Rebellion Defense's mission is to help the US and its partners outpace tomorrow's adversary.
As the Lead Product Designer, I was tasked with developing a cutting-edge application for counter-intelligence operations.
Note that some details and context have been amended or obscured to protect data sensitivity.
Rapid insight at the edge of operations
Actionable intelligence in minutes, not days
The Ministry of Defense required a sophisticated solution to process high volumes of intelligence data rapidly and efficiently at the edge of operations, providing actionable insights through ML-backed processing and intuitive visualization.
My role
As the Lead Product Designer, I was tasked with developing a cutting-edge application for the UK Ministry of Defense's counter-intelligence operations. The challenge was to create a secure, efficient interface that could process and visualize high volumes of data at the edge of operations, enabling rapid intelligence gathering and analysis.
This case study demonstrates my approach to this sensitive and complex design challenge, highlighting my expertise in user-centered design, AI/ML integration, and cross-functional collaboration in a high-pressure, mission-critical environment.
Key Challenges
– Processing large volumes of data at source with speed and reliability
– Developing ML-backed features for efficient data analysis
– Creating an intuitive interface for visualization and search capabilities
– Designing for secure, remote accessibility in operational environments
– Simplifying complex user interactions and navigation for intelligence operations
Tasks & Actions
I led a user-centered design process that showcased the following…
User Research
Planned and conducted workshops and in-depth research to understand the complex operating environment and user pain points. This approach ensured that user needs were at the forefront of our design decisions.
Information & Interaction Design
Developed concepts for surfacing AI/ML driven insight, detailed user flows, information architecture, and interaction models for key functionalities; simplifying complex processes for intelligence operations.
Early stage concept sketches for design/engineering discussion, prior to lower fidelity Figma prototyping.
Prototyping
Created and maintained wireframes, mockups, and high-fidelity prototypes using Figma, facilitating user feedback and rapid iteration.
Design System Development
Established a comprehensive design system using Figma and Storybook, with variable/token based styled assets and components, for efficient engineering handover, and to ensure consistency across the application and wider SaaS product suite for Rebellion.
Cross-functional Collaboration
Partnered closely with Customer, Service Designer, Engineering, Product & Sales teams throughout the design and development process, fostering effective communication and alignment.
AI/ML Integration
Strategically explored and conceptualized various ML techniques to uncover potential product features, demonstrating the ability to integrate advanced technologies into user-centered design solutions.
Key Outputs
User-centered design concepts based on operational insights.
Detailed user flows and interaction models for complex intelligence workflows.
Responsive web application designs optimized for secure, remote accessibility.
Comprehensive design system with reusable components and design tokens.
High-fidelity prototypes demonstrating precise interactions and visualizations.
Detailed technical specifications for seamless handoff to development teams.
Outcome
Streamlined, intuitive interface for managing complex intelligence data
Significant functionality added by 12 months, surpassing existing systems' search capabilities
Unique ML-backed features enhancing operational efficiency
Consistent design language across all application areas
Results
MVP delivered in 6 months.
Actionable insight time reduced from days to minutes.
Unique ML-backed features developed.
Official operational endorsement received.
Deployed at the edge of live operations.
