Willow, the first wearable breast pump by Gabriela Valderrama

Willow's Desing Thinking

2026-04-10 01:31:46 UTC

(🧠) Empathize

Mothers were interviewed to understand their frustrations: discomfort, lack of discretion, and limited mobility when using traditional breast pumps.

(🎯) Define

Problem: mothers need a comfortable, discreet, and portable breast pump that fits into their daily lives.

(💡) Ideate

Ideas were generated such as a wireless, quiet, easy-to-use device that works like an accessory.

(🛠️) Prototype

More than 60 prototypes were created to test different design, comfort, and functionality solutions.

(🧪) Test

They were tested with real users, collecting feedback to improve until a practical and discreet product was achieved.

2026-04-13 00:24:12 UTC

Hello, my name is Cristina Vargas (NRC: n00421199).

The 5 steps of the Design Thinking Methodology are:

Empathize: Understand the needs and problems of users.
Define: Clearly identify the main problem.
Ideate: Generate creative ideas to solve the problem.
Prototype: Create a simple version of the solution.
Test: Evaluate the solution and make improvements.

Name: Maria Fernanda Lopez Orbegoso. NRC: 31281 / N00273925

2026-04-14 22:17:36 UTC

The 5 steps of the Design Thinking Methodology are:

Empathize: In-depth interviews are conducted with dozens of mothers to understand the pain of using traditional breast pumps with cables and uncomfortable bottles.

Define: It was detected that the real need was not only to express milk, but the freedom to do it in a mobile, discreet and simple way (make the product feel like an accessory).

Ideate: The team focused on "reimagining the experience," coming up with a wireless design that could fit inside a bra. Prototype: More than 60 different prototypes were developed to explore the best form and functionality of the product.

Evaluate (Testing): Through the lessons learned in the process, a final design was reached that allows mothers to express milk anywhere easily and conveniently.

Name: Heli Sipiran N00423496

2026-04-21 22:54:14 UTC

1. Empathize
Willow interviewed many mothers to understand their experiences with breast pumping. They identified that it was an uncomfortable, impractical, and not very discreet process.

2. Define
The problem focused on traditional breast pumps being uncomfortable, not portable, and difficult to use anywhere, affecting mothers’ comfort and freedom.

3. Ideate
The team proposed innovative solutions, such as creating a more practical, portable, and discreet pump that could easily fit into mothers’ daily routines.

4. Prototype
They developed more than 60 prototypes, testing different shapes, sizes, and features to find the most suitable design.

5. Test
The prototypes were tested with real users, which allowed improvements until achieving a wireless, comfortable, and easy-to-use pump.