— About
Saalt Co. Steamer
Lead Industrial Designer · 18 months · Jackson Hedden Inc.
Saalt Co. identified a gap in how menstrual care products were cleaned and maintained, with customers asking for a solution that felt simple, hygienic, and easy to integrate into their routines.
At Jackson Hedden Inc., I led the design and development of the Saalt Steamer, taking it from early concept through refinement and into production readiness.
— Period Care is
Bold, Beautiful, and Anything But Basic
A period product, designed to be displayed on the bathroom counter.
— Manufactured to be
Beautiful and Powerful, just like Saalt’s Consumers
“I recently purchased the Saalt cup soft and the Saalt steamer. The steamer makes sanitizing the cup super easy and quick. It made all the difference for me as a mom to a toddler that I can just put the cup in the steamer and don't have to watch it or worry about it like I would when boiling it on the stove.”
- Miriam W., a Saalt Verified Buyer
— Brand Specific CMF
A Color that Represents the Brands Consumers
Utilizing BPA-Free Plastic, the Saalt Co. Steamer is available in several colors such as: Rose Quartz, Blue Dusk, Arctic Mist, and Sea Glass
— Saalt Co.
The Brand
Naturally Inspired Product Design.
“We don’t hush period talk. Our bodies are beautiful and powerful, just like the natural cycles of the Earth. We create naturally-inspired products that look as visually striking as they are functionally powerful.”
— Background
The Benchmark
From current and similar products
I aimed for Saalt’s product to fit within the highlighted space. The Saalt team and I wanted to keep the device simple for those new to feminine hygiene.
— Background
The Bathroom Becomes a Sanctuary for Menstrual Care
For most people, the bathroom is a place of privacy and comfort, a sanctuary for personal care. Typically, individuals have had to clean their reusable menstrual products in the Kitchen, which can be awkward in shared spaces.
Saalt wanted to address these awkward moments, so we designed the steamer with a clear cap to promote transparency.
— Background
You Asked, We Listened
The steamer is designed for a diverse range of users, spanning from young girls navigating their first periods to women in their 50s.
Regardless of background or lifestyle, they share a collective pursuit: seeking eco-friendly and health-conscious solutions for menstrual care.
— Sketching, Ideation, to Mid-Point:
Ideas to Concepts
Exploring brand ethos and guidelines.
The overall brand ethos of Saalt Co. needed to be represented within the aesthetic design, combining beautifully with the functionality.
Based off Saalts Co.’s Feedback and preferences, I refined the CAD several times till we reached a finalized solution.
— Refined Product Design
Steamer Overview
Designed to fit seamlessly into any bathroom space; for Saalt Co.’s products as well as their competitors.
— Designed for Manufacturing
Details Captured for Mold Making
Guidelines for plastic injection molding.
To meet Saalt Co.'s seamless design expectations, the original CAD was created in Fusion 360's solids tab, but undercuts along the motif made manufacturing difficult.
Switching to the Surfacing Toolkit, I offset the surface, thickened it, and combined the surfaces into one body, adding fillets and draft angles to ensure a smooth molding process.
— Designed for Manufacturing
The Big Question: What Does the Mold Look Like?
My Favorite Part of the Project
This intricate design needed a top-notch mold. Working with the manufacturer, I helped make some key mold-making decisions.
We went with a six-part mold for the basin (see pics on the side). After injection molding, we trimmed off any leftover "flash" during assembly.
*Pictures from the manufacturer.