Palpa Team on Advancing Preventive Care Through Palpa: AR-Integrated App for Breast Self-Examination

We were motivated by the gap between medical knowledge and everyday awareness, particularly in preventive care. Many people lack the confidence or guidance needed to perform self-checks effectively.

This project aims to lower that barrier by making the process more intuitive and accessible. It helps users build awareness and encourages a more proactive approach to their health.

During early testing, users reported feeling more confident performing self-exams when guided by visual and spatial feedback.

One user mentioned that it transformed an uncertain and uncomfortable process into something structured and manageable, which served as a strong validation of the design direction.

The project was inspired by the belief that prevention should be accessible rather than intimidating. We wanted to show that health awareness can be integrated into everyday life through thoughtful design, rather than relying solely on clinical environments.

By making self-examination more understandable and approachable, the project encourages users to develop consistent habits. It shifts the experience from uncertainty to guided interaction, which is essential for promoting long-term behavioral change.

We focused on visual storytelling by demonstrating how the interaction works rather than simply explaining it. The use of AR visualization immediately communicates the product’s value and distinguishes it from traditional health education methods.

It is a strong validation of the belief that design can play a meaningful role in preventive healthcare. It also reinforces the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration across technology, design, and healthcare.

The project is an AR-assisted breast self-exam tool designed to guide users through a structured and informed process. We chose to enter it because it represents a meaningful intersection of design, technology, and real-world impact.

The biggest challenge was balancing medical accuracy with usability. The experience needed to be precise enough to be credible, yet simple enough for everyday users to adopt.

It has strengthened my confidence in pursuing work at the intersection of design and impact, and encouraged me to continue exploring beyond traditional product boundaries.

- High stakes: Design decisions directly impact human well-being.

- Complexity: Success requires balancing technical, medical, and human factors.

- Trust: Users rely on clarity and credibility more than aesthetics.

Working in the U.S., we see a strong intersection of innovation, technology, and healthcare. There is a growing focus on preventive care and digital health solutions, creating opportunities for design to play a larger role.

We see a shift toward more personalized, proactive, and technology-driven care. AI and real-time data will play an increasingly important role, but usability and trust will remain critical factors.

- Interdisciplinary learning across design, medicine, and technology.

- Real-world case studies in digital health.

- Hands-on experimentation with emerging technologies such as AI and AR.

We are inspired by people who work across disciplines and bring diverse fields together to solve complex problems. Their ability to navigate ambiguity and create meaningful impact is something we deeply value.

Staying curious and becoming comfortable with ambiguity. The most meaningful work often comes from exploring problems that do not have clear answers.

We believe design has the potential to make healthcare more accessible, understandable, and human-centered. This is an area where we hope to continue making meaningful contributions in the future.