Usmile
Next-Gen Floss

Innovative Dental Floss Design at Usmile

#User Research
#Product Design

Apr 2026 - Jul 2026

Role: Industrial Designer / Design Researcher

Company: Usmile

Timeline: 3 Months (Fast-track Innovation Sprint)

Scope: User Research, Industrial Design, Executive Pitch

Impact: Pitched to CEO, Patent Applications Filed, Adopted into Product Roadmap, In EVT

Role: Industrial Designer / Design Researcher

Company: Usmile

Timeline: 3 Months (Fast-track Innovation Sprint)

Scope: User Research, Industrial Design

Impact: Pitched to CEO, 3 Concepts adopted into Product Roadmap, In EVT

During my time at Usmile, I led a floss project targeting the North American

market. Grounded in in-depth user research, we redefined the flossing

routine by translating the intuitive "pop-up tissue" dispensing interaction

into a new pop-up floss dispenser concept, eliminating the friction and

transforming a tedious chore into an effortless habit.

During my time at Usmile, I led a floss project targeting the North American market. Grounded in in-depth user research, we redefined the flossing routine by translating the intuitive "pop-up tissue" dispensing interaction into a new pop-up floss dispenser concept, eliminating the common friction and transforming a tedious chore into an effortless habit.

HIGHLIGHT

Pull out the floss loop with the tissue attached

Pull out the floss loop
with the tissue attached

Open the floss loop to clean, wipe with the tissue and reuse

Open the floss loop to clean,
wipe with the tissue and reuse

The High-fiedlity Prototypes

BEHIND THE SCENE

The Market Challenge

How might we stand out in a saturated market?

The floss market is already dominated by major brands, and most floss products today offer similar user experiences. As an emerging oral care brand, we need to introduce meaningful innovation to differentiate ourselves and capture market share.

The User Challenge

How might we make flossing easier?

Most floss products still rely on low-cost manufacturing approaches, which can lead to common pain points such as discomfort around the fingers, slipping during use, and a time-consuming flossing process.

Target Audience

Targeting an oral care–conscious market: North American

Research indicates that North American consumers show a strong awareness of oral health and maintain regular oral care routines. This insight led us to identify North America as our primary target market.

The Insight

The barrier to flossing isn’t just bad ergonomics & those common pain points—it’s bedtime fatigue.

Through interviews with 10 users, I discovered various pain points during use—from snapping floss to jaw fatigue. However, none of these directly prevented users from flossing. Instead, the real drop-off was framed as simply "being lazy." Drawing from Atomic Habits, sustainable habits must feel effortless. When flossing is scheduled at our most exhausted moments—right before bed or just after waking up—any minor friction becomes an insurmountable barrier.