As part of the 2024–2025 NASA SUITS ➚ program, I co-designed an augmented reality interface for astronauts to collect and analyze lunar surface data
Design System
Selected by NASA as 1 of 10 national finalists
9 months
Lead UI designer on a team of 15 designers and 8 developers
NASA SUITS (Spacesuit User Interface Technologies for Students) is an annual design challenge where student teams prototype UI solutions for future lunar missions. The RISD x Brown University team was selected as 1 of 10 national finalists. We designed a dual-monitor interface to assist mission controllers in monitoring astronaut and rover activity on the Moon. The left screen showed tasks, maps, pins, and controls; the right focused on telemetry and live video feeds.
As Lead UI Designer and UX Team Lead, I created the foundational design system used by 15 designers and 8 developers. I was responsible for its creation, evolution, and adoption across the entire interface.
Problem
Users struggled to tell hazards apart from normal mission markers
Solution
Introduced distinct color codes, iconography, and alert framing styles
Problem
When every hazard pops on on the map, it's hard to tell which ones are minor and which ones are life-threatening
Solution
Separated hazards into cautions (equipment failure) and warnings (life-threatening). Only warnings pop up on the map
Problem
Too many data points that look the same overwhelmed the UI and made it unreadable
Solution
Prioritized essential telemetry with collapsible data groups, responsive scaling, and adaptive information thresholds depending on user role
Having the core component library built by month 1 of our 9-month design sprint gave designers a solid understanding of our design system early on and allowed developers to get a head start on implementing the UI.
Our RISD+Brown University team was selected as 1 of 10 national finalists for further mentorship, testing, and development. At the end of our sprint, we had the opportunity to present our solution at the Johnson Space Center in Houston.
How to scale design systems across large, interdisciplinary teams
I learned to balance visual consistency with flexibility while coordinating between 15 designers and 8 developers.
The importance of designing for high-stakes, real-time environments
I deepened my understanding of cognitive load, hierarchy, and urgency when designing for safety-critical use cases.
Effective cross-functional communication
I strengthened my ability to translate abstract UX principles into clear documentation, components, and developer-ready assets.
