Required

1. Educational Background

Most FemTech Product Designers come from a background in design, healthcare, or technology. Here are some common educational pathways:

  • Bachelor’s Degree in Product Design or Industrial Design: A solid foundation in the principles of product design, user experience (UX), and user interface (UI) is essential.
  • Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Biomedical Engineering: This degree can be particularly useful for those focusing on medical devices, as it blends technology with health sciences.
  • Certification in UX/UI Design: Since many FemTech products are digital (apps, platforms), a certification in UX/UI design is highly valuable.
  • Health Sciences or Medical Background: A deep understanding of women’s health is crucial for designing effective FemTech products. Some product designers come from healthcare professions, such as nursing or physical therapy, and transition into design roles.

2. Skills Needed

  • User-Centric Design: Understanding the needs of women across different demographics and creating products that are intuitive and user-friendly is essential.
  • Health Knowledge: A strong grasp of women’s health issues is crucial for developing meaningful products.
  • Technical Skills: Familiarity with digital design tools such as Adobe XD, Figma, or Sketch is a must. For medical devices, knowledge of 3D modeling software and engineering tools is often necessary.
  • Empathy and Communication: Designing for women’s health requires empathy and a deep understanding of personal and sometimes sensitive issues. Effective communication with healthcare professionals and users is key.
  • Collaboration: FemTech Product Designers often work with multidisciplinary teams, including engineers, healthcare experts, data scientists, and marketers. Strong collaboration skills are essential.

Financial Opportunities

FemTech is a growing sector, and as the demand for innovative women’s health products rises, so do the career opportunities and salaries for FemTech Product Designers. In India, the salary range for a starting product designer can be between ₹4-7 lakhs per year. With experience and specialization in FemTech, professionals can expect salaries to increase significantly, potentially reaching ₹12-20 lakhs per year or more for senior designers and product managers.

In global markets, particularly in the US and Europe, FemTech Product Designers can earn anywhere from $60,000 to $120,000 per year, depending on experience, location, and the complexity of the product.

Why This Role is Perfect for Women

1. Empathy-Driven Design

Women bring a unique perspective to FemTech because they often personally relate to the health issues being addressed. Whether it’s understanding the emotional experience of menopause or the practical challenges of pregnancy, women are naturally empathetic to these concerns, making them ideal candidates for designing products that resonate with female users.

2. A Growing Field with Purpose

FemTech offers a career path that allows women to make a meaningful impact. Designing products that improve women’s health and quality of life provides personal and professional satisfaction. It’s a field where innovation directly contributes to social good, making it an appealing choice for women looking to combine purpose with creativity.

3. Diverse Opportunities

From wearable devices to digital health platforms, FemTech product designers work on a wide variety of projects. This diversity provides career flexibility and opportunities to specialize in areas that align with personal interests, whether that’s reproductive health, mental wellness, or maternal care.

Future Outlook

The FemTech sector is poised for exponential growth, with the global market expected to surpass $60 billion by 2027. This growth will drive demand for more innovative, user-centered products—and FemTech Product Designers will be at the forefront of this innovation.

As more women seek personalized, tech-driven solutions for their health, the FemTech industry will continue to expand, creating numerous opportunities for designers who are passionate about improving women’s lives.

Conclusion

Becoming a FemTech Product Designer offers a unique opportunity to combine design, technology, and healthcare to improve women’s health in meaningful ways. It’s a career that is not only growing but also filled with purpose, making it especially suitable for women who want to bring empathy and innovation to the forefront of women’s health and wellness.

 

Avinash Deshmukh 

certified career coach 

care@brainsmaart.com

9657600076

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

JOMO : The Antidote India has for FOMO

-
Image
  A Teenager's Take on FOMO "None of the songs are matching this photo damnit! I can't even think of a good caption, I'm going to be the last person to post the story for today's event.." Aditi threw her phone on the bed, giving up on her failed attempts at making the photo collage look up to the mark. "Will it really be that bad? If you don't post that story?" Mahi calmly asked her.  "Of course Maahi!! Everyone has already posted, and I was present at the event, it would look really embarassing if I don't-" "EMBARASSING??! Why?" "Because... it's a thing! It's important, you won't understand." Aditi and Mahi...  the two lovely young girls and fast friends had just returned from a Diwali bash and Aditi was struggling to post her snaps at the event on insta while Mahi was chilling around with her pet fido...  "Yeah, I don't actually. I don't understand why you putting your life on display f...
Read more

Diminishing Femininity: The Problem Hitting Employment and Human Well-Being.

-
Image
  “What ridiculous? What are you talking about… what does femininity have to do with employment? Are you saying there are fewer women out there for employment, or the society still isn’t giving women an opportunity? Why do you women try to link everything with femininity or masculinity?” His facial expressions clearly showed a mix of puzzled look with contours of sarcasm.   “Chill, dear… take a breath… I certainly don’t mean what you are saying. By diminishing femininity I mean diminishing feminine energy from the life of every individual—be it a male or a female—and then consequently from the home, from the village, from the Governments and from the Corporate world, from our personal pursuits as well.” She said and paused to look at him.   While his sarcasm faded, the puzzle was still there. “Interesting… could you elaborate?” he said.   “Listen.” She smiled and came closer, looked deep in his eyes and said, “Your life, my life, the Universe and everything...
Read more

From Hobbies to Personal Brand: Why Profile Building is the Real Game-Changer for Youngsters

-
Image
  The Parenting Illusion Every Indian parent has said at least once: “Bas padhai achhi karo, baaki sab ho jayega.” For decades, this formula worked. Study hard, get good marks, crack an entrance exam, secure a degree, and land a job. But today, this formula is breaking down. Our children are growing up in a different India. They have access to better schools, smartphones, global exposure, and complete freedom of choice—yet, 47% of Indian graduates remain unemployable (India Skills Report 2024). How is this possible? If Gen X and Millennials gave their kids comfort, freedom, and opportunity, why is Gen Z still struggling? The answer lies in a missing piece: Profile Building. Random Activities vs. Focused Profiles Between 14 and 22, most children engage in several activities: guitar classes, cricket coaching, volunteering at festivals, maybe robotics or coding camps. These are wonderful experiences, but often short-lived. By the time college ends, students have no cohe...
Read more