Spectra Editor: New Design, Improved UX
Our CMS Spectra is undergoing a fundamental redesign. An overview of the new features and the background.
English edition — originally published in German as Spectra Editor in neuem Design und mit verbesserter UX.
Why a Redesign?
Spectra has been used by our customers for years. But the world has changed: new devices, new ways of working, new expectations. It was time for an update.
The Starting Point
The old design was functional, but outdated:
- Desktop-centric in a mobile-first world
- Complex navigation
- Inconsistent patterns
- Technical debt in the frontend
The Process
Research
We spoke with users:
- What works well?
- What's annoying?
- What's missing?
- How do you actually work?
The insights were sometimes surprising. Many functions were barely used, while others were sorely missed.
Design Sprint
In an intensive Design Sprint, we defined the new direction:
- Focus on the most important use cases
- Mobile-friendly
- Faster, direct access to frequent actions
- Modern, clean design
Prototyping and Testing
Several prototypes were tested with real users. The feedback was directly incorporated into the next iteration.
Implementation
The technical implementation was carried out in stages:
- New design system
- Component library
- Gradual migration
- Parallel operation old/new
The Innovations
New Dashboard
The new home screen shows the most important information at a glance:
- Latest changes
- Tasks
- Quick access
- Statistics
Improved Editor
The core area – the content editor – has been fundamentally revised:
- Inline editing instead of pop-up windows
- Real-time preview
- Drag-and-drop for media
- Better formatting options
Responsive Design
Spectra now works on all devices:
- Desktop: Full functionality
- Tablet: Optimized for touch
- Mobile: Most important functions on the go
Performance
The new architecture is significantly faster:
- 50% faster loading times
- Optimized API calls
- Lazy loading for media
Feedback
The initial reactions have been overwhelmingly positive:
"Finally, I find everything where I expect it to be."
"The new dashboard saves me time every day."
"I can now work from my iPad too – great!"
Conclusion
A redesign is always a risk. Users have to adjust, and not everyone likes change. But the feedback shows: the effort was worth it. Spectra is ready for the coming years.