PreFlight iOS App
‍GE - Aviation

My Role:
Creative Direction
User Interface Design

By blending the power of GE's PREDIX system with the design standards of Apple, our team embarked on developing an app using the GE-developed SDK. Collaborating closely with the Apple Enterprise Design Team, we charted a new journey for the aviation business—one focused on empowering pilots with comprehensive and timely data before their trips, with the potential to make life-saving impacts. With this app, our goal was to provide pilots with critical insights that could optimize their decision-making processes and significantly enhance flight safety. By harnessing the combined strengths of technology and design, we aspired to create a solution that not only improved operational efficiency but also had the potential to save lives in the aviation industry.

In addition to the existing FlightPulse™ application for pilots, our team faced a new challenge: developing a solution that would enable pilots to gain insights into their flight paths based on previous flights from their own logs or logs of other pilots. The objective was to provide a better understanding of flight patterns, allowing pilots to make necessary adjustments to their flight plans and optimize fuel usage. By leveraging this solution, the aviation industry stood to save millions of dollars by reducing unnecessary fuel consumption before flights. Our aim was to empower pilots with data-driven insights that would lead to more efficient flight operations, ultimately benefiting both the industry and the environment by minimizing fuel wastage.

In an intense three-day design session, our team collaborated with the Apple Enterprise Design team to engage directly with pilots from various commercial airlines. Through this immersive experience, we mapped out a "Golden Thread" that encompassed the journey and daily activities of pilots, spanning pre-flight, in-flight, and post-flight tasks. By deeply understanding their needs and challenges, we created wireframes that incorporated real data provided by the pilots themselves. This user-centered approach ensured that the resulting app design would align closely with their requirements, enabling pilots to navigate their professional lives more efficiently and make informed decisions based on their unique experiences.

Following the wireframe creation on the first day, I took charge of visualizing the app and sought feedback from both pilots and product managers. In a short timeframe, I rapidly developed a set of screens that focused on the key areas of concern expressed by the pilots. To ensure accuracy and relevance, we populated the designs with real data, aiming to provide a more authentic representation and gather valuable feedback directly from the pilots. This iterative process allowed us to incorporate their insights, refine the designs, and create an app that effectively addressed their needs and concerns.

With the finalized screens in hand and having received ample feedback from the users, I passed on the designs and related assets to our talented team of developers, led by the exceptional iOS developer Clifford Gong, who were present on-site. Leveraging their expertise, they swiftly translated the designs into a functional prototype using Xcode. This prototype was then presented to the pilots and the rest of the team, allowing them to experience the app's interactive features firsthand. By showcasing the prototype, we aimed to gather additional insights, validate the design, and foster collaboration and alignment among the stakeholders involved in the project.