Out with the Old

Our team was tasked with a complete overhaul of an existing system used to manage a complex collection of aircraft and related assets. The guiding tenets of our design were scalability, discoverability and customizability.

The system had to be able to manage large quantities of data while maintaining a simple, digestible interface. Additionally, the solution had to be easy to learn for new users, while supporting veteran users’ demands for customization and efficient workflows.    

Our objective was to develop a robust, user-friendly system that empowers users to document maintenance activities accurately and in a timely manner. This system must accommodate varying levels of technical proficiency, providing intuitive interfaces and clear guidance. Through our redesign, we aimed to improve system trustworthiness, reduce errors, and streamline common workflows, ultimately contributing to the safety and reliability of air vehicle operations.

The How-to

For the most part, our design process stayed true to the classic 7 step flow. Empathize (an important one! not to be skipped), Define, Research, Analyze, Ideate, Design and Test (before recycling through the last 5 steps a handful of times!). It's worth noting that this process is hardly linear, steps occur out of order and repeat often - the ability to adapt and maintain user-focused decision making throughout the flow is key!

Since this was an existing system, with complex material, there was a great deal of time spent researching and analyzing. Developing a strong foundation of understanding of the system and the subject matter was essential before we could begin to address user behavior and motivations.

A Bumpy Road

Throughout the design process, our team had to address several critical business constraints, including a strict timeline for deliverables, limited exposure to end-users and implementation feasibility.

To increase iteration efficiency, we developed a comprehensive design system that include responsive page layouts and reusable button and icon components. This collection of elements also allowed for rapid prototyping, which helped us to maximize our infrequent validation sessions, both in-person and virtually.

In addition, a detailed specification/design guideline was created to help communicate our concepts to the development team and ensure consistency across the system during hand-off.

A Solution

The final solution prioritizes streamlined workflows, consolidating primary actions to increase efficiency for users performing repetitive tasks daily. On the fringes of these workflows,  it was crucial to ensure seamless integration and communication with other legacy systems while upholding data integrity.

Additionally, maintaining transparency into system status was important to combat fatigue during long loading and processing times. Throughout the designs warnings and errors were made clear and accessible in order to support user safety and build trust in the system.

Effective data management was another critical pillar for this project, and the final design reflects this. With scalability in mind, designs were created such that they could accommodate large quantities of data while presenting information in a comprehensible manner. Final designs are easy to learn for novice users, features are easy to discover, all without compromising functionality for seasoned users.

✦ Please note that the visual design has been largely abstracted to respect and comply with NDA guidelines.

This project was a major catalyst for me in developing and strengthening critical skills as a UX designer. I learned to operate efficiently within project scopes and contractual limitations, integrating technical constraints into my work effectively. The rigorous demands of this project fortified my skills in communication and collaboration, especially across a multi-disciplinary team.

Additionally, I acquired proficiency in conducting user engagement sessions independently, both in person and virtually, and developed skills in taking comprehensive notes and synthesizing them to facilitate informed design decisions.

I am especially proud of my ability to present confidently and articulate ideas effectively to an experienced team of SMEs and developers. Mastering this skill, particularly in this larger, professional environment, was a significant milestone for me in my design career.