Touch Enabled Flight Deck System/ 2018

This project became the central topic of my thesis and marked a turning point between my earlier UX design experience and my growing desire to work more deeply in interaction design. The focus was to modernize an existing flight deck synoptic system for touch interaction while preserving pilot familiarity, translating complex hardware-driven workflows into a digital interface without increasing cognitive load.

It was also the first project where research became a core part of my design process. I analyzed existing synoptic pages and control relationships, then developed wireframes and high-fidelity prototypes in Unity to test interaction patterns. With support from many classmates and collaborators at school, we also planned and assembled a validation environment using racing-simulator hardware and seating components to approximate cockpit posture and control behavior during testing. The process prioritized operational legibility, dependable access to critical controls, and consistency with behaviors pilots already use in flight.

The outcome was a clearer touch-enabled framework that improved workflow continuity and reduced interaction friction while respecting safety, training, and operational expectations. Because the system was validated in a physically configured test setup, the project moved beyond a screen-only concept and provided more grounded evidence for interaction decisions. More importantly, this thesis gave me an important realization as a designer: meaningful interaction design grows through research, iteration, and shared learning with others. The full thesis document is available here.