MockUp UI Fusion360 after Update of 11th June 2018

[Anonymous]

Autodesk Fusion 360 Team,

Hello again.

Thanks to the creative impulse proposed by @Anonymous, I have decided to create Mockups of how I imagine that the Fusion360 UI could be seen, taking into account my comments in the previous post (https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/fusion-360-design-validate/feedback-about-update-11th-june-2018/m-p/8063652)

1. 

   Back to gray: I know that it is a step backwards from the current evolution, but considering the colour balance and the visual cleanliness, I consider that a monochromatic interface is the best option.

2. Data Panel integrated to Tab bar: Reducing space between bars and granting a multifunction to them, I think that the Data PanelIcon can be housed to the left of the title tabs. Obviously when you click on the Data Panelicon, you look for a file that you want to open, so it makes sense to be at the same hierarchical level as the tabs. Now ... many will be asking "And where are the icons ofSave, New File, Redo, Undo?" That's next.
3. Use the existing menus: Many commands are repeated and scattered throughout the interface. Mainly Save, Save as, New File, Redo, Undo, are already in the menus Fileand Edit, so I suggest that to avoid confusion and avoid repetition. The user simply enters these menus to access these commands.
4. Multi-environments bar: In order to maintain a simple and clear interface, I propose to have the different work environments located in 8 cells, so the user does not have to open a drop-down list that overlaps the Browser, and can have access to all the environments quickly. The toolbar with the commands will be the one that will change in each environment, showing the particular tools of each of them (as already happens)

5. More space for personal commands: Deploying a full toolbar (not floating as it is currently) allows you to add more action commands that are much more accessible than the current drop-down lists. The toolbar is also a little smaller than the current one, with icons and smaller text.

6. Anchored browser: A browser anchored under the toolbar and auto-adaptable to the name of each element would be a good contribution. Nothing that is floating (bars, menus, etc.) facilitates a clean work and without distractions.
7. The turn of the arrow up: This arrow allows you to compress/hide the tab bar and gain even more space on the screen. By clicking on the Viewmenu, the bar can be displayed again if necessary. To access the Data Panelyou could simply use the Keyboard Shortcut (Shift + Cmd + P) and to jump from project to project Cmd + 1,2,3.
8. Viewcube smaller: As in Meshmixerand AutoCad, the Viewcubecan be reduced in size and opacity. In case the user needs it, when the mouse is moved closer, the ViewCubereturns to an opacity of 100%. When you remove the mouse from it, it goes back to opaque 50%.

 Bonus track: Considering that all professional programs are offering the option of a dark UI (or simply implement in their only UI) I also offer the possibility of creating the long-awaited and necessary dark interface of Fusion360.

I know that the model does not look so good, but in my MockUp it was already a bit difficult to detailI hope that some of these ideas can be used for a next update of Fusion 360. To my way of viewing are simple (and perhaps for some "unnecessary and not important") modifications, but that to my way of seeing, are those same details that define the user's experience with the program and its daily use.

Many thanks.

Kind Regards,

Rafael Mongelos

[Anonymous]

1. Back to gray: 100% yes. I think color has an important place, such as distinguishing Solid or Patch tool icons, or Undefined and Defined sketch geometry. The colored Tab background is superfluous though.

2. Data Panel integrated to Tab bar: Yep

3. Use the existing menus: Sounds good. Although you should know that Fusion doesn't have a traditional menu bar on Windows, like you have on Mac. Personally I'd be fine with a single hamburger type menu to access these functions on Windows.

4. Multi-environments bar: I personally don't switch workspaces enough to want any additional clutter. Especially when considering the proposed changes that will merge Solid, Surface, and Sheet Metal into a single "Design" workspace.

5. More space for personal commands: An option for smaller icons could be nice. Floating toolbar doesn't bother me but I can see how it would present a cleaner appearance with a solid background for the entire width.

6. Anchored browser: Can you explain what you mean by "auto-adaptable"?

7. The turn of the arrow up: Great idea! (If the Tab Bar ever merges with the Titlebar this will be less important.)

8. Viewcube smaller: I have no feelings about this.

Bonus track: Dark is cool. See Ideastation thread.

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Zev's Final Thoughts: Love the effort and enthusiasm in your post. The Fusion community is a big part of what makes this software awesome.

[TrippyLighting]

1. The real reason that relatively many users complain about UI colors is that these are to a good degree personal taste. Combined with the fact that these are not configurable naturally leads to complaints. The solution is obvious. Make it fully user configurable. I use Blender often and there the entire UI is driven by Python and is fully configurable. 

