iOS Application

I was the lead product designer for an iOS application built to streamline the process of logging training hours and post-mission paperwork for USAF Aircrew by:

  • Pre populating form fields

  • Automating and verifying math

  • Storing data in one place

  • Pushing and pulling data to and from other AF products

  • Integrating with other products within the Puckboard Suite

I started research in 2020 and worked to launch MVP into the iOS app store in 2021. The product was regularly updated and new features were released as we iterated based on regular user feedback.

The product is now maintained by the 581st Software Engineering Squadron (AFMC). They push regular updates and the application is available to all members of the Mobility Air Forces.

 
 
 
 
 

My role:

Lead UX Designer
As the lead UX designer, I worked with a team that consisted of:

  • 1 Product Owner (USAF Air Mobility Command)

  • 5 Developers

  • 1 Project Manager

  • 1 User Advocate/Subject Matter Expert (USAF Reserves)

  • Various participants referred by the Product Owner

Research & Discovery:

  • Ongoing 1:1 interviews with participants who were referred to us by stakeholders

  • Affinity mapping, user personas and product roadmap

  • Regular feedback and user testing based on iterative designs

  • On-site focus groups broken up by role and/or squadron

Participant Roles:

  • Instructor and Mission Pilot

  • Loadmaster

  • Assistant Director or Operations

  • Squadron Aviation Resource Management

  • Maintenance Debrief

Process:

  • September 2020: Understand the process of post-mission paperwork as well as how specific AF forms are structured and completed

  • March 2021: Show initial prototype and validate or invalidate these designs, understand what other features could be helpful 

  • May 2021: Release MVP, Demo application to potential participants and understand their initial thoughts on the value of the product. Validate or invalidate current designs and understand other pain points in the process of logging training that have not been addressed.

  • December 2021: Integrate application with other AF systems. Ability to push data where it can be reviewed by other Aircrew on the desktop version of our Scheduling application.

  • Current: Puckboard Logging is maintained by the 581st Software Engineering Squadron (AFMC). They push regular updates and the application is available to all members of the Mobility Air Forces via the iOS app store.

Research Synthesis

Affinity Mapping:

 
 
 
 
 
 

Filling out a piece of paper is still the easiest thing that we can do and that’s very frustrating when we’re trying to modernize things.

 

Needs:

  • Ability to duplicate forms

  • Interact with other AF products

  • Validate math for splitting time

  • Post to communication channels

  • One place to submit data for all forms

Challenges:

  • Splitting time (making sure currency is correct for all crew)

  • Save time without duplicating efforts for scheduling shop

  • Multiple efforts to enter the same information

Goals:

  • Error messages

  • Pull generic information from previous missions

  • A product where it is easy to record data and verify that data is correct

 

Empathy Map

 

User Journey

 

Feature Prioritization

 
 

Feature Development

 

Feature Spotlight

Splitting Time Equally Between Aircrew

Participants gave feedback that one of the most frustrating parts of the post-mission paperwork process has been simple math errors. The “gonkulate” button allows for aircrew to split time equally between aircrew members.

Aircrew members enter take off and landing times for each sortie and the app calculates the duration of the flight. 

This time is carried over to the “Flight Time” table where aircrew can manually add time for each aircrew member or click the “gonkulate” button, which splits time equally between aircrew members of the same role. This allows for a quicker allocation of time and less errors.