Mission-Critical UX: Design in Dynamic Targeting Systems

Overview:

I led the UX design strategy for a critical U.S. Air Force capstone project, improving the Dynamic Targeting process. This project exemplifies UX in high-pressure environments, where data flows fast, user needs diverge, and system states evolve in seconds.

Challenge:

The system needed to support rapid collaboration and situational awareness, under pressure and with incoming data.

Project Info:

Role: Senior UX Designer
Project date: 2024
Platform: Advanced battle management system
Team: Multinational coalition forces and U.S. Air Force innovation lab

Approach:

  • UX Research

  • Information Architecture

  • Interactive Prototyping

  • Cognitive Load Reduction

  • Role-Specific UI Optimization

  • Visual Data Representation

  • Accessibility and Standardization

Results:

By customizing intelligence workflows per role and unifying interface standards, I improved decision velocity and reduced friction in communication across allied forces. The UX developed during this capstone will inform future enhancements to military targeting platforms.

Discovery and Define:

Dynamic Targeting requires speed, accuracy, and collaboration. Operators are expected to rapidly process intelligence, validate threats, and coordinate actions, all under time pressure. Small interface delays can cascade into major operational setbacks.

In 2024, I contributed to a U.S. Air Force capstone led by an advanced battle management lab. The goal: enable seamless coordination between U.S. and multinational teams.

UX Research: Identifying Mission-Critical Pain Points

Through user interviews, usability testing, and persona development, I uncovered challenges in the existing system:

Persona:

Information Analysts:

  • Can face data overload, making it hard to quickly find important information.

  • May struggle with inconsistent data formats from different countries.

  • Needed parallel workflows to monitor targets effectively

Decision-Makers:

  • Requires concise, high-level summaries without unnecessary details.

  • Preferred visual indicators to quickly grasp key information.

  • Inconsistent data formats slowed them down and made decisions more difficult.

Usability Testing Outcomes:

  • Found system delays that made decisions harder.

  • Timed how quickly users could find, understand, and use important information.

  • Tracked how much effort it took to process key details.

UX Strategy: Making Information Easy to Use in Critical Moments

Due to the project’s classified nature, I developed hypothetical workflows and visualization models to illustrate my design impact:

Clearer Data Interpretation

Operators often have seconds to act. Delays, even brief, can disrupt the entire chain of action.

To mitigate this risk, I implemented:

  • Consistent Visual Cues: Standardized icons and labels for clarity across teams.

  • Color-Coding System: Used colors to highlight priority levels and target status.

  • Geospatial Markers: Reduced location ambiguity with map-layered visuals.

Faster Information Sorting and Filtering

The chart shows how information moves from raw data to useful insights. Analysts needed to move from raw intel to decision-ready insights, fast.

To reduce the cognitive burden, I introduced:

  • Map-Based Filters: Enabled intelligence sorting by region or mission objective.

  • Custom Tagging System: Prioritized actionable information retrieval.

 Role-Based Interfaces

The chart shows how different roles need different information at different times. Operators need tailored context based on their function in the targeting flow.

My UX improvements were:

  • Custom Dashboards: Role-specific UIs for analysts and commanders.

  • Mission Log System: Enabled traceability and collaborative audit trails.

Measuring Results: Turning UX into a Competitive Edge

The improvements I made had a lasting impact on military UX strategies. My contributions led to:

  • Faster Decision-Making: Reduced time-to-decision in mission-critical scenarios.

  • Better Team Coordination: Standardizing UI made collaboration easier across allied forces.

  • Long-Term Impact: Design patterns created during this project will inform future U.S. targeting protocols

Retrospective: How UX Shapes Military Operations

Working within a classified, high-stakes system challenged me to balance flexibility with reliability. I developed UX patterns that adapt to shifting data, incomplete intelligence, and user uncertainty without compromising system integrity. This case reflects how UX design can shape outcomes in complex, fast-moving environments.

Citation: