Client
Spotware Systems
Client
Spotware Systems
Client
Spotware Systems
Stack
YouTrack Illustrator Photoshop Balsamiq
Stack
YouTrack Illustrator Photoshop Balsamiq
Stack
YouTrack Illustrator Photoshop Balsamiq
Timeline
2015 - 2018
Timeline
2015 - 2018
Timeline
2015 - 2018
Role
UI Designer
Role
UI Designer
Role
UI Designer
Challenge
Spotware’s cTrader suite had grown into four separate products, each serving a specific trading purpose. While powerful, this setup forced users to switch between platforms, which created friction and discouraged them from adopting additional tools. The goal of cTrader Merge was to unify these products into a single platform with one main navigation, reducing the learning curve, encouraging adoption, and opening opportunities for cross promotion.
Process
I worked closely with product owners and developers to design a unified navigation that could scale across web and desktop.
Prototyped different menu structures and shared them internally for feedback
Iterated on layouts and visuals based on input from stakeholders and developers
Refined interaction details to ensure precision and usability across dense trading screens
Collaborated with engineers to align the design with technical feasibility and integration needs
Outcome
The new navigation and accompanying onboarding screens simplified switching between products and made the entire suite feel like one cohesive platform. While tested internally rather than with external clients, feedback confirmed the design improved discoverability and lowered barriers to exploring advanced tools. The project marked an important step toward positioning cTrader as a scalable ecosystem rather than a set of standalone products.
Challenge
Spotware’s cTrader suite had grown into four separate products, each serving a specific trading purpose. While powerful, this setup forced users to switch between platforms, which created friction and discouraged them from adopting additional tools. The goal of cTrader Merge was to unify these products into a single platform with one main navigation, reducing the learning curve, encouraging adoption, and opening opportunities for cross promotion.
Process
I worked closely with product owners and developers to design a unified navigation that could scale across web and desktop.
Prototyped different menu structures and shared them internally for feedback
Iterated on layouts and visuals based on input from stakeholders and developers
Refined interaction details to ensure precision and usability across dense trading screens
Collaborated with engineers to align the design with technical feasibility and integration needs
Outcome
The new navigation and accompanying onboarding screens simplified switching between products and made the entire suite feel like one cohesive platform. While tested internally rather than with external clients, feedback confirmed the design improved discoverability and lowered barriers to exploring advanced tools. The project marked an important step toward positioning cTrader as a scalable ecosystem rather than a set of standalone products.
Deep dive
Problem
The cTrader suite had four standalone products that operated in silos. Users who wanted to access more than one product had to switch between separate apps, each with its own learning curve. This discouraged adoption and limited cross promotion within the ecosystem. Internally, the lack of a shared navigation created duplication in development and made the platform harder to maintain.
Validating the pain points through:
I mapped out existing menu structures across the four products to understand overlaps and conflicts.
Using Illustrator, I designed several variations of a unified menu that could house all tools in one place.
Iterations were tested internally with developers and stakeholders to validate clarity and technical feasibility.
Outcome
The final solution introduced a single, scalable navigation system that allowed users to move seamlessly between all cTrader products. Onboarding screens were added to help traders understand the new structure and encourage exploration of tools they might not have tried before.
Simplified access: switching between products became effortless
Cross promotion: clients discovered and adopted more tools within the suite
Cohesive experience: cTrader began to feel like one ecosystem rather than four separate apps
Deep dive
Problem
The cTrader suite had four standalone products that operated in silos. Users who wanted to access more than one product had to switch between separate apps, each with its own learning curve. This discouraged adoption and limited cross promotion within the ecosystem. Internally, the lack of a shared navigation created duplication in development and made the platform harder to maintain.
Validating the pain points through:
I mapped out existing menu structures across the four products to understand overlaps and conflicts.
Using Illustrator, I designed several variations of a unified menu that could house all tools in one place.
Iterations were tested internally with developers and stakeholders to validate clarity and technical feasibility.
Outcome
The final solution introduced a single, scalable navigation system that allowed users to move seamlessly between all cTrader products. Onboarding screens were added to help traders understand the new structure and encourage exploration of tools they might not have tried before.
Simplified access: switching between products became effortless
Cross promotion: clients discovered and adopted more tools within the suite
Cohesive experience: cTrader began to feel like one ecosystem rather than four separate apps
Reflections & Learnings
This project showed me how impactful unification can be for both users and the business. By merging four separate products into a single platform, we reduced friction for traders and positioned cTrader as a cohesive ecosystem rather than a set of siloed tools.
Key takeaways:
Working before the era of Figma and formal design systems meant relying on Illustrator and manual setup, which strengthened my precision and attention to detail.
Internal testing with developers and stakeholders was essential for validating feasibility, though external usability testing would have uncovered more client insights.
Unifying multiple products required balancing usability, technical constraints, and business goals — a principle that continues to shape how I approach complex systems today.
Reflections & Learnings
This project showed me how impactful unification can be for both users and the business. By merging four separate products into a single platform, we reduced friction for traders and positioned cTrader as a cohesive ecosystem rather than a set of siloed tools.
Key takeaways:
Working before the era of Figma and formal design systems meant relying on Illustrator and manual setup, which strengthened my precision and attention to detail.
Internal testing with developers and stakeholders was essential for validating feasibility, though external usability testing would have uncovered more client insights.
Unifying multiple products required balancing usability, technical constraints, and business goals — a principle that continues to shape how I approach complex systems today.
See also
See also
See also
