How we overhauled GitLab navigation

GitLab faced challenges with its complex and confusing navigation system based on user feedback, prompting a comprehensive review and redesign process to better align with user needs. Initially, proposed solutions failed to address these concerns effectively, leading the team to focus on revalidating the existing navigation problems and understanding user behavior and mental models. By studying key user personas through diary studies and card sorting exercises, they identified the need for customizable navigation, clearer organization, and streamlined workflows. The redesign process was guided by three main themes from user feedback: reducing overwhelm, enhancing orientation across the platform, and enabling users to resume tasks easily. After developing and testing multiple design concepts, a final navigation solution was launched initially to internal team members and then to external users as an optional toggle. A longitudinal study revealed that users appreciated the improvements, such as the ability to pin items and task-based sidebar categories, although some areas for further iteration were identified, like the need for better pinning features and visual differentiation. Moving forward, GitLab plans to gather ongoing feedback through a new quarterly navigation-focused survey to continuously refine and enhance the navigation experience based on user insights.

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