OpenBlend's Sidebar Navigation Redesign

What started as a cluttered side menu with 14+ always-visible links became a streamlined, intuitive navigation experience. This navigation redesign not only improved usability but also aligned the interface with how real users think and work, cutting unnecessary steps and lifting mental load to boost overall user experience improvement.

Reducing Friction in a Role-Heavy Platform

In earlier versions of OpenBlend, users had to navigate through separate portals to switch between roles (like admin, manager, or employee). Each mode lived in a silo, meaning users had to backtrack to an entrance portal just to access a different view, adding multiple clicks and page loads to the experience. This fragmented workflow hindered smooth role transitions, impacting the effectiveness of the role-based UI.

On top of that, over 14 items were always visible in the left-hand menu. There was little hierarchy, making it difficult for users to find what they needed at a glance. This cluttered layout posed a significant obstacle to interface optimization and clear design system hierarchy.

Rebuilding the Sidebar

The redesign was a gradual and thoughtful evolution not a single overhaul. Here’s how the team approached this enterprise UX challenge:

• Introduced hierarchy by placing key items at the top, separating tools into a clearly labeled section for better sidebar navigation UX.

• Streamlined the menu by prioritizing what users interacted with most often and minimizing cognitive overload, enhancing intuitive UI design.

• Replaced the entrance portal with a persistent sidebar allowing users to seamlessly switch between views Me, My Team, Admin, etc. embracing a true role-based UI model.

• This new model was inspired by familiar enterprise tools like Microsoft Teams, helping users instantly recognize the layout logic and improving adoption.

Each update was usability-tested and iterated based on real feedback, ensuring the changes worked in practice, not just on paper.

Why Navigation Design Deserves Your Attention

Simplifying navigation doesn’t just look better - it removes friction. By allowing users to move between key roles instantly, the platform supports a smoother workflow and reduces fatigue. Small changes like hierarchy and label clarity add up to a system that feels more intuitive and empowering, marking a significant step in user experience improvement.

From Pain Point to Product Standard

The updated sidebar system became the new standard for how users interact with OpenBlend reducing steps, minimizing confusion, and ultimately increasing confidence in the platform.

While invisible to some, thoughtful navigation is one of the strongest signals of product maturity and successful interface optimization.

The new sidebar has completely transformed how we manage our daily tasks. Switching between roles is seamless now, saving us time and reducing frustration. It really feels like the design was built around how we work, not the other way around.

- OpenBlend Team