SkyMood
TL;DR
SkyMood enhances in-flight experiences with AI-generated apps tailored to individual needs. A pre-flight survey customizes screen content, helping passengers feel more at ease and in control. For our Interaction Design class, we chose to design for Good Health and Well-being, addressing one of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals by creating a solution that promotes a calmer, more personalized flight experience.
The Challenge
How might we create a personalized in-flight experience that tailors content to passengers' needs for relaxation or engagement before the flight?
While some passengers seek stimulating activities to pass time, other prefer calming experiences to manage flight anxiety or rest. Airlines currently lack a systematic way to understand and cater to these individuals preferences before the flight begins.
The Solution
Created an AI-powered design that personalizes the in-flight experience
We developed a seamless integration between a mobile app and aircraft entertainment systems through a code transfer method. This allows passengers to complete anxiety assessments before boarding and receive tailored entertainment recommendations once in flight, transforming the traditional one-size-fits-all approach to the in-flight entertainment.
Final Design
Click here to interact with the final prototype:
Discovery
User Research
1. Competitive Analysis
To fully understand the current in-flight experience with anxiety, we conducted competitive analysis of 3 companies that specialize in in-flight entertainment and communication systems, listing our pros and cons of each. With this data, we were able to curate a guide of questions for interviews.
2. User Interviews
12 user interviews
15 min. long video calls
Participants: those who go on flights in any capacity (e.g. frequent, occasional, infrequent) in three age groups (18-34 yrs, 35-54 yrs, 55+ yrs)
Ideation
User Personas & Scenarios
To ensure inclusivity across all age groups, we developed four personas to uncover diverse pain points and tailor solutions for a more personalized in-flight experience.
Storyboarding
Using our scenarios and user personas, we developed a storyboard for an elderly persona and the 35-54 year persona to assess the effectiveness and impact of our design solution. These iterations focused on a broad array of features, including turbulence statistics, weather updates, and general entertainment option.
Feedback from the teaching team indicated these designs lacked focus and overwhelmed users with too much information.
Iterations
Low- Fidelity Wireframes
In this stage, we emphasized user flows and hierarchy, refining the onboarding survey to focus on key anxiety metrics. This was informed by user evaluations, which highlighted the importance of a straightforward onboarding experience.
Our lo-fi prototype targets flight anxiety by providing personalized, easily accessible tools for managing turbulence-related fears and in-flight unease.
Connecting the phone to in-flight screen:
In-flight screen
End-of-flight survey
Key Design Decisions:
🔹 Anxiety-Focused Home Screen – Prioritizes anxiety relief apps like a Breathing Game, Virtual Assistant, and Flight Milestones, ensuring immediate access to calming resources.
🔹 Personalized Access System – A code-based login tailors recommendations, allowing passengers to track preferences for a more customized anxiety management experience.
Impact:
✅ Intuitive home screen layout minimizes overwhelm while providing quick access to relief tools.
✅ Diverse coping options cater to individual preferences, from breathing exercises to social support.
Challenges & Refinements:
⚠️ Overemphasis on anxiety features may heighten stress for users who prefer distraction-based coping.
⚠️ The login system adds a step before accessing relief tools, which could be problematic during acute anxiety moments.
Prototyping
High-Fidelity Prototypes
Initial Digital Prototype:
Integrating feedback, the digital prototype introduced a simplified survey flow and a more cohesive dashboard layout. However, additional iterations were needed to optimize personalization features and integrate real-time flight mechanics information.
Design Refinements
Usability Testing
We conducted 4 individual usability tests where we used our initial prototype to test our design solutions. We then analyzed out responses using usability inspection logs.
Major Changes:
Simplified Survey Flow: Early iterations presented a long, detailed survey that overwhelmed users. User feedback led to the implementation of bite-sized, easy-to-navigate steps, improving the onboarding experience and encouraging survey completion.
Addition of Flight Insights Dashboard: Initial designs lacked real-time flight mechanics information, which was a key concern for users. Feedback from user evaluations and instructors emphasized the need for reassurance through transparency. Adding this feature directly addressed these needs, providing passengers with real-time updates and educational content about turbulence.
Final Design Choices
Style Guide
Key Design Choices
The final design incorporated major updates, such as an interactive dashboard for flight insights and a streamlined code transfer process, offering a personalized, anxiety-relief-focused experience.
Key Design Decision #1: The Personal Survey Integration
What makes this design decision exciting is how it creates a personalized experience through an elegantly simple but powerful onboarding process. The survey screens show:
Simple, direct questions about flight anxiety levels and flying frequency that help understand each user's specific needs
Easy-to-select options presented in a clear hierarchy
Step-by-step guidance that makes the process feel manageable and not overwhelming
This survey connects to the plane experience by:
Gathering essential data before the flight to customize the in-flight experience
Using the responses to tailor recommended anxiety-management tools and content during the flight
Creating a sense of the system "understanding" each passenger's specific concerns
Enabling the system to provide more relevant and effective support during moments of turbulence or stress
Key Design Decision #2: Personalized AI infotainment Screen
After utilizing the personal survey in the app, all of the users information is generated using AI.
The Survey helped in collecting data such as the Users Flight Mood, Top Flight Concerns, and Entertainment Interest.
The specific types of game and activities presented to the user are based on the information they gave during the survey.
This AI system calculated the best activities for the users anxieties, stressors, or distractions that would best accommodate to them during their flight.
Final Prototype
Reflections
SkyMood reimagines in-flight entertainment by prioritizing passenger well-being, offering tailored tools to ease anxiety rather than merely providing distractions. By integrating real-time flight insights, turbulence explanations, and personalized content, the system fosters a sense of control, reducing feelings of helplessness and uncertainty for anxious travelers.
Beyond passenger benefits, SkyMood presents a unique opportunity for airlines to enhance customer satisfaction and loyalty. A mental well-being-focused approach could set airlines apart, creating a more passenger-centric experience while also easing the burden on flight attendants managing anxiety-related concerns.
However, ethical considerations—particularly regarding data privacy—must be addressed. Transparency and security in handling passenger preferences and emotional data are essential to maintaining trust and ensuring responsible implementation.
