This case is a work in progress

Delta Force: Hawk Ops is an online Free-to-Play (F2P) First Person Shooter (FPS); a reboot of Delta Force Black Hawk Down, released in 2003.

In this personal project, I will explore how its main menu, the game's central hub, could be redesigned to create a more intuitive, engaging, and player-centered experience.

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Delta Force

Fixing friction in Delta Force's main menu experience

Personal Project

May 2025

Role: UX Lead

Context & Process

Delta Force: Hawk Ops is an online Free-to-Play (F2P) First Person Shooter (FPS) inspired by Battlefield and Call of Duty. While the core gameplay shows promise, community feedback highlights serious UX issues in the main menu: Frustrating navigation, cluttered layers, and disjointed player progression.

This personal case study explores how the main menu could be redesigned to create a more intuitive, engaging, and player-centered experience.

Research

Competitive Benchmark

Online Survey

Usability testing

Analysis

Affinity Mapping

Customer Journey

Flow Diagram

Design

Sketching

Wireframing

Prototyping

Dev Handoff

Note: A detailed overview of the methodology used, the insights gathered and the design process can be found in my detailed portfolio, using this link.

Context & Process

This personal case study explores how the main menu could be redesigned to create a more intuitive, engaging, and player-centered experience.

Research

Competitive Benchmark

Online Survey

Usability testing

Analysis

Affinity Mapping

Customer Journey

Flow Diagram

Design

Sketching

Wireframing

Prototyping

Dev Handoff

Note: A detailed overview of the methodology used, the insights gathered and the design process can be found in my detailed portfolio, using this link.

The Challenges

Through my extensive research, I was able to pinpoint a number of key insights that guided my approach and design decisions.

Error & Notification Clarity

Users faced confusion due to ambiguous error messages and excessive notifications disrupting their flow.

Inconsistent & Cluttered UI

Varied UI elements and cluttered layouts hindered user navigation and information retrieval.

Transparency in Pricing & Details

Users demanded transparent pricing and detailed flight information, which were often missing or unclear.

Navigation Challenges

Users valued intuitive navigation but faced difficulties due to complex paths, highlighting the need for streamlined layouts.

Early Iterations:

Sketches & Wireframes

After analysing the wealth of data I had accumulated, rough drafts allowed me to quickly ideate on potential solutions to the many highlighted challenges.

These solutions were further refined during wireframing.

Sketching process

Wireframe

Design System

For this design, I opted for Google’s Material 3 system, a simple and familiar comprehensive library. I’ve adapted much of it to adapt to the subject matter.

Solutions & Features:

Designing a simple Flow

In order to reduce friction in what should be a simple process, I reduced the number of steps needed to go from search to confirmation, while giving users the ability to see and do more when needed.

A Simpler Search

Users can start a fresh search, or pick up where they left off in a previous session.

Minimal interaction is required of the user, who can accomplish their goals in just a few taps.

Users can start a fresh search, or pick up where they left off in a previous session.

Minimal interaction is required of the user, who can accomplish their goals in just a few taps.

Know What you’re Choosing

The search result page balances access to information and clarity.

Direct and Indirect flights are easily distinguishable. Users may either go with their preferred fare, or compare on the fly.

The search result page balances access to information and clarity.

Direct and Indirect flights are easily distinguishable. Users may either go with their preferred fare, or compare on the fly.

Customize your Experience

Users may prefer to set their preferences on the app, or leave it for later. Either way, they are just a few taps away from customizing their own experience

Review & Go

Need to modify something? Second thoughts on an option?

The user can easily go back and modify their booking.

Want to revisit the booking later? Just save it and you’re good!

Need to modify something? Second thoughts on an option?

The user can easily go back and modify their booking.

Want to revisit the booking later? Just save it and you’re good!

Simple Ideas, Big Impact

Sometimes, a simple idea can turn something seemingly daunting, into something that’s not overwhelming.

Progressive Disclosure

Not overwhelming the user with information was a key component of the design.

Anticipate & Address Concerns

No two users think the same. Anticipating concerns and providing extra information as needed is a must to ensure user satisfaction.

Provide Clear Information

Providing signs and contextual information where relevant helps users feel more confident and therefore accomplish their goals quicker.

Takeaways

This project solidified my mastery of end-to-end UX processes and the value of user-centered design. While achieving a functional, intuitive product, I recognized the critical role of continuous testing and diverse feedback in refining solutions. Lessons that now drive my commitment to iterative excellence.

Design with Purpose

Simplifying workflows taught me that beauty lies in usability. Every pixel must serve a purpose, no room for vanity in user-centric design.

Empathy as a Design Compass

Uncovering hidden frustrations like unclear pricing or navigation hurdles reinforced the power of empathy in UX. Designing for real user pain points, not assumptions, became my north star.

Iteration Uncovers Nuance

From sketches to high-fidelity flows, each iteration peeled back layers of complexity. This project taught me that great design isn’t born, it’s refined.

Research is Non-Negotiable

Competitive benchmarking and usability testing revealed hidden pain points (e.g., unclear pricing) that assumptions alone couldn’t uncover.

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