Project Overview

Redesign of the FlightRadar24 platform aimed at enhancing usability, reducing clutter, and integrating innovative features that improve user engagement and satisfaction.

Roles and Responsibilities →‍

Design, Research, Prototyping, UI/UX Strategy‍

Project Goals →

• Simplify navigation and improve accessibility
• Enhance the flight tracking experience for new users and enthusiasts alike.
• Introduce innovative features like AR and an appless interface for a modernized user experience

1. User-Centered Research

User Personas →

To guide the redesign, we created personas that represented key user groups, each with unique needs and goals.

• Concerned College Student: Tracking a loved one’s flight for peace of mind and timely arrival at the airport.
• Eager Traveler: Looking to set up alerts and access travel information seamlessly to reduce anxiety.
• Aviation Enthusiast: Seeking to learn more about aircraft and flight routes in real-time as part of their career aspirations.

Problem Statements →

Each persona revealed specific pain points, which shaped the redesign strategy:

Using FlightRadar24 to track a flight:

I am a concerned college student trying to track my mother's flight so that I can plan my drive to the airport accordingly to pick her up, which is essential because I do not want her to be waiting in the cold weather and get sick.

Using FlightRadar24 to track planes in the sky:

I am an aviation student trying to see what planes are flying above me so I can learn more about planes, flight routes, and procedures, which is essential to me because I hope to be a commercial airline pilot one day,.

Using FlightRadar24 to plan travel:

I am an eager traveler going on vacation trying to set up alerts about my flight so that I can be better informed about my whole travel experience but I am unable to do so because of the paywall and inaccessibility to certain basic features, which makes me feel very anxious about missing my connections.

Based on these statements, we crafted a user persona to help us design for a typical user.

2. Old Site Analysis

The original FlightRadar24 site had several usability issues that impacted the user experience.

Cluttered Interface →

The homepage was filled with information, making it visually overwhelming and confusing for first-time users.

Navigation and Readability Issues →

The navigation bar was cluttered and used color schemes that made text hard to read, adding to the frustration.

3. The Redesign Process

To create a user-friendly interface, we went through wireframing, sitemapping, and iterative prototyping.

Simplified Wireframes and Sitemap →

We restructured the sitemap to create logical groupings and reduce unnecessary layers, making navigation more intuitive.

Key Feature Enhancements →

• Homepage Landing Screen: A clean landing page introduces new visitors to the platform, providing a clear starting point.
• Map Optimization: Expanding the map view reduced visual clutter and prioritized the main feature.
• Flight Favoriting and Notifications: These additions allowed users to receive real-time updates, a significant improvement for regular users and frequent flyers.

UI Improvements →

To modernize the platform and improve usability, we reduced dropdown menus, used icons in place of text for simplicity, and enhanced the contrast for better readability.

4. New Feature Implementation

Firstly, we developed an off-app text-based feature: users can take a photo of a plane and text it to FlightRadar24, which then uses image metadata to cross-reference with flight data, providing flight information directly to the user.

The second of the standout ideas in the redesign was the introduction of an AR camera feature. Inspired by Google Street View, this feature allows users to identify planes flying overhead as if by pointing their cameras at the sky. This unique tool enhances user engagement by blending the digital and physical worlds, transforming FlightRadar24 into a more immersive experience.

5. Prototype and Final Design

To bring the design to life, we created a high-fidelity prototype that demonstrated all core functionalities and design elements.

6. Reflection and Key Takeaways

This project reinforced my skills in balancing detail with simplicity. Working on FlightRadar24’s redesign highlighted the importance of making complex information accessible without overwhelming the user.

Challenges & Learnings: One of the main challenges was creating a streamlined experience that still retained essential functionalities. Striking a balance between too much and too little information required careful iteration and user testing.

Future Applications: This project underscored the potential of AR in enhancing user interfaces, particularly in fields where real-world context adds value, such as travel and navigation.

Conclusion

The FlightRadar24 redesign project was a comprehensive exercise in user-centered design. The final product balances functionality and simplicity, creating a platform that is both engaging and easy to navigate. By reimagining core features and exploring innovative tools like AR, this redesign makes FlightRadar24 more approachable for a broad audience.