## Why this matters As our platform has evolved, we've heard increasing feedback about complexity and overload. These foundational elements shape every user's experience and set the tone for how they perceive our product. Getting them right is not just about aesthetics—it's about enabling our users to harness the full power of our platform without friction. ## Problem to solve * Our [new navigation experience](https://gitlab.com/groups/gitlab-org/-/epics/9044) in FY24 taught us valuable lessons. Our small iterations on it have not addressed the underlying concerns, so we need to explore a more significant change in our product navigation to address user feedback to elevate the baseline experience for everyone. * We also see continued tension in how GitLab product teams want to grow the product vs how the existing product navigation constrains that growth. Some of this is beneficial, as it's reducing the rate of change of the product navigation – which is something that bothers end users. However when those changes do make it through, they don't always follow the same patterns, as the navigation offers little guidance on how to expand the product experience to address new, unique use cases (especially global actions like the Duo Chat button). ## Proposal We'll need to introduce focused improvements with measurable results. Our team will focus on improving how users navigate GitLab by reducing friction and adding practical enhancements to core workflows. See https://gitlab.com/groups/gitlab-org/-/epics/17283+ for implementation details. Read more in depth about our [[Draft] UX strategy →](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qFeKezj_YCRfKXzjMgxldAY3nEO5vAWb6TDaNXge52M/edit?usp=sharing) <!-- triage-serverless v3 PLEASE DO NOT REMOVE THIS SECTION --> > [!important] > This page may contain information related to upcoming products, features and functionality. > It is important to note that the information presented is for informational purposes only, so please do not rely on the information for purchasing or planning purposes. > Just like with all projects, the items mentioned on the page are subject to change or delay, and the development, release, and timing of any products, features, or functionality remain at the sole discretion of GitLab Inc. <!-- triage-serverless v3 PLEASE DO NOT REMOVE THIS SECTION -->