Steam Library Redesign
Ian
Steam Library Redesign
Steam is an industry-leading service hosting a variety of games and software. Users have a massive game library that has become hard to navigate. Providing new ways for users to access their games, socialize, and create collections.
Current Steam Application
Understanding
First, knowing how Steam currently functions and how its design system works was vital. With this testing, users' habits within Steam are analyzed to identify pain points. By testing six users, I was able to find how they access their games.
Users rarely organized their games, and they all developed unique ways of finding their games.
User Flow
Planning
After user testing and interviews, I developed three personas. Each has unique needs when using Steam. This allowed me to focus on separate flows addressing pain points for each user.
While each user has a unique way of accessing their games, they all have a simple goal: to play their favorite games.
Wireframing
Left Navigation
New Ways To Explore
Separating the navigation to the left and central nav clarifies content for all users. The left nav has new ways to view games. The central nav has three core pages that users can easily access.
Collections
Simplified Collections
Users opted out of collections due to a lack of interest. Making collections a part of the central nav and stripping the function to its core purpose and organizing your games. With an updated search feature, users can quickly find games to add to their collections.
More Than a Launcher
Users seek stronger social features within Steam. A new social tab allows users to see what their friends are up to. Users also want to find a new game to play with others. When selecting a game, users will be familiar with how content is presented. All users want to launch their games easily, so keeping this function familiar was vital.
Final Testing
Revisiting the users previously tested, they navigated to the exact locations in the new UI. Users picked up quickly on the new UI. The app was familiar yet refreshing for users. Users preferred how collections were implemented. Accessing their games couldn’t be any easier.
The redesign was able to give me a better view of everything at a glance.
I was able to get more information in less time
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Posted Oct 17, 2025
Redesigned Steam's library for improved user navigation and social features.
