Shaping a new user experience through dashboard design
Having the right tools for the job is a universal principle we can all agree on. Being able to locate and use those tools is a whole other story. Anvil, the software for building Python-only apps, had the right tools; just not the right user experience. Suffering from information overload, the dashboard was heavy and scattered.
![](https://forty8creates.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/5-Anvil-LaptopMockup-F8C010622AJB-v1.jpg)
Seriously powerful, playfully simple.
Complexity requires simplicity and a drag n drop tool that has it all can be overwhelming for even its seasoned users. Redesigning the file browser and user interface was paramount to the success of the project - after all, the tool worked well, you just needed a degree to be able to use it.
![](https://forty8creates.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/3-Anvil-Featured-Image-F8C010622AJB-v1.jpg)
![](https://forty8creates.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/4-Anvil-Dashboard-Image-F8C010622AJB-v1.jpg)
![](https://forty8creates.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/6-Anvil-BlankApp-F8C010622AJB-v1.jpg)
![](https://forty8creates.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/8-Anvil-LifestyleImage-F8C010622AJB-v1.jpg)
![](https://forty8creates.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/9-Anvil-ReccentApps-F8C010622AJB-v1-1.jpg)
Limited colour palette, unlimited configurations.
Never wanting to overwhelm the user, we developed a limited colour palette that complimented the Anvil blue without compromising the hierarchy of the information. At a quick glance, you can start to see visual connections between the elements within the tool, making navigation easier, speeding up workflow, and reducing the onboarding time of new users.
![](https://forty8creates.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/10-Anvil-BeforeAfter-F8C040722AJB-v1.jpg)
![](https://forty8creates.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/11-Anvil-Sidebar-F8C010622AJB-v1.jpg)
![](https://forty8creates.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/12-Anvil-TopBar-F8C070722AJB-v3.jpg)
![](https://forty8creates.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/3-nav-bar-b.jpeg)
![](https://forty8creates.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Anvil-WebsiteIcons-F8C080722AJB-v1.jpg)
![](https://forty8creates.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/9-responsive-ipad-1-scaled.jpeg)