A Scalable Global Navigation for Enterprise SaaS
Company
KUBRA
Sector
Fintech & Utilities SaaS
My role
UX Designer
Tools
Figma – FigJam – Ballpark
Overview
KUBRA’s ConfigHQ is a SaaS platform used by utility companies across North America to configure products, manage customer data, and streamline billing operations. As the platform expanded, its navigation became increasingly fragmented, making it difficult for users to find the tools they needed.
My role was to lead the redesign of the global mega menu, creating a scalable, intuitive system that improved discoverability, reduced cognitive friction, and set the foundation for future product growth.
The Challenge
Users struggled to differentiate platform tools vs. configuration options, leading to task errors.
- Navigation reflected internal product silos rather than user workflows.
- Lack of scalability – adding new tools created clutter and inconsistency.
- Accessibility issues with hover/keyboard navigation created compliance risks.
The original menu design:
Research
Methods:
Market benchmarking: Analyzed mega menu patterns from leaders like Apple, Canva, and Acme to identify intuitive models.
User interviews & usability testing: Conducted moderated sessions to validate assumptions and capture frustrations.
Stakeholder workshops: Collaborated with product, engineering, and operations to align business goals with UX principles.
Key Insights:
Users wanted grouping based on task flow, not product names.
Clear visual separation (borders, vertical alignment, spacing) dramatically improved scanning.
Hover-based activation was preferred for speed, but needed fallback for accessibility.
A scalable modular layout was essential for future growth.
What the data revealed
User interview with the original menu design
Insights after conducting multiple user interviews
Assumptions vs. Reality: What Users Really Wanted
Design process
- Navigation reflected internal product silos rather than user workflows.
- Lack of scalability – adding new tools created clutter and inconsistency.
- Accessibility issues with hover/keyboard navigation created compliance risks.
Users struggled to differentiate platform tools vs. configuration options, leading to task errors.
Ideation & Sketching- Explored multiple layout concepts (modal, reveal/conceal, 50/50 vs 60/40 layouts).
- Mapped grouping options around workflows.
Wireframing & Prototyping
- Built low-fi wireframes to test hierarchy and interaction.
- Iterated into high-fidelity Figma prototypes connected to ConfigHQ flows.
LoFI designs of the new mega menu
Solution
A scalable mega menu with modular groupings, clear section labels, and consistent spacing.
Task-oriented grouping to align with user workflows.
Accessible design patterns supporting hover, click, and keyboard navigation.
Visual hierarchy improvements (borders, headings, contrast) for faster scanning.
User testing the new design:
User insights after testing the new design.
Impact
- Improved task completion speed by aligning navigation to mental models.
- Reduced support requests and confusion across utility clients.
- Created a future-proof navigation framework that scaled as new tools were added.
- Elevated UX’s credibility at KUBRA by demonstrating measurable business outcomes.
Reflection
This project was a turning point for the UX team. Beyond solving a navigation problem, it proved that user-centered design could directly influence platform strategy. The process demonstrated how user testing and evidence-based design could replace assumptions, leading to a scalable solution that balanced usability, accessibility, and business growth.