2023
Redesigning Shapr3D’s Native Interface Across Platforms
Company
Shapr3D
Domain
CAD Tool for Design and Manufacturing
Role
Senior Product Designer
Year
2023
Skills
Design System
Native App
iPadOS
macOS
Windows
Figma
CAD
The Problem Space¶
Shapr3D had outgrown its iPad-first interface. Expanding to macOS and Windows, alongside Visualization and Drawings, exposed fragmented navigation and limited room for new tools.
I led the editor redesign, defining a scalable architecture for menus, navigation, toolbars and sidebars while preserving the product’s ease of use.
Through concepts and prototypes, I aligned product teams and leadership around the vision and secured budget for implementation. I then worked with engineering to plan delivery.
A Scalable Editor Architecture¶
Three priorities guided the redesign:
Clearer information architecture
Direct navigation between workflows
A consistent system with native platform behavior
I retained the selection-based interaction model: selecting geometry reveals relevant tools. Persistent navigation provides stable anchors around this changing toolset.
Shared rules for menus, flyouts and states gave new tools a predictable home.
Making Tools Easier to Find
I grouped actions by purpose and priority, with a More menu for overflow. Labels remain visible on touch devices and can appear on hover on desktop.
Fixed sidebar controls keep navigation within reach as the selection changes.
Previously scattered editor modes were grouped in one predictable location.
Connecting Modeling, Visualization and Drawings
Modeling, Drawings and Real-Time Visualization became directly accessible, with a consistent approach to menus and panels in each workflow.
I tested the structure against upcoming features, including Design History, to make room for the product’s next steps.
From Design Direction to Delivery¶
Shared Architecture, Native Behavior
The architecture was shared; its expression was native. Apple’s Human Interface Guidelines and WinUI conventions informed the controls, typography and behavior on each platform.
Component specifications connected the design system to implementation and gave teams a common vocabulary.
Delivering in Meaningful Phases
With engineering, I mapped dependencies and phased delivery into meaningful milestones, using prototypes to resolve feasibility questions.
What Changed, and What We Learned
The refresh shipped in 2023 across all three platforms, providing a reusable layout foundation for subsequent features.
I synthesized post-launch feedback on icons, labels and control placement to guide refinements. The lesson: architectural clarity must also respect established habits and touch ergonomics.
