In-flight alerts POC
Client
United Airlines Airshop Innovation Center
Role
UI Designer
Scope
Proof-of-concept mobile app UI to test in-flight notification functionality for deaf or heard-of-hearing passengers.
The challenge
The objective was to design a POC mobile app to test SonicMessenger (a tool that embeds inaudible tones into media) and its ability to trigger in-flight notifications.
This has the potential improve accessibility for deaf or heard-of-hearing passengers.
UI inspiration based on existing app and branding
The client requested a design that mirrored the look and feel of the United Airlines app, using existing UI components and drawing on key visual identity elements from the Airshop subbrand.
This ensured the POC app would seamlessly integrate with the United Airlines app once fully developed and released to customers.
United Airlines live flight activity
United Airlines app components
Airshop Innovation Center subbrand
Airshop demo app testing and prototyping
I crafted prototypes to facilitate the testing process of in-flight notifications and simulate the passenger user flow, including:
Opening the Airshop POC app
Selecting a user persona (e.g., passenger view)
Testing in-flight notifications, including iOS pop-ups, activating/deactivating listening mode, and monitoring live alert feeds
I also iterated with software developers, clients, and SonicMessenger vendors to better position prototypes to support the inaudible tone technology.
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Loading screen
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Airshop home
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Persona selection
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Passenger view: Pre-flight inactive alerts
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Lock screen push notification
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Passenger view: Active alerts & safety guidelines
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In-flight alert double-click
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Passenger view: Post-flight inactive alerts
Impact and feedback
Seamlessly integrated POC app wireframes with United’s customer-facing app by adhering to brand guidelines and existing UI components.
Secured an additional 6-weeks of work using the POC app framework to pilot other in-flight features, doubling my team’s project revenue.
“Nadia was the sole designer for the SonicMessenger POC we turned around for United Airshop in 5 weeks end-to-end. Nadia worked directly with the engineers to iterate on design. One of the team’s goals was to best position Slalom to continue to iterate on the app with United. Nadia was able to seamlessly weave in what the app could do for United Airshop in the future and was able to walk the client through the Slalom team's vision. This directly helped Slalom land more POC work on the United app.”
Senior Delivery Principal, Slalom