3 points the Nike Plane makes about user experience
You’ll be surprised, but now there is an airplane just for athletes.
I was preparing for the AirXperience conference in London on 16–17 September when I hit on this article. Yes the Nike plane! Fanciful as it is, it touches on three important pillars of user-centered design. Here’s what companies on the quest to improve products and service can learn from it:
1. Extreme focus on passengers
The Nike plane is designed for athletes and athletes only. Every detail is examined through the lens of a multitude of experts – physicians, coaches, sleep specialists and most importantly users. Every new design element is responding to a real need – recovering injuries, improving physical readiness or preparing new game tactics. No fancy design, just useful design.
Take away: User-centered design requires careful research. What are the tools your company is using to really understand the passenger needs. What are you learning?
2. Focus on “extreme” passengers
The solutions proposed for the Nike plane are valid for athletes, who are a rather “extreme” group of passengers. The research done on new materials, structures and services, however, is tremendously useful to all developing new cabin solutions. Looking at the extremes often makes it easier to uncover unmet needs, which are valid for the mass user too.
Take away: ”Extreme” users could be a source of inspiration for new solutions. Which are the categories of future users your company is focusing on? Which are the extremes?
3. Radical partnerships
Last but not least the Nike plane is not just another design solution, it’s a business solution too. By introducing the co-branded aircraft cabin, an airline can transfer some of the cost to another brand. Apart from cost-sharing, such partnership could be beneficial for the exchange of know-how. Choosing the right brand means also choosing a partner that has expertise, which your airline or airport doesn’t have – retail, design, payments, etc. It’s about combining forces and providing more personalisation options to passengers.
Take away: Partnership is sharing — costs, revenue, know-how. What are some unusual partnerships that can make a difference in your user experience? And on your bottom line?
This is an adapted version of the original post, which was published on Blue Sky’s blog.
Read more about the Nike Plane on Nike’s blog here.
About the author:
Elina Zheleva is Managing Partner and Director at launchlabs Sofia — a business redesign studio with an international network of offices. Elina is a design thinking evangelist trained at the HPI School of Design Thinking and Stanford d.school. Together with her team she works around the world with organizations to help them transform into more customer-centred and innovative workplaces.
