Project Overview
This project is a proof-of-concept infographic for the Android Tactical Assault Kit (ATAK), a software suite used to provide geospatial information and collaborative situational awareness for military operations.
The goal was to translate a complex operational scenario into a clear, visually engaging graphic that communicates precision, coordination, and spatial relationships, emphasizing usability and information clarity over technical implementation.
Project Scope
- Deliverables: Single infographic presenting a search-and-rescue scenario.
- Tools: Adobe Illustrator
- Role: Designer, Visual Information Strategist
Design Challenge
ATAK presents highly technical, geospatial data that can be dense and difficult to interpret at a glance. The challenge was to:
- Represent a scenario involving aircraft crash, unit observation, and coordinated response
- Simplify complex geospatial relationships into readable visual elements
- Maintain clarity and hierarchy while conveying real-time coordination and situational awareness
The infographic needed to function as a communication tool that could be understood quickly by a professional audience.
Concept and Design Approach
The scenario depicts an aircraft crash observed by a unit, triggering a coordinated search-and-rescue operation through a TAK server. The visual approach was built around hierarchy, color coding, and spatial clarity:
- Aircraft & Observation Points: Represented clearly to anchor the scenario
- Data Flow & Communication: Arrows and lines illustrate precise information exchange between units and base
- Search & Rescue Deployment: Units dispatched are shown with distinct symbols, maintaining clarity of movement and spatial relationships
Illustrator was used to craft all elements, emphasizing readability, clean geometry, and visual separation of information layers. The design prioritizes functional storytelling, making technical operations understandable at a glance.
Outcome
The infographic successfully:
- Communicates a complex operational scenario in a clear, visual format
- Highlights the coordination and situational awareness capabilities of ATAK
- Demonstrates how design can enhance comprehension of geospatial and tactical information
- Functions as a proof-of-concept presentation graphic for professional audiences
This project showcases the intersection of design and information visualization, translating technical content into compelling, digestible visuals.