Explorations in NASA’s Interface Design: Evolving from Tooltips to Click-Activated Pop-ups
Revised with insights from Amalya Henderson
Introduction
NASA’s ground control software for space missions presents a unique set of challenges in user interface design. In my earlier work, I explored a tooltip-based solution to address a recurring issue: the misalignment of text labels with bar graphs in the timeline display.
Expert feedback from Amalya Henderson of the Astro UX Design System has led to a reassessment of that approach. This updated article focuses on a more robust solution—click-activated pop-ups—while providing clear rationale, simplified technical explanations, and actionable next steps.
The Issue:
In the timeline display, event names were truncated to fit the length of the corresponding bar graphs. The initial proposal was to add tooltips that appear when hovering over these truncated labels. However, in a densely populated timeline, on-hover tooltips tend to appear too frequently, distracting users from the primary information.
Initial Proposal:
- Tooltip Approach:
Using Figma, I prototyped a tooltip solution inspired by Astro UX Design System guidelines. This approach intended to provide full event names on demand while keeping the interface uncluttered.
Amalya’s Insight: Moving to Click-Activated Pop-ups
Amalya Henderson recommended a shift from on-hover tooltips to click-activated pop-ups. Here’s why:
- User Control:
Pop-ups appear only when a user deliberately clicks an event, reducing accidental visual clutter. - Clarity in Dense Layouts:
In a timeline with many events, a click-activated mechanism ensures that additional information is revealed only when needed, maintaining a clean overall display. - Consistency in Design:
While my earlier design assumed NASA’s open source style might align with Helvetica or the ‘Inter’ font, Amalya clarified that Astro’s default font is actually Roboto — a detail that supports using a consistent visual language across the interface.
Envisioning the Future
This speculative design isn’t just about tweaking current NASA tools — it reimagines mission control interfaces for tomorrow. With emerging AI, voice, and multi-modal inputs, future interfaces could seamlessly blend traditional and innovative interaction methods, ensuring scalability as missions grow in complexity.
Next Steps (Given Unlimited Time):
- Deploy and iteratively test click-activated designs in simulated environments.
- Continuously refine prototypes with user and stakeholder feedback.
- Collaborate broadly with design communities and research institutions to set new standards in mission control interfaces.
This vision sets the stage for revolutionary interface design that evolves alongside the advancing frontiers of space exploration.
This article was updated with assistance from ChatGPT.
