Understanding the Laminar layout and navigation

Tour the main shell: sidebar, top bar, theme toggle, global search, and module navigation.

Understanding the Laminar workspace

Laminar is designed so that you always know where you are, what you’re looking at, and what you can do next. Its interface follows a clean, predictable structure shared across all modules—Suppliers, Components, BOMs, Orders, Projects, Products, Reports, and Activity. Once you recognise the main layout pieces, navigating through the system becomes effortless.

The layout is made up of three consistent areas:

  • The sidebar on the left
  • The top bar across the top
  • The main content area in the centre

Every screen inside Laminar follows this structure.

Sidebar: your main navigation

The sidebar is the primary way to move between modules. It appears on the left side of the screen on desktop and becomes a slide-in drawer on mobile or smaller screens.

You’ll see a list of modules you have access to. Depending on your role and your organisation’s configuration, this may include:

  • Suppliers
  • Components
  • Bills of Materials
  • Orders
  • Projects
  • Products
  • Reports
  • Activity

Clicking one opens that module’s main list. For example:

  • Clicking Suppliers takes you to the supplier directory
  • Clicking Orders shows all orders for your organisation
  • Clicking Reports shows insights and module-level summaries

Modules you don’t have access to simply don’t appear.

Tip If you’re unsure whether you’re allowed to access a module, check with your organisation admin—they manage user roles.

The sidebar also includes the Laminar logo, which you can click to return to your default landing view.

Top bar: search, creation, and user controls

The top bar runs across the top of every page inside the app. It gives you quick access to global actions that work no matter which module you’re currently in.

The top bar includes:

Global search

A search field sits prominently near the middle. You can quickly look up suppliers, components, orders, or other records by typing at least a few characters. Results appear in a dropdown beneath the search bar:

  • Each result shows a primary label
  • Most show a secondary label
  • A module tag appears on the right so you know what type of record it is

Clicking a search result opens that record directly in its detail page.

The “New” menu

To the right of the search field is the New button. Clicking it opens a popover listing all things you can create from anywhere:

  • Supplier
  • Component
  • Bill of Materials
  • Order
  • Project
  • Product

This is the easiest and most consistent way to create new records, and it matches how Laminar is designed to work.

User menu

On the far right, you’ll see your avatar. Clicking it reveals the user menu:

  • My Profile – update your details, avatar, and preferences
  • Organisation switcher – if you belong to more than one organisation
  • Sign out

The user menu is also where you can set your default organisation if your account is attached to several.

Main content area: lists, details, and forms

The central area of the screen shows the content of the module you’re in—this is where most of your work happens.

List pages

Every module begins with a list page. Examples:

  • A list of all suppliers
  • All components
  • All orders or BOMs
  • All projects or products

List pages are designed for quick scanning. They often include:

  • Key identifiers
  • Names
  • Status indicators
  • Linked entities
  • Quick actions
  • Pagination where needed

Click any item in a list to open its detail page.

Detail pages

Detail pages give you a focused view of an individual record—like a specific supplier or order.

Depending on the module, a detail page may include:

  • Overview information
  • Items or components
  • Documents
  • Linked records (e.g., orders linked to a project)
  • Activity timelines
  • Editing options
  • Module-specific features

These pages often use a clear vertical layout with well-spaced sections so information is easy to read.

Forms and editors

When creating or editing something, Laminar opens a dedicated form page. These pages emphasise:

  • Clean input fields
  • Logical section grouping
  • Modern spacing and readability
  • Clear save actions

If you accessed a create page through the New menu, you’ll see a consistent layout across all modules.

Breadcrumbs: where you are

Just below the top bar, Laminar shows breadcrumbs that tell you exactly where you are within a module.

Examples:

  • Suppliers / All suppliers
  • Orders / Order ORD-284OR
  • Components / C-1027 Battery Pack
  • Projects / Demo Project / Linked Orders

Breadcrumbs help you:

  • Understand the hierarchy of the page
  • Move up one level
  • Quickly jump between related views

Tip If you’re navigating deep inside a module—like moving from a project to its linked orders—breadcrumbs are the fastest way to stay oriented.

How navigation usually flows

Most users follow a natural workflow pattern throughout the day:

  1. Use the sidebar to move between major modules
  2. Use global search to jump directly to specific records
  3. Use list pages to browse or filter
  4. Open details to view and update records
  5. Use the New menu to create new things from anywhere

Laminar’s navigation was built around these patterns. You shouldn’t ever feel unsure of where to go next, because the top bar and sidebar stay consistent across the entire system.

Mobile and small screens

On smaller screens, Laminar adjusts automatically:

  • The sidebar collapses into a drawer accessible from the hamburger menu
  • Lists become vertical and scrollable
  • Breadcrumbs remain visible
  • Search and New remain accessible from the top bar
  • Detail pages stack sections in a mobile-friendly layout

Even on a phone or small tablet, all major features remain usable.

Best practices for navigating efficiently

Here are a few habits that make daily use smoother:

Use search whenever you know the name or ID

Jumping directly to a record is faster than browsing.

Use the New menu instead of looking for “create” buttons

The New menu is available everywhere, so it’s consistent and always within reach.

Pay attention to breadcrumbs

They quickly show whether you’re in a module root, a detail view, or a nested screen.

Switch organisations from the user menu

If you work across multiple orgs, remember that each has separate data—Laminar visually indicates which org is active but uses the same layout for consistency.

Common points of confusion

“I can’t see a module I expect”

Your role controls which modules appear. If something is missing, ask your admin to verify your permissions.

“Search isn’t finding something I’m looking for”

Make sure:

  • You’re in the correct organisation
  • The record exists
  • You’ve typed at least 3 characters

Search is meant for quick retrieval, not filtering large sets.

“Where do I create something?”

Use the New button in the top bar. It ensures you always land on the correct creation page for your module.

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