The Big Oh
Social campaign to spread awareness of the orgasm gap
Scope
Design Strategy, Brand Identity Design
Course
Graphic Design 2
Mentor
Margarita Barrios Ponce
There is a significant disparity in orgasms between couples, otherwise known as the orgasm gap.
The disparity in orgasms exists due to a lack of understanding of women’s anatomy. This fundamental knowledge is key to knowing what you like and feeling empowered to show a partner how to achieve it.
BACKGROUND
As part of my senior graphic design capstone course at Northeastern University, our final project challenged us to select a social cause that resonated personally and develop a visual awareness campaign around it. I chose to focus on the orgasm gap — the inequality in sexual satisfaction between men and women that remains a largely unspoken issue.
This topic stood out to me because it highlights how cultural taboos and lack of open conversation around female pleasure perpetuate misinformation and shame. I wanted to use design as a tool to normalize dialogue, educate audiences, and promote sexual equality in a bold yet approachable way.
THE PROCESS
THE CHALLENGE
To close the orgasm gap, I first needed to understand why it exists. Research revealed a clear root cause — a lack of education and open dialogue around women’s anatomy and pleasure. The campaign targets individuals at the age of consent who have sex with women, empowering them to spark awareness, empathy, and change.
Studies have found that 39% of women said they always orgasm when they masturbate, compared to 6% during sex
The Solution
The Big Oh is a social awareness campaign designed to help people understand the root of the orgasm gap — and what they can do to help close it. The campaign focuses on education, empathy, and empowerment, breaking down taboos and encouraging open conversation around female pleasure.
The message comes to life through three modalities:
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A 2D series in the form of a card game that encourages learning through play
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A 3D series of out of home ads that bring the conversation into public spaces
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A web-based application as a social media account that educates and connects a digital audience
Social Media Account
The social media account aims to educate the audience on ways the orgasm gap exists and provide useful tips, resources, and facts to help viewers do their part in closing the gap.
Out of Home Ads
The transportation ads would inhabit heavy traffic public spaces such as New York City subway cars. This would enable the campaign to gain visibility and spread awareness to a large audience.
The Card Game
The Big Oh Card Game encourages open, judgment-free conversations about pleasure.
Each card provides prompts for partners to explore what they enjoy in bed, communicate boundaries, and discover new ways to connect.
