Garmin Pilot

In spring 2025, Garmin Pilot Web launched, bringing the full Garmin Pilot experience to desktop and laptop for the first time.

I designed the platform end to end — the web app and the iOS companion beside it — and have kept shipping features since launch. Each one below is its own story.

Three years, three phases, and one change of direction that reshaped the whole product.

In Fall 2022, Garmin Aviation set out to reimagine its web presence, an ambitious project with a history of false starts but enormous potential. This marked the third attempt to overhaul the platform, with renewed focus, clarity, and a commitment to finally bring the vision to life.

I was appointed as the first and only designer on the project.

I kicked off the project by conducting research both within and beyond the aviation industry and held countless meetings with stakeholders to uncover needs and align on direction.

At this stage, one thing was clear: no one knew exactly what they wanted, and it would take many iterations to get it right.

Before diving into UX, I took the initiative to create a visual design workbook to explore direction and create alignment. After several iterations and a presentation to leadership, the final version laid a strong visual foundation, setting the stage for the design system work that followed.

Eventually, I was joined by another designer, and together we began tackling some of the project’s most pressing questions. Key debates were still unresolved, ranging from overall site structure to the role of the map and flight planning page, user interaction patterns, and the availability of map overlays.

To accelerate decision-making, I initiated a series of design sprints. These sessions brought together stakeholders from design, development, and leadership to collaborate. I created a flexible sprint template that worked for both in-person and remote participants.

By the end of the five-day sprint, we had clear direction for the website’s overall structure and the flight planning experience.

Over the following months, we focused on refining and implementing this experience, turning ideas into actionable solutions.

While our initial iteration had clear flaws, it aligned with leadership’s vision at the time. However, we faced an unexpected shift in direction during the summer of 2023: what was initially planned as the next generation of FltPlan.com was redefined by marketing and leadership to serve as a companion website for the Garmin Pilot iOS app.

I began another design sprint with the team. Since this shift both web and iOS are designed hand in hand. This shift also initiated the iOS design system.

After the dust had settled from the last design sprint, I could focus on polishing features and delivering requirements to developers.

From there I delivered the product features above, one at a time.

GP Web was launched in the spring of 2025. We have many more features and improvements in the works.