ADR-008: 3-Column Dashboard Layout (V7)

Date: 2025-12-29 Status: Superseded by ADR-005 (Minimalist Dashboard) Deciders: Development Team Related: docs/architecture/V7_UI_ARCHITECTURE.md, ADR-005

Context

V7.0 introduced a complete UI overhaul focusing on information density and social engagement.

Decision

3-column layout inspired by Twitter/X and LinkedIn:

• Left Sidebar (25%): User profile, karma, trust score, community selector
• Center Feed (50%): Quick create, milestones, feed posts, requests, inline chat
• Right Sidebar (25%): Community health, recent milestones, top helpers

Responsive:

• Desktop (≥1024px): Full 3-column
• Mobile (<1024px): Single column (center feed only)
• Sticky sidebars on desktop

Why Superseded

User feedback preferred minimalist, action-focused design over information-dense layout:

• 3-column was overwhelming on smaller screens
• Cognitive load too high
• Mobile-first approach better for target users
• V8.0 adopted minimalist dashboard (ADR-005)

Historical Value

V7 architecture teaches important lessons:

• Information density has limits
• Mobile-first > desktop-first for mutual aid
• Action-oriented > stats-oriented
• Progressive disclosure > show everything

References

• V7 Architecture: docs/architecture/V7_UI_ARCHITECTURE.md
• Current design: ADR-005 (Minimalist Dashboard Design)
• User feedback: "Preferred compact design"