HF Designworks
HF Designworks is a Boulder, Colorado human factors engineering and UX research firm founded in 2006, serving U.S. DoD agencies (NASA, NAVAIR, Navy, Army) with consulting services and the FortiFly AI-teaming aviator training product.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersBoulder, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What HF Designworks does
HF Designworks is a Boulder, Colorado-based human factors engineering and user experience research and design firm founded in 2006. The company sells professional services — including Human Factors Consulting, User Research, UX and Product Design, Concept and Usability Testing, Workload Modeling, and Human Systems Integration — to U.S. Department of Defense agencies (NASA, NAVAIR, U.S. Navy, U.S. Army) and a small set of commercial counterparties in aviation, navigation, and medical markets. Over 19 years the firm states it has improved 100+ systems and produced 50+ published papers, indicating a research-led consulting model rather than a scaled staffing shop.
The company's product layer is anchored by FortiFly, an AI-teaming next-generation aviator training tool developed under a NAVAIR Phase II SBIR with ThayerMahan as the core commercial partner. FortiFly embeds the firm's proprietary VACP+ multi-modal real-time workload measurement framework, validated against the NASA-TLX benchmark, and is supported by a dedicated AI Solutions Architect on staff. A second productization track is a Learning Management System for Future Vertical Lift co-developed with Wingman Defense, extending the platform's footprint from Navy fixed-wing training into Army rotorcraft. Legacy tooling contributions include the IMPRINT workload modeling stack developed with the Army Research Laboratory.
Revenue mechanics combine project-based human factors consulting (engagement-style professional services with typical DoD contracting vehicles) with product/recurring licensing economics tied to FortiFly and, prospectively, the FVL LMS. Go-to-market is sales-led through direct contracting into DoD program offices and SBIR program participation; marketing is technically positioned via the HF Case Files blog, peer-reviewed publications, case studies, and a YouTube channel targeted at a narrow human factors audience. The firm operates with a small named roster (approximately 9 personnel surfaced), is privately held and founder-owned under CEO Scott Scheff, and has no disclosed external funding rounds.
HF Designworks firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- HF Designworks
- Legal name
- HF Designworks, Inc.
- Website
- https://hfdesignworks.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- HF Designworks is a Boulder, Colorado human factors engineering and UX research firm founded in 2006, serving U.S. DoD agencies (NASA, NAVAIR, Navy, Army) with consulting services and the FortiFly AI-teaming aviator training product.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
HF Designworks industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Human Factors Engineering & UX Consulting
- NAICS
- Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services (5413), Other Specialized Design Services (54149)
- SIC
- Services-Engineering Services (8711), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Digital Creative & Experience Design Agencies (Web/App/UX) (MPAAAAAD)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Industrial/Product & Furniture Design (BPAHAKAM)
Keywords
Where HF Designworks is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Boulder
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
HF Designworks business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Human Factors Consulting Services: Professional consulting services providing Human Factors Engineering and User Experience research and design. Services include Human Factors Consulting, User Research, UX & Product Design, Concept & Usability Testing, Workload Modeling, and Human Systems Integration.
- FortiFly Product Licensing: FortiFly is a next-generation aviator training tool providing real-time workload monitoring for compliance with FAA Part 108 validation testing requirements. Developed under NAVAIR SBIR effort.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
HF Designworks product offering
Product offeringCore offering
HF Designworks provides Human Factors Engineering and User Experience research, design, and consulting services that optimize human interaction with systems, products, and environments. The firm also develops and licenses proprietary products such as FortiFly, a next-generation aviator training tool with real-time workload measurement, and co-develops Learning Management Systems for military aviation training.
Product overview
HF Designworks is a human factors, user experience research and design company that offers a portfolio of specialized products and services. The core products include FortiFly (an AI-powered aviator training tool with real-time workload measurement), a Learning Management System developed with Wingman Defense for training aviators on AI and Multi-Domain Data Fusion, and UX/design support for products like Scott Plot. These are complemented by six service offerings: Human Factors Consulting, User Research, UX & Product Design, Concept & Usability Testing, Workload Modeling, and Human Systems Integration. The company primarily serves aviation, defense, and aerospace sectors including NASA, Navy, Army, and commercial clients.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- FortiFly: A next-generation aviator training tool developed under NAVAIR Phase II SBIR in partnership with ThayerMahan, using AI-teaming and real-time workload measurement for pilot training.
Quantifiable outcome
- 85k+ Users Satisfied
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use HF Designworks
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
HF Designworks technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability5 records
Feature3 records
HF Designworks partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- ThayerMahancoreCollaborative partner with HF Designworks on FortiFly, a next-generation aviator training tool developed as part of a NAVAIR Phase II SBIR. ThayerMahan brings maritime and unmanned systems expertise to the partnership.
