UX for Wall-Mounted Control Panels

Challenge

Redesign a complex, engineer-built touchscreen system used in live-fire training environments. The interface was slow, inconsistent, and intimidating—especially for new users operating under pressure. I led a consulting team tasked with solving the full experience, from first tap to task completion, with measurable improvements in usability and business value.

Role

Hands-on project lead: I led the end-to-end UX process, including on-site research, stakeholder interviews, persona creation, flow modeling, wireframing, interaction design (with Kira Griffin), and iterative testing. We observed users in context—on ranges, mid-drill, under live-fire conditions—and used that insight to drive fast, intuitive design decisions. I directed prototyping and validation with users and client teams.

Outcomes

Reduced time-to-task by 91.7% (from 2 minutes to 10 seconds)
90% of users completed workflows without help
Decreased onboarding and training time
Repositioned the product at SHOT Show 2015 as a best-in-class system
Praised by industry for clarity, speed, and immediate usability

Press

AWD Pro from Action Target, The Firearm Blog, November 2016
Training with Action Targets, Handguns Magazine, 2016
Action Target ALL Wheel Drive Pro Target Retriever, AmmoLand, May 2016

UX Audit and Interface Mapping

We documented and mapped the existing interface to identify usability issues, inconsistencies, and friction points.

Screenshot of original interface with annotations identifying usability issues, navigation problems, and interface inconsistencies. — *Legacy UI audit identifying friction points and usability issues*

Stakeholder and User Interviews

We interviewed internal stakeholders and external users to align product goals with user needs and pain points.

Photos and diagrams showing user interviews and stakeholder sessions, including quotes and highlighted insights. — *Insights from real users and stakeholders shaped our UX priorities*

Sitemap and Wireframe Development

We restructured the interface using wireframes and a revised sitemap to support faster, more intuitive navigation.

Low-fidelity wireframe layouts showing key screen designs and navigation logic prior to visual styling. — *Wireframes defined layout, functionality, and content structure*

Visual sitemap outlining top-level navigation and content structure for the redesigned touchscreen interface. — *Wireframes defined layout, functionality, and content structure*

Persona Creation and User Journey Mapping

We created personas and mapped user journeys to reflect real-world usage, informing every design decision.

Set of illustrated personas representing key user types such as law enforcement, range owners, and recreational shooters. — *User personas captured needs across audience types*

Journey maps detailing user goals, pain points, and step-by-step interaction with the retriever UI system. — *User personas captured needs across audience types*

UI Design for Safety-Critical Environments

We designed a clean, responsive interface optimized for clarity and rapid use—especially under live-fire conditions.

High-fidelity mockups of redesigned touchscreen interface for a firearms training system, with clean controls and visual feedback. — *Final UI design built for high-pressure, real-world use*

Prototyping and Usability Testing in the Field

We tested prototypes in real-world scenarios, refining them before final handoff—no patches or post-launch fixes allowed.

Client-Endorsed UX Outcomes

The most basic process people use the interface for was taking new users between 30 seconds and 2 minutes to complete.

Our redesign reduced that time to 3 to 10 seconds—a 90%+ improvement.

We introduced a Setup button, but found in our post testing that people still missed it so we instead presented a popup—this both reduced time and increased ease of use.

“Amber and her team took the time to truly understand our product, goals, and team. The designs delivered to us built a stunning picture of the product in its entirety, created a user experience that is changing our industry, and perfectly embodied the spirit of our team and culture.” — Jesse Nelson, Action Target

From UX to Patent: Designing a Safer Interface

A vintage patent application diagram with the word "PATENT" in large text on the top and drawn in black ink on aged beige paper displays technical specifications for a mechanical track-mounted slider system. The diagram shows a detailed cross-section view of a wall-mounted unit with gears, springs, and rails, accompanied by numbered reference labels and explanatory notes in neat handwritten text. Multiple views of the device are presented, including front elevation, side elevation, and isometric perspectives, with precise measurements and dotted lines indicating motion paths. Fine line weights differentiate between main components and construction lines. Technical illustration with precise linework and detailed cross-hatching on textured paper background. A vintage patent document lies centered on a wooden desk surface, displaying detailed technical drawings. A gold fountain pen rests parallel to the document's right edge, accompanied by a brass paperweight, a wooden pencil, and a brass desk calendar positioned around the patent document, creating a vintage office setting. Overhead product photography with soft natural lighting and sharp focus on paper textures and fine line details.

The interface I led for Action Target’s wall-mounted control panels was awarded U.S. Patent D886846S1 in 2020. This design patent reflects the originality and utility of our work in simplifying a high-stakes, safety-critical interface. The patented interface was built from the ground up through direct field research, rapid prototyping, and a design system that had to ship once—with no updates possible. That it was recognized with a patent is a testament to the clarity and rigor of the UX process we put in place.

A brief note from Amber on this project: Gun culture in the U.S. is complicated, and not something I personally celebrate. Still, I saw an opportunity to contribute to harm reduction by improving tools and training for those who carry firearms. If this helps even a little in making safer decisions under pressure, then the work matters.