The GE Research and Design team tasked us with reimagining the cockpit experience for business jets. As the lead Senior Visual Designer, I collaborated closely with the product manager, interaction designer, and engineers from the project’s inception through pilot testing. Drawing on extensive research, testing, and iterative design, I created a comprehensive design system that defined the visual language, touch interactions, and interface guidelines for the cockpit. Using virtual cockpit simulations, we rigorously refined the system to ensure it met pilots’ needs, improving safety, efficiency, and the overall flight experience.
Pilots relied on paper manuals and static displays to manage critical system failures—a slow, high-stress approach during emergencies. Current cockpit interfaces lacked real-time guidance and intuitive touch interactions, increasing cognitive load and response times. The challenge was to design a system that enabled pilots to act quickly, efficiently, and confidently in critical situations.
FACING THE CHALLENGE:
One of the biggest challenges was designing a cockpit interface for a domain I had no prior experience in. I had little knowledge of aviation terminology, cockpit operations, or the pressures pilots face during critical system failures. On top of that, pilots previously relied on paper manuals, so any design decision could directly affect safety. Iterations had to be precise, intuitive, and validated rigorously.
The design system I developed proved highly valuable: other teams implemented it to build their own solutions, including forward-thinking screens for a military client. This ripple effect reinforced the impact and long-term value of our work, demonstrating both immediate safety benefits and scalable design influence across projects.
The redesigned cockpit interface significantly improved pilot response times and reduced cognitive load during critical situations. Digitizing the cockpit eliminated reliance on paper manuals, allowing pilots to act immediately through intuitive touch interactions. The design system was validated through virtual and real simulators, enabling continuous refinement and hands-on feedback. The client’s response was overwhelmingly positive, and the entire team—including myself for my design contributions—was awarded patents for the innovative system.
