BEACON
MY ROLES
DEFINED PRODUCT STRATEGY by conducting and synthesizing user research and analytics, and identifying opportunities for customer adoption
LED A UX TEAM of designers to co-create a unique service for our customers, including onboarding
DEFINED PRODUCT STRATEGY by conducting and synthesizing user research and analytics, and identifying opportunities for customer adoption
LED A UX TEAM of designers to co-create a unique service for our customers, including onboarding
WORKED CROSS-FUNCTIONALLY with engineering and sales to identify market opportunities in the space and add user experience to a highly technical workflow
IMPACT
90%
of owned objects in space were actively tracked through our platform at launch$13.3 million
contract subsequently awarded by NOAA to develop space traffic coordination system① PROBLEM
With tens of thousands of objects in space, satellite operators struggle to locate and coordinate with others in order to avoid collisions*. While most objects are tracked, the sources of that information can be dense and unreliable.
We created a platform through which operators could see streamlined data about their own satellites and other objects, and easily coordinate with other satellite owners to maneuver and avoid disaster.
We created a platform through which operators could see streamlined data about their own satellites and other objects, and easily coordinate with other satellite owners to maneuver and avoid disaster.
*Technically this is called a conjunction. They won’t necessarily collide but are too close for comfort.
② CONCEPTS
We originally assumed that satellite operators’ main issue was the inability to communicate with each other. Initial concepts centered around chat and building community between operators.
③ PIVOT
INSIGHT
Satellite operators range from university projects to SpaceX. Not everyone is at the same level of maturity, had standard ops, nor are all satellites even maneuverable in an emergency.
Satellite operators range from university projects to SpaceX. Not everyone is at the same level of maturity, had standard ops, nor are all satellites even maneuverable in an emergency.
The satellite operators themselves are the source of the data, so accurate planning relies on good stewardship.
OPPORTUNITY
1. Do not try to make a one-size-fits-all product. Create a suite of features that cater to companies just getting their first assets off the ground, to completely automated constellations.
2. By providing customers’ maneuver data faster and more reliably than what was publicly available, we could build more industry trust, and become an unbiased aggregator of that data.
1. Do not try to make a one-size-fits-all product. Create a suite of features that cater to companies just getting their first assets off the ground, to completely automated constellations.
2. By providing customers’ maneuver data faster and more reliably than what was publicly available, we could build more industry trust, and become an unbiased aggregator of that data.
④ PRODUCT STRATEGY
1. DIFFERENTIATE USER NEEDS
Our customers with mega constellations weren’t concerned about process and coordinating with other operators - they wanted to be able to automate the entire process and focus on other parts of their business.
Our customers with mega constellations weren’t concerned about process and coordinating with other operators - they wanted to be able to automate the entire process and focus on other parts of their business.
Our startup customers, on the other hand, were still trying to find their market fit, so they needed to see what their own data could do. We introduced features such as ephemeris screening and maneuver recommendations. All these things operators could do on their own, but would cut into time and budget for exploration.
2. BUILD TRUST BY BEING THE SOURCE
We didn’t have to explicitly build community through messaging platforms. We could set the industry standard by hosting reliable location data whenever a customer faced a conjunction with another customer.
We didn’t have to explicitly build community through messaging platforms. We could set the industry standard by hosting reliable location data whenever a customer faced a conjunction with another customer.
⑤ LESSONS LEARNED
1. DON’T OVERENGINEER
In the aerospace industry, it’s tempting to use the flashiest modeling software or AI. User research repeatedly showed us that operators just need enough data to make a decision as quickly as possible. Part of UX strategy was navigating between appetite for cutting edge technology and solving user needs as efficiently as possible.
In the aerospace industry, it’s tempting to use the flashiest modeling software or AI. User research repeatedly showed us that operators just need enough data to make a decision as quickly as possible. Part of UX strategy was navigating between appetite for cutting edge technology and solving user needs as efficiently as possible.
2. WHEN THERE IS NO STANDARD, BE THE STANDARD
Our biggest challenge with market fit and user experience was the realization that many of our users just didn’t know what they needed yet. In a nascent industry, we were in a position to discover the space traffic experience alongside our users, and then use that knowledge to educate future customers through our product.
Our biggest challenge with market fit and user experience was the realization that many of our users just didn’t know what they needed yet. In a nascent industry, we were in a position to discover the space traffic experience alongside our users, and then use that knowledge to educate future customers through our product.
TEAM
ProductJenna DeSmith - UI Designer
Cody Smith - UI Designer
Michael Karric - Engineering Manager
- Role
- Senior Product Designer
ProductJenna DeSmith - UI Designer
Cody Smith - UI Designer
Michael Karric - Engineering Manager
- Conner Grey - Astrodynamics Engineer