Overview

This design exploration aims to improve the overall experience for new users while also providing value for existing users. Going through feedback from new and existing users we've heard that:

• Activity bar icons can sometimes be hard to understand if not familiar with them
• Some features (like the command palette and terminal) are hard to discover
• Desire to control overall density

We also wanted to take the opportunity to explore updating the overall aesthetics like:

• Create uniform sizing/padding (using multiples of 4)
• Update default color system
• Alternate placement of account/settings

Demo

Below is an example of this exploration. Here's a few ideas that we tried:

• Adding labels to the activity bar
• Moving account/settings to the top right
• Introducing an omni search to include commands, files, tasks, etc. (also combining text search into this)
• Introducing a "density" toggle (similar to email clients)
• Introducing a Terminal toggle in the status bar
• Introducing GUI features for Git
• Condensed color system into ~10 colors

Feedback

Here's the feedback I've received on this concept from our team. I'll break down the concepts into individual issue for those we are interested in pursuing more. Note: since this concept touches several ideas at once, it would be good to break down some changes (like density changes and showing more/less UI should be separate).

Pros

• Friendlier activity bar labels for new users
• Omni search helps discoverability of command palette/search
• Moving settings/accounts in title bar helps separate views from menus
• Consistent spacing makes for a uniform UI
• Easy toggle for changing density

Cons

• Omni search
  • Can be hard to distinguish
  • Could be too advanced for new users
  • Takes up title bar space (will need to look into OS guidelines)
  • Need to evaluate relationship between Quick Open + Command Palette
  • Can take up dragging real estate for title bar
• Could be costly to maintain two designs w/ density mode
• Some prefer settings/accounts in activity bar

Happy to hear any additional feedback others have on this concept.