Celebrating Design Excellence: Product Design at DOTC

Effective software design is crucial for creating intuitive and impactful products, especially as the stakes grow higher. High-quality design not only demonstrates excellence but also ensures that user needs are at the forefront.

At the Digital and Intelligence Service (DIS), designers collaborate closely with engineers and product managers to develop a comprehensive understanding of user requirements, which facilitates data-driven decisions throughout the development cycle.

The recent Product Design talk organised by Singapore Product Design in collaboration with Digital Ops-Tech Centre (DOTC), gathered a vibrant group of design professionals eager to explore the unique intersection of UX and the military.

Joel Tai, Senior Product Designer DOTC, offered valuable insights on adapting commercial UX principles for military contexts, providing real-world examples that resonated with both seasoned designers and those new to the field. Trena Lee, a product designer at DOTC, led discussions on how traditional design principles evolve to tackle the unique challenges posed by security-driven projects, highlighting the differences and similarities between commercial and military domains. Trena Lee’s journey from communications to UX design inspired many, while Joel Tai’s mentorship showcased the importance of nurturing the next generation of designers.

A highlight of the event was the engagement with emerging designers interested in the complexities of military UX design. The discussions emphasised the necessity of understanding these challenges and provided practical strategies for addressing them. Attendees also connected with designers from the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) and Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) community, exchanging insights about their experiences and the growing importance of user experience (UX) in national defence.

As DIS continues to prioritise design excellence, the collaboration and creativity fostered during this talk will serve as a foundation for innovations that address our nation’s critical defence requirements. Together, these conversations reinforced the fundamental role of effective design in enhancing military capabilities.