Redesigning a legacy informational drone experience for broader accessibility
Building a new pelican case for $1,000+ of savings.
ROLE
Product Designer
COLLABORATORS
Greg Thibeault
Daniel Sink
Cheyenne Gold
David Miller
SKILLS
Learning Design
Prototyping
VR/AR Design
3D Design
THE OUTCOME
Improved knowledge retention by 80%, enabled the sales team to communicate value more effectively, and delivered a scalable training framework for future use
THE CHALLENGE
What is VigilantHalo & why does it require training?
VigilantHalo is an advanced RF and sensor‑fusion platform for mission‑critical air traffic environments. Despite powerful capabilities, early sales efforts struggled because only engineers understood it.
Business development teams lacked tools to explain or demo it resulting in lost opportunities and low adoption. A Unity‑based prototype visualizer existed but was limited to two iPads and was unusable in real‑world engagements.
Collaborating cross-functionally to create a holistic learning experience
At the beginning of the project there was no dedicated business development point of contact, so I gathered insights directly from engineers who attended sales meetings and industry events. When a specialist joined mid‑project, I refined the training focus based on his input. A consistent pain point emerged: people struggled to see how all the moving parts of the system fit together. This became the guiding theme for the training experience.
The core principles I focused on for each of the design decisions along the way
Clarity over complexity
3D can get overwhelming fast. Visuals needed to be clean & focused.
Anchored learning points
Users need to connect information to what they're seeing.
Progressive disclosure
Information needs to be introduced gradually.
THE PRELIMINARY IDEA
Analyzing 3D softwares to create an immersive gamified experience
After reviewing the prototype and consulting with stakeholders, I refined the outline of the visualization to highlight the truck's hardware and mission-specific scenarios. To enhance the learning experience, I leaned towards a more gamified approach to boost knowledge retention and increase motivation. Stakeholders additionally wanted to a fresh, interactive experience that could also support as a selling point in sales conversations.
Storyboard complete — now, how do I bring it to life in 3D?
THE VISUALIZER
A delightful place to start
While it was essential to meet the project's functional goals, I also focused on elevating the user experience through delight and immersion, key principles aligned with Nielsen Norman Group’s usability heuristics around aesthetic and minimalist design, and user control. I introduced dynamic camera movements, intuitive interaction patterns, and clear navigation structures to make exploration feel natural and rewarding. Every element was designed to minimize cognitive load while creating moments of engagement that encouraged users to stay curious and confident.
I had to rebuild a lot of the 3D elements because they were corrupted from Unity which is why you can see some differences in material/texture in the reimagined visualizer, especially in the inside of the truck. In situations where I needed a quick fix, I'd rebuild smaller elements in Womp3D and transfer them in to complete scenes.
Solving the problem from multiple sides
To support users who preferred a traditional learning method or were sensitive to motion, I created a complementary training deck. This deck broke down system components in a linear and accessible way and became a flexible asset for future product initiatives.
THE FINAL SOLUTION
A mix of 3D and AR capabilities
The final training pieced together that's mobile & desktop friendly. Here's a glimpse of the truck for you to try.
LESSONS & TAKEAWAYS
Closing the Halo
The redesigned training system led to an 80% increase in retention of domain knowledge. Business development teams reported greater confidence in presenting the product and faster onboarding of new members. The solution’s modular structure also positioned the team to scale and evolve the training for future needs.