Navigation Patterns
5 different CRM navigation approaches to compare and contrast.
Context: drmg-sales CRM currently only shows Overview + Contacts in sidebar. Deals, Tasks, and Activities exist but are hidden. These patterns explore different solutions.
Classic Sidebar
All modules visible in persistent left sidebar. Industry standard (HubSpot, Salesforce).
- ✓ Discoverable
- ✓ Familiar
- ✓ No learning curve
- ✗ Can get cluttered
- ✗ Mobile unfriendly
- ✗ Less focus
Best for: Users who need quick access to all features
Command Palette First
Minimal sidebar + Cmd+K as primary navigation. Power user focused (Linear, Notion).
- ✓ Clean UI
- ✓ Fast for power users
- ✓ Keyboard friendly
- ✗ Learning curve
- ✗ Hidden features
- ✗ Accessibility concerns
Best for: Technical users who prefer keyboard navigation
Hub-and-Spoke
Central dashboard with module cards. Contextual sidebar appears when in module.
- ✓ Clear mental model
- ✓ Reduces cognitive load
- ✓ Great onboarding
- ✗ Extra clicks
- ✗ Context switching
- ✗ Less efficient
Best for: Infrequent users or complex feature sets
CRM Features to Surface
Based on E2E tests, these features need to be navigable:
CRUD + List
CRUD + Kanban
CRUD + Timeline
List + Status