Degree, the world’s #1 deodorant, has an inclusive purpose – “To inspire confidence in everyone to move more”. The brand recognizes that movement matters for both physical and mental health.  

We believe that the 22 million Americans with permanent disabilities affecting their arms or vision should be able to take care of their hygiene needs independently and feel comfortable to move. And let’s not forget that many of us will experience temporary disability in our lifetime – without our glasses, with a broken arm, or just as we get a bit older. 

We believe that inclusive design is better design. We wanted to revolutionize deodorant design to include everyone, however they are able to move. By co-creating the product with the disabled community themselves, we have designed a deodorant that’s easier to handle, easier to identify, easier to open and close, easier to apply.  In fact, it can be opened and used with your mouth and feet, in case you are unable to use your arms or hands. 

Our team was international, diverse and multi-disciplinary, including a disabled inclusive designer, engineer, occupational therapist, psychologist and members of the disabled community. 

A specially designed bottle that allows people with disabilities to apply deodorant easily themselves.  The design addresses most mobility and functional diversity needs through a new size, form and features integrating magnetic components, ergonomic openings and a hook. It is also designed to be easier for people with vision impairment, with its recognizable shape and braille tagging and auditory cues through magnets. 

Innovative design elements include:  

·       MAGNETIC CAP for easier opening and closing for users with limited muscle strength and allowing for auditory confirmation for visually impaired users. 

·       LARGER ROLLERBALL to cover more surface area in one swipe as additional movement is difficult for people with disabilities. Also eliminates risk of hair being tangled on the rollerball. 

·       HOOK design for easier handling (the hook can be hung for opening with one hand). 

·       EMBOSSED LOGO for the visually impaired. 

·       Bottom GRIP that requires limited to no finger movement. 

·       REFILLABLE design to reduce plastic consumption. 

To ensure the prototype is effective and fully accessible, Degree has created a beta program to engage the disability community to trial the design and give their feedback on its concept, product features, and messaging, helping to improve the design for the full global consumer launch. 

As GLAMOUR put it "Degree just made history by announcing the world's first adaptive deodorant". 

The launch reached 2 billion earned impressions in the first 12 days, and hit major news media across US and Europe like Good Morning America, Wall Street Journal, ABC News, Fast Company, ELLE, Allure, Glamour, Daily Mail and The Independent. 

The disabled community responded in droves - testament to just how ground breaking this launch is. An example of one of the powerful messages of hope and celebration:  “OMG! Every single day that I put on deodorant I think about how hard it is to get off the cap and how they could make it so much easier!”  

Most importantly, thanks to Degree Inclusive, the work to make more personal care products accessible and inclusive, has now begun in both Haircare and Skincare categories.