Not only would his eliminate complaints, it would also open doors to those that like to create themes, such a nice dark theme.

While there is a good bit of work involved in making this configurable. AD only has to do this once and then provide some documentation on how to configure it. 

2. I'd actually leave that data panel for a later date. The data panel need a serious overhaul as it really is not able to manage data. Managing larger assemblies and even projects is really not efficient.

3. 4. 5. whatever 😉 Once you have memorized some keyboard shortcuts and have gotten used to the "S" key  you're not going back to menus. I personally would like to see a much better implementation of the marking menu. The current implementation is slooooow and even on this high spec 2017 MacBook Pro gestures are not of much use as they are laggy.

6. OK. Works. I can write a book of what I would like for the browser to be and how it would work better together with the timeline to visualize dependencies. Other users have named that a dependency graph and the lack of visibility os where many, many users that try more complex stuff get into trouble.

7. OK as well.

8. Yes, smaller, maybe. But why not make some of the UI elements as dynamic as a user can make the dock on a Mac ? As you get closer with the mouse other elements shrink and view cube gets bigger. You move away it gets smaller. That same principle can be applied to the toolbar and the timeline!

The timeline is cramped into such a small area and generally does not offer a lot of feedback. As one parts entering the area of the timeline it enlarges just and the feature icons start displaying some added information. 

I've discussed that concept with an AD employee we all enjoy here on the forum before and I was told that at some point in time this was considered. I'd say, dig it back out and make it happen. But make it fully configurable just as the doc is one a Mac.

[Anonymous]

Hi @TrippyLighting

1. I couldn't agree more.

2. Do you remember back in 2016 when we had the opportunity to chat about the Data Panel UI and the reorganisation of the stuff inside it and I even made mockup's sketches? Until now nothing of that happened, and I agree with you that if we consider something like this, definitely the location of the Data Panel's icon is a grain of sand in comparison to a huge rock.

3. I personally use a lot the S Shortcut as well. Sadly there aren't some commands on the "S-Toolbox" as End Sketch (which is located on the Constraint's panel) and until now I couldn't get use to click there, so often I play the game of hidding the Toolbar and showing it again because of necessity. If just the "S-Toolbox" could be as "intelligent" as the constraint's menu is, which greys out commands after selecting two or more curves, showing "predictions" of possible commands on the "S-Toolbox" or somewhere else, could be definitely a milestone (I Will add this idea to de IdeaStation right now!)

8. That is actually a f*** great idea! I didn't even think about that. It would be amazing to see that in Fusion360. I hope the Developing Department can hear your idea as well, and analyse (again) that option.

[TrippyLighting]

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@Anonymous wrote:

2. Do you remember back in 2016 when we had the opportunity to chat about the Data Panel UI and the reorganisation of the stuff inside it and I even made mockup's sketches?

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Ha, not until now. Great stuff! 

[Anonymous]

Hi @Anonymous,

1. That is exactly the point! As @mroek mentioned on my post (and I couldn't agree more) "That heavy blue bar is really distracting...". Colors need to be on the model (as when the workspace is on Component Color Cycling Toggle)  and in the commands to be use to work on the model/models. Distraction is (or should be) a big NO in professional softwares.

3. Thanks for the clarification that Fusion360 looks different on Windows. Almost all my experience is related to my daily work on Mac, but I definitely get your point!

6. What I mean is that the Browser Panel (or better said the column where the browser is nested) should adapt to the length of the names of the elements (sketches, bodies, components, etc) on it. Take an excel sheet as example: there is an option to fit the width of the column to the text, or even force the text to adapt to the actual width of the cell. Right know when the name of, let's say, a component doesn't fit on the width of the Browser Panel, it just shows an incomplete name with the characteristics "..." at the end. I know that the user can change the width of the Browser Panel dragging from the tittle bar..but my suggestion is to go one step further and add just a little "intelligence" to the Browser Panel, and give it the possibility to change dynamically its width until certain point, and then force the text to go to a second line.

Great that you think like that @Anonymous. Let's keep posting better ways to improve Fusion360 as a strong community and only than we can share our points of view and learn from each other's perspective!

Cheers,

Rafael

[Anonymous]

@Anonymous

6. A dynamic width browser panel sounds like a fine idea.

I always try to upvote everyone who makes high effort posts like yours.

I suggest you post some of your ideas in the Ideastation if you'd like further exposure. You make like to make separate posts for ideas that stand on their own like the auto-width browser. You can then link back to this thread to show the big picture.