- Wingman DefensecoreCo-development partner for Learning Management System (LMS) solution. Wingman Defense and HF Designworks integrate cognitive burden insights with AI and autonomy systems in simulated missions. Team includes AI experts, human performance modelers, and LMS developers.
- Applied Decision ScienceminorMember of the Optimally Crewed Vehicle (OCV) research coalition working on Future Vertical Lift (FVL) human performance modeling. Applies cognitive systems engineering methods for Army aviation programs.
- Roth Cognitive EngineeringminorMember of the Optimally Crewed Vehicle (OCV) research coalition. Contributes cognitive systems engineering expertise including functional analysis, cognitive task analysis, and discrete event modeling.
- Marimo ConsultingminorMember of the Optimally Crewed Vehicle (OCV) research coalition for Future Vertical Lift human performance research.
- Army Research Laboratory (ARL)coreDeveloped IMPRINT (Improved Performance Research Integration Tool) in collaboration with ARL. IMPRINT is used for human performance modeling and workload assessment for Army systems, including representative models for AH-64 Apache and OH-58 Kiowa missions.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
HF Designworks competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Soar Technology (SoarTech): SoarTech builds intelligent systems and cognitive modeling tools (including ACT-R-based agents) for defense training and human-autonomy teaming, making it a close peer in human factors + AI for military aviation and UAS.
- DCS Corporation: DCS provides engineering and technical services, including human factors and aviation systems support, to DoD aviation and Army programs, serving as a larger direct peer in defense human factors and systems engineering.
- Stottler Henke Associates: Stottler Henke combines AI, knowledge management, and human performance modeling for defense and aerospace training, overlapping with HF Designworks' workload modeling, IMPRINT-based analysis, and AI-teaming work.
- Aptima Inc. Aptima is a human-centered engineering and AI research firm focused on human-system performance, workload, and team effectiveness for DoD and federal customers; directly comparable as a defense human factors consulting and research house.
- Integrated Solutions for Systems (IS4S): IS4S is a defense engineering services company with deep USAF and Army aviation modeling/simulation work, a comparable small-to-mid size, founder-led government services peer operating in similar niche DoD programs.
- Smart Information Flow Technologies (SIFT): SIFT is an applied AI and human factors R&D firm working on intelligent systems, operator modeling, and pilot/operator support for DoD, directly comparable as a human factors research house with government contract DNA.
Broad incumbents
- Applied Research Associates (ARA): ARA is a diversified engineering R&D firm with defense, civil, and security practices including human performance, survivability, and aviation systems; a broader incumbent whose human factors capabilities overlap with HF Designworks' workload and survivability work for Army aviation.
- Leidos: Leidos is a large federal science and IT services provider with extensive DoD aviation, Navy, and human systems integration work, a broad incumbent peer for the same agencies HF Designworks serves.
- Ball Aerospace (a BAE Systems business): Ball Aerospace is a large aerospace and defense manufacturer supporting NASA, NAVAIR, and UAS-related programs; comparable as a broad incumbent where HF Designworks is a niche UX/human factors subcontractor supporting similar customer missions.
Emerging players
- MacroCognition: MacroCognition is a human factors research consultancy focused on workload, situation awareness, and human performance measurement, a small emerging player with overlapping workload-modeling expertise and similar academic-research DNA.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
HF Designworks social profiles
Digital presenceHF Designworks financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
HF Designworks leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
HF Designworks funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
HF Designworks M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about HF Designworks
What does HF Designworks do?
HF Designworks provides Human Factors Engineering and User Experience research, design, and consulting services that optimize human interaction with systems, products, and environments. The firm also develops and licenses proprietary products such as FortiFly, a next-generation aviator training tool with real-time workload measurement, and co-develops Learning Management Systems for military aviation training.
Is HF Designworks a public or private company?
HF Designworks is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was HF Designworks founded?
HF Designworks was founded in 2006. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is HF Designworks based?
HF Designworks is headquartered in Boulder, United States, in the North America region.
How does HF Designworks make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Human Factors Consulting Services are the primary driver. The others are fortiFly Product Licensing.
Who are HF Designworks's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Soar Technology (SoarTech), DCS Corporation, Stottler Henke Associates, Aptima Inc., Integrated Solutions for Systems (IS4S) and Smart Information Flow Technologies (SIFT). Broad incumbents are Applied Research Associates (ARA), Leidos and Ball Aerospace (a BAE Systems business). MacroCognition is listed as an emerging player.
Does HF Designworks have an API?
No public API is recorded for HF Designworks.
What industry is HF Designworks in?
HF Designworks's product category is Human Factors Engineering & UX Consulting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAAAAAD, Digital Creative & Experience Design Agencies (Web/App/UX), with a secondary code of BPAHAKAM, Industrial/Product & Furniture Design. Its NAICS code is 5413 and its SIC code is 8711.