AMST, a global player in the aviation industry, faced a challenge with their complex pilot instructor interface. The goal was to simplify the system, ensuring swift and effective responses during training, without needing a manual for operation. Here's the journey to an instructor-focused, streamlined interface.
The challenge
The key task was to renew the instructor's interface on AMST's Airbus flight simulator. The existing system, tasked with initiating real-life simulation experiences for future pilots, was overly complex and not up to UX standards. The goal was to create an interface that enables instructors to interact with minimal touches and in the least amount of time, allowing them to focus more on coaching their students.
The approach
Initiated by a comprehensive UX review, the project started with three guiding recommendations: improve hierarchy in the interface, ensure consistency in component usage and adhere to industry conventions and known design patterns.
Kick-off: Conducted stakeholder interviews to understand the problem and determine the most critical tasks, also called a top-task analysis.
Research: Investigated user needs, behaviors and expectations to inform the design process. Also looked at inspiration from other brands and digital products like car touch interfaces (Tesla) and did flight industry benchmarking.
Sketch: Developed preliminary sketches to visualize potential solutions.
Design Prototype: Created a detailed, clickable prototype of the proposed interface.
Customer Interviews: Validated the prototype through customer interviews, gathering crucial feedback for refining the design.
Detail Design: Delivered a finalized design, implementing user feedback and addressing the previously identified UX issues.
The outcome
The outcome was a revamped interface that presents a clearer hierarchy and immediate access to top tasks. The comprehensive UX design included a grid, reusable components and the ability to effortlessly switch themes to accommodate different brands. Furthermore, the design was rolled out in a set of key templates. All this resulted in a streamlined, user-friendly solution for AMST that places the instructor's needs at the forefront.
