UX / UI / Product Design

Improving the ownship customization flow in the ForeFlight app

A contextual redesign of the Ownship icon customization flow that improved feature discoverability by 92% and reduced time-to-customize from 10 seconds to 3 seconds.

SITUATION

A critical navigation element that was difficult to customize

Pilots rely heavily on the Ownship icon as their primary spatial reference during flight planning and navigation. While ForeFlight supported limited customization, research revealed the feature was difficult to discover, poorly named, and visually insufficient across different chart types.

The customization entry point was buried four levels deep in Settings, labeled in a way that didn't align with pilot terminology. The single available color — ForeFlight Blue — often lacked sufficient contrast when multiple chart layers were loaded, impacting visibility in high-information map views.

The existing entry point was buried four levels deep in Settings — misaligned with how pilots naturally think about their map view.

TASK

Improve discoverability, contrast, and contextual accuracy for both major form factors

• Improving feature discoverability (baseline: buried 4 levels deep)
• Aligning terminology and interaction patterns with pilot mental models
• Increase icon visibility and contrast across common chart combinations
• Deliver a scalable solution across iPad Mini and iPhone, the two most-used form factors

TASK

Research, exploration, iteration, and a strategic pivot

I introduced an initial set of six pilot-recommended colors and pressure-tested them across a representative range of aviation charts — sectional, IFR, and satellite-based layers. The goal was to identify colors that failed accessibility contrast thresholds on specific charts and combinations that degraded legibility in day and night conditions.

Initial color explorations pressure-tested across sectional, IFR, and satellite charts to identify contrast failures before moving into interaction design.

Extended color matrix with contrast variations

Extended color matrix including reversed, drop shadow, and stroke variations — each evaluated against real chart backgrounds.

I explored two initial design directions within existing ForeFlight UI paradigms, both introducing a map preview that let pilots test icon changes against predefined chart types.

Version 1

All options in a single view

Consolidated shape, color, and size into one screen. Simpler flow but less room for context-aware preview.

Version 2

Segmented controls by attribute

Separated shape, color, and size into tabs. More organized but added navigation overhead.

Usability tests showed strong qualitative feedback with 80% task success — but surfaced a critical limitation: the preview maps didn't reflect the pilot's actual active charts and layers. A pilot flying with custom overlays couldn't validate their icon choice in real context.

On iPad, tapping the ownship icon opens a contextual drawer from the right, keeping the active map visible while pilots customize the aircraft type, size, and color.

Final MVP across iPad Mini and iPhone 12 — consistent experience adapted to each form factor's layout constraints.