The Less Awkward Project takes a bold, design-led approach to nurturing confident childhoods. Founded by paediatrician Dr Cara Natterson and educator–author Vanessa KrollBennett, the initiative reimagines how we talk about growing up especially during the often-confusing adolescent years.
Blending science, storytelling, and user-centred design, the duo crafts evidence-based resources that help adolescents and their caregivers navigate the emotional transitions of puberty and young adulthood. The Less Awkward Project functions as a holistic ecosystem featuring a books, podcasts, curriculums and parent tools that make puberty less awkward and more empowering.
Rather than simply producing content, Natterson and Bennett design learning environments that operate as living ecosystems of conversation, identity, and body image. Each touchpoint is grounded in medical research, child-development science, and the lived experiences of diverse users.
By merging humour and authenticity with clinical expertise, The Less Awkward Project has designed a new kind of developmental toolkit, one that fosters understanding, self-agency, and confident communication for the next generation of adults.
