Beyond pleasurable stimulation

INSIGHT (what we need)

The shape of most sex toys doesn’t match the shape of female pleasure.

Not until well into the 2000s did we finally get a true representation of what the female clitoris actually looks like through 3D printing technology. In fact, most people’s understanding of this gland up to this point was that of a small, sensitive, ‘erectile’ nub that rests on the anterior end of the vulva. Rather shocking is the notion that education up to this point wrongly asserted it’s size: that of a pea, joystick or tiny ‘female equivalent of the penis’. All wrong, coined by men, and pretty archaic; but par for the course when you think back on the long history of repression (and “hysterization”) when it came to female pleasure.

Turns out, this oft described “button” is actually shaped more like a majestic swan, or wishbone with udders. The clitoral gland is far bigger than is visualized in most imaginations and therefore explains the matching functional design of the toys made to pleasure it. With much larger ~10cm long “crura” (or shafts) that encircle the vagina, along with intricate bundles of nerve-endings 2-3x more than the penis; what are more responsible for engorged vulvas and penetrative orgasm (not the famed G-spot). That means 90%+ of the clitoris lies beneath the surface and part of an intricate system of parts that work together to build the orchestral symphony that is the female orgasm.

Beyond this visual understanding of female genitalia is also the notion that orgasm itself is not a performance target of sexual conquest but that of functional well-being. We are to use our bodies to their optimal potential to keep them functioning and healthy: immune systems must defend, muscles must flex, nerves get stimulated, tissues get stretched, and fluids must flow. That is why, if we look to the two most ancient yet still popular traditional medicine systems (TCM & Ayurveda), sex is viewed not as a pleasurable sport or even a procreation activity – but as a key component of building health in the body. Far beyond good libido and sexual function is the concept that life force energy must flow through our different parts at a pace, intensity and amount that is sustaining for our years. Sexual energy is life force energy. It’s no coincidence that sexual function begins to wane when general health begins to falter. (That’s why longevity experimenter, and middle aged founder of Blueprint, Brian Johnson can’t wait to compare his erections to that of an 18 year old).

Though Ayurvedic and TCM doctors also didn’t know what clitorises looked like thousands of years ago, our diminished image and stubby knowledge of female sexual wellbeing has produced a sex toy market focused on penetration and performance. Form does follow function, so it’s no wonder all of the gadgets of the 20th century were basically reinterpreted penises. Granted, these designs have gotten much better (aka. less one dimensionally penetrative) with female design input. New visual understanding of the clitoris will likely evolve this even further. Still, we tend see a dominance of ‘penetrative pleasure’ as opposed to ‘sensual well-being’ in the sex toy market. The mere fact the whole market is about ‘playing with toys’ rather than ‘reinforcing health’ limits the scope of our design imagination.

How might we evolve from our penile interpretations of sexual pleasure and design devices for female genitalia that supports sensual wellbeing?

INSPIRATION (what we want)

Smile Makers: sexual wellness brand inspiring vulva owners to set their own standards for pleasure.

• Created with the female anatomy in mind and come with pleasure tips from experts for moments of self-exploration. 

• Designed for discovery and self-exploration as a friendly-device with approachable design.

• Settings designed for varying sensations (ie. suction, pulses, light flaps, air blasts, circularity — not just penetration) and full-control for levels of intensity. 

• Foundational for first time pleasure seekers and variable for more seasoned self-pleasurers.

• All about normalizing the variety of female orgasm, this brand is all about making pleasure intimate, fun, and sex-positive. 

INNOVATION (what we wish for)

Luvmeba: a pulsating pleasure pad that causes full clitoral stimulation to increase circulation, lymph flow, and pleasure.

• Designed as a health tool to stimulate circulation of blood, lymph and energy in the female body with a particular focus on the sexual glands.

• Waterproof and slightly weighted, this amoeba-like blanket is comprised of pulsating massage ‘nodes’ embedded in the warming gel pad that can be strategically placed on varying points of different sized bodies.

• Lay the ‘blanket’ on your body with specific nodes placed on stimulation points around the full clitoral gland, groin area, up the stomach towards the heart, then spread around each nipple and on either side of the neck lymph nodes.

• Switch on the pad and choose varying levels of intensity (low to high) and stimulation (pulses, gyrations, or vibrations). 

• Experience prolonged, intense full body energy flow with orgasm to improve circulation of the blood and qi.

“ If we are true to ourselves, we can not be false to anyone.” ~ Shakespeare