Slack Technologies Inc. today started rolling out a major interface redesign that adds folders for organizing conversations, a new navigation bar and other features meant to help users get around the team chat service faster.

The new look will be gradually released to users of the desktop version over the coming weeks. An update for Slack’s mobile app is set to follow shortly after. 

One of the biggest enhancements is the ability to organize chat channels and direct messages on the Slack sidebar into “sections” that function like folders. A developer, for instance, could create a section called “Current Project” that includes the Slack channel for the software project they’re currently working on and direct messages from the team lead. It’s also possible to include third-party Slack extensions under a section, as well as toggle the section to free up space in the sidebar.

The sidebar is getting other changes, too. The top corner of the sidebar, above the user’s channel channels and direct messages, now sports a Compose button that allows workers to write a message before deciding the person or channel they want to send it. 

The new interface also features a set of self-explanatory shortcuts: Mentions & Reactions, Drafts, Saved, Channels, People, Files and Apps. Clicking the “Apps” shortcut brings up a new dedicated homepage for Slack extensions in which users can view installed extensions as well as search for new ones to download.

Capping off the redesign are some changes at the top and bottom of the chat window. The top of the interface now has a navigation bar with a search function for looking up conversations, files and other items. The message compose field at the bottom, in turn, now has a new lightning bolt icon that brings up shortcuts to the user’s Slack extensions. 

The redesign marks the most extensive change to Slack’s interface since the service launched. It also represents an attempt by the company to widen the use of extensions among those who aren’t power users, for whom the new shortcuts should provide an easier way to launch extensions than the existing Slash Commands.

Images: Slack