Background

Guardian One is a mission-driven project created for the United States Space Force, focused on elevating the digital experience for Guardians through clearer navigation and streamlined access to critical tools. Delivered as a modern web and mobile platform, Guardian One was designed to unify essential resources, strengthen usability, and provide a dependable interface for daily operations across the force.

Challenge

The primary challenge for Guardian One was transforming a fragmented and outdated platform into a unified experience that Space Force personnel could rely on every day. The initial System Usability Score of 39 highlighted serious gaps in navigation, workflow alignment, and overall usability. Ensuring consistency between mobile and desktop was critical, as Guardians needed seamless access in both field and office environments. The platform also had to balance mission critical functionality with a clear and intuitive interface while coordinating across multiple commands and stakeholders to deliver a solution that could scale across the entire force.

Solution

The solution centered on a complete redesign of the Guardian One Portal and Mobile App, grounded in user research, mission workflows, and iterative usability testing. I streamlined core navigation, introduced consistent UI patterns across web and mobile, and improved information architecture to reduce cognitive load for Guardians in fast-moving environments. Through close collaboration with engineers and product leads, I delivered a scalable design system, clearer pathways to training and mission tools, and frictionless access to critical resources. This unified experience significantly improved usability, increased engagement, and positioned Guardian One as a reliable daily touchpoint for the Space Force.