Unifying the look and feel of Okta’s products
Identity Security is complex, but using Okta should be easy. No matter which product is used, it should look and feel like Okta. What makes the Okta Platform special is that it features a collection of tools that solve a wide range of Identity use cases. These tools are excellent on their own but collectively spectacular.
True unification expands beyond the orchestration we provide across products into its look and feel. This update is part of our commitment to delivering a user experience that is both secure and efficient.
Why we did this work: Consistent navigation across first-party apps
We believe our customers deserve a streamlined and intuitive experience that's simple to learn and safe to use. Our products offer best-in-class Identity Security, but user experiences are fragmented into different parts of our product suite. This inconsistency can lead to steep learning curves and cognitive overload, making it harder for customers to navigate and fully leverage Okta’s capabilities.
Our leadership saw that Identity Security was undergoing an evolution. The moment of authentication was only one part of the puzzle. Customers need protection before, during, and after authentication. But unifying functionality alone isn’t enough; they also need to feel intuitive and familiar across every touchpoint.
Our design process: From inconsistency to cohesion
Unifying a suite as extensive as the Okta platform is a massive undertaking. Creating a cohesive experience is never easy. We uncovered new learnings at every stage — from aligning on visual direction to integrating new design elements across a growing suite of products. We had to navigate technical constraints, differing opinions on priorities, and the inevitable challenges that come with any large-scale project. But anything worth doing is never easy.
First, we knew we needed to think big while acting small. While we envisioned a complete unification of our product suite, we had to take an incremental approach, prioritizing features based on known customer feedback. We made sure each decision was purposeful and scalable, allowing us to make continuous improvements along the way. We were committed to championing the end-to-end customer journey, which led us to simplify wherever possible. We focused on making the experience smoother for both Admins and End-users by reducing friction and streamlining complex workflows. Every design choice was made by keeping the customer at the core.
What we built: Introducing the new navigation and app switcher
Starting in February 2025, Okta’s first-party apps will feature a unified navigation experience with consistent side and top navigation bars. This update introduces:
- A modern, intuitive interface that makes navigating Okta products more seamless and familiar
- A new App Switcher, that lets admins switch between Okta first-party apps quickly and effortlessly
- A scalable design system to support quality product experiences faster
While this is a milestone initiative for our design, this is just the beginning and we want to keep doing better for our customers.
Excited for what’s next
While it’s easy to dream of change, it takes dedication, creativity, grit, and collaboration to turn those dreams into reality. Special thanks to Hannah DeMoss, Tricia Perkins, Nick Arcidy, Alex Cohen, Bryan Cunningham, Ben Lister, Gretchen Willenberg, Jordan Koschei, Kevin Ghadyani, Ishan Korde, Nikhil Venkatraman, Reman Child, Susan Weaver, Ganesh Somasundaram, Ben Schell, Micheal Tamaki, Zihan Wang, Stephanie Yoshimoto, Ali Parsa, Athul Devkar and all the teams involved in the cross-product initiative for their relentless commitment to unifying our apps — making them more intuitive, cohesive, and enjoyable for everyone. This initiative would not have been possible without your hard work and vision.
We can’t wait for customers to try the new experience. Please share your feedback with us on Okta Ideas by tagging your idea under “look-and-feel”. The new navigation system and app switcher are just the beginning of our ongoing journey to deliver seamless, connected experiences. We’ll continue to innovate, iterate, and refine, all while keeping the customer at the heart of everything we do.
