ZFlash - Flashing Utility tool (2025)

CONTEXT

Developers and system administrators often need to flash operating systems or special disk images for testing, deployment, or development purposes. Existing solutions tend to be either complex and risky command-line utilities or tools lacking robust security, especially on macOS, where permissions and system protections create additional hurdles. ZFLASH was created to address this need by combining ease of use with enhanced security and system drive protection across platforms.

PROBLEM STATEMENT

Technical users face challenges with existing disk flashing tools: complex command-line interfaces, inadequate security layers on macOS, risk of accidentally overwriting critical system drives, and time-consuming manual setup. There is a gap for a dedicated, secure, and user-friendly UI that handles OS-level permissions and ensures safe flashing of disk images with minimal user intervention.

APPROACH

Research Methods:

Contextual interviews with team members and customers, usability analysis of current market options (Etcher, Rufus, Ventoy, etc.), heuristic analysis, UX benchmarking, and user flow mapping.

Design Process

• Conducted research to gather both quantitative and qualitative data.
• Analyzed information to extract findings and insights for discussion with stakeholders.
• Ideated and created wireframe prototypes.
• Performed user testing on concept prototypes and refined designs accordingly.
• Mapped out the new user flow for stakeholder review (business and engineering).
• Produced high-fidelity mockups and collaborated with engineering for implementation.
• Prepared final deliverables for development handoff.

Tools Used: Figma was the primary tool for compiling and analyzing information, as well as for designing prototypes.

SOLUTION

Design Rationale: The result was a HI-FI version of the user flow and the UI for the flashing tool.

Final Design: UI mockups handed over to Engineering.