Designing an AI-powered safety and operations platform for the infrastructure sector from the ground up

Role: LEAD DESIGNER
Platform: Mobile (Fieldworkers) | Desktop (Managers)

The problem

Frontline operations in industries such as utilities, highways, and construction are often hampered by fragmented processes, reliance on paper and phone calls and a lack of real-time visibility. Teams work across remote, high-risk environments while critical information is spread across multiple systems and manual workflows. This makes it difficult for organisations to identify emerging risks, ensure compliance, understand operational performance, and make timely, informed decisions.

I joined FYLD as its founding designer with a clear challenge: to help build an AI-powered platform from the ground up that could solve these problems and transform how frontline teams work.

Setting the foundations

I began by conducting extensive user research with fieldworkers and managers alongside our founding partner and anchor customer, the gas supplier SGN. Through ethnographic research, I observed real working practices on site, identifying common personas, pain points and the limitations of existing processes. These insights informed the initial product direction, with key flows such as video risk assessments, evidencing, and job blockers. These were designed, tested, and rapidly iterated in close collaboration with users.

For the product to be adopted, it needed to work reliably in high-risk, time-critical environments, often outdoors, in poor conditions and with limited connectivity, for a diverse workforce with varying digital confidence and accessibility needs.

Brand and product design guidelines

I consistently work to ensure FYLD embeds world-class standards for accessibility and usability. The colour, typography, and iconography choices outlined below helped form the foundation of the company’s visual standards and design system.

Design system

FYLD’s initial design system unified colour, typography, and components into a single, accessible framework across mobile and desktop experiences. Oversized buttons have been used in mobile app to ensure reliable use while wearing gloves and in poor weather conditions. Over time we built out separate detailed design systems for both web and mobile.

Key Video Risk Assessment flow

Below are key screens from the Video Risk Assessment (VRA) flow that allow a fieldworker to complete a video risk assessment. This is analysed using NLP and computer vision to suggests hazards on site along with mapped controls. The fieldworker’s manager is automatically alerted to the VRA when it available to review and sign-off remotely.

The manager experience

The desktop platform provides a clear, at-a-glance view of live jobs and safety insights. Jobs requiring attention are automatically prioritised, with accessible and digestible data visualisations supporting fast decision-making. Consistent interaction patterns across screens ensuring the experience is easy to learn and use at scale.