BFM 0380 RDT&E Budget Exhibits
Example Screens from BFM 0380 RDT&E Budget Exhibits
Defense Capital Work Zone
Summary
RDT&E Budget Exhibits and DoD Justification Books are critical to securing funding for defense programs, yet the processes behind them are complex, role dependent, and often misunderstood. The challenge was helping learners understand not only the structure and purpose of the exhibits, but how perspective shapes decisions, priorities, and outcomes.
The course places learners inside a familiar office environment brought to life through live action video and integrated digital interactions. Early on, learners are asked to choose between two doors. One leads to the Provider Pathway. The other leads to the Customer Pathway. Learners must complete both. This structure allows them to experience the same budget process from both sides of the business relationship, revealing how expectations and responsibilities shift depending on where you sit. Cal serves as a guide throughout, offering context, commentary, and the occasional reminder that early decisions rarely stay in the past.
Solution
The experience was designed as a browser based, interactive course blending live action video, scenario based storytelling, and web based interactivity. A realistic workplace setting anchored the experience, while subtle Twilight Zone inspired cues framed learning as a guided journey rather than a linear lecture.
UX and UI design prioritized clarity and consistency as learners moved through both the Provider and Customer pathways, exploring the purpose and importance of RDT&E Budget Exhibits, the role of Program Elements, and the structure of the eight RDT&E Budget Activities.
Animated visuals and progressive reveals differentiated exhibit types by purpose and content, helping learners understand how each document supports funding decisions. Live action video grounded scenarios in realistic workplace interactions, while interactive moments reinforced key decision points.
At key transitions, interactive magical portals advanced the story and signaled shifts in perspective. Implemented with transparent WebM animations, these moments blended seamlessly into the environment, adding just enough magic to confirm that a different viewpoint had been unlocked.
Scenario decisions and feedback highlighted the responsibilities of key players and common preparation pitfalls. The result was a realistic, memorable experience that showed how the same budget process looks very different depending on which door you choose.
My Role
I served as Creative Director for BFM 0380, leading UX and UI design and creating the majority of the content graphics across both narrative pathways. I designed the interface to feel familiar and professional while supporting the subtle narrative shift layered on top of the live action workplace setting.
I created animatics to plan story transitions and visual moments, including the interactive magical portals used to advance the narrative. I implemented the transparent WebM portal animations so these transitions could integrate cleanly into the live action footage and interface without visual seams or distractions.
Throughout the project, I worked closely with instructional designers, developers, and video teams to align narrative structure, visuals, interactions, and learning objectives. The result was a cohesive, scenario-based experience that used live action video, interactive design, and just enough narrative weirdness to make RDT&E Budget Exhibits understandable, memorable, and surprisingly engaging.