Here you can see my preferred SU and LO workspace that works with my workflow.
In SU, I like to keep mostly native toolbars with the exception of Enscape along the top and left. Third party plugin toolbars I place along the bottom. I keep the Trays on the right and make multiple trays dividing the panels into groups that make sense for my workflow.
In LO, I keep the trays on the Left. When working in LO and SU at the same time, this keeps the the sheet view in LO and the model view in SU centered on my 45" 3440x1440 monitor. Again, I group LO panels in a way that makes sense for my workflow as an Architect.
In general I think for both SU and LO:
- Keep it super customizable.
- Have templates workspaces based on different industry needs that can then be fully customized. (Architects, Mechanical Engineers, 3D Printers, Wood Workers,…)
- Allow saving multiple workspace layouts, and have an interface that allows for quickly changing between the different custom and standard workspaces such as Presentation Mode, Expert Mode, Show All mode…
- Allow importing and exporting one, a few or all workspace settings in one go, so I can setup my desktop computer workspaces, and then easily copy those to my laptop.
- Create a utility or better yet, during installation give the option to import those settings into the next version of SU/LO.
- Make it super easy to create my own icons for any command and custom toolbars groups.
- Allow Darkmode or other color variations to the interface. You could go one step further, ala Winamp, and allow custom skins to be created.
- Make every single possible command (native, or plugin) capable of having a shortcut made. I can’t remember off the top of my head which command I was trying to make a shortcut for, but when looking for it in the list, it did not show up, leaving me to have to use the icon or menu option for it’s use. (Shortcuts are by far the fastest way to work)
- Within Trays, allow having multiple copies of a any panel in different trays. For example, in LO I like to have a CSP tray that includes Color, Shape and Patterns. In my Text+Dims tray it would be nice to also include the Color panel, so when I want to change the color of the text, I don’t have to then click over to the CSP tray for that.
- Don’t force scrolling or expanding/contracting panels to look for commands. In my workflow and in my trays and panels, I try to limit scrolling by limiting how many items are in any particular Tray. This helps keep things in one spot, making it easy for me to find and limits the number of clicks to start a command.
- Allow existing users to keep things just as they are if they want to. A new modern interface can be great, especially for new users and those that like change, but don’t force people that have been using your product for 10 to 20+ years to relearn how to use their pencil. If you decide to give SU/LO a drastic facelift that ends up rearranging or altering the look of the interface, make sure to keep a Classic Mode option, allowing a choice for the long time users to keep it the way they like it.