Trust already exists
Interview participants described confidence in aircraft systems even when they could not name the companies behind them.
02Usabilathon 2026 · Team Painting and Plumbing
Making Collins Aerospace Visible
An in-flight experience that helps passengers connect the aircraft systems they already use with the Collins Aerospace name.
- Role
- UX design team member
- Timeline
- Two-week Usabilathon, 2026
- Methods
- Interviews, synthesis, journey mapping, prototyping
- Deliverable
- Brand strategy and high-fidelity prototype
The business problem
Passengers trust the experience, but the credit goes to the airline or aircraft brand.
Collins Aerospace makes cockpit, cabin, safety, air, and landing systems used throughout commercial flight. Because those systems sit behind Boeing, Airbus, and airline brands, passengers rarely know which company made them.
That recognition matters because Collins wanted to build public awareness beyond its business-to-business audience. Our opportunity was to connect a familiar, trusted passenger experience with the Collins name without interrupting the flight.
Research direction
The in-flight entertainment screen creates a relevant moment for discovery.
Attention is available
Passengers already use the seatback screen for flight information, entertainment, and time-sensitive updates.
The channel proves the point
Learning about Collins through a Collins-built screen makes the brand relationship tangible rather than abstract.
Recognition can continue
Post-flight engineering stories give curious passengers a way to learn more after the immediate travel context ends.
The concept
Two connected strategies turn product exposure into brand recognition.
Powered by Collins
An interactive aircraft explorer begins with the familiar flight map, then lets passengers select cabin, cockpit, safety, air, and landing systems to see what Collins contributes.
Behind the Mission
Short engineering stories extend the relationship beyond the aircraft and give Collins reusable material for social, recruiting, and brand channels.
Prototype evidence
The artifacts connect research findings to the passenger journey and final interface.
The gallery moves from the entry point and aircraft explorer to supporting research and the end-to-end passenger journey.
Artifact 01
Live flight context
The in-flight entertainment (IFE) experience begins with familiar flight information and an invitation to explore the aircraft.
Familiar flight data creates a low-friction entry pointA focused prompt turns passive viewing into discovery
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Team outcome
We delivered a research-backed concept that Collins could pilot within existing partnerships.
Prototype: A high-fidelity interactive experience showing the flight map, aircraft hotspots, system categories, and expandable product details.
Strategy: A coordinated during-flight and post-flight approach, not a standalone awareness campaign.
Implementation: A pilot path using existing airline and in-flight entertainment partnerships, with content that can scale by aircraft and route.