All references CadWorks, a Finnish SOLIDWORKS reseller, has built its expertise on over 25 years of experience. SOLIDWORKS is the world’s most popular design software, covering not only 3D mechanical design and modelling but also integrated solutions for data management, structural and flow simulation, documentation, and electrical design. In Finland, thousands of companies use the system, and globally, it serves over six million users.
Beyond offering SOLIDWORKS products, CadWorks delivers added value to its customers through its own solutions, such as CustomWorks for improved data management and AutomateWorks to support 3D design. However, these in-house tools needed an upgrade in user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) to meet end-user needs better and stand out from the competition. This is where Codemate stepped in.
CustomWorks: Enhancing UX and strengthening competitive advantage
CadWorks initially partnered with Codemate to improve the UI and UX of CustomWorks, an add-on for SOLIDWORKS developed to meet specific customer needs.
Despite its widespread use, CustomWorks had been designed primarily from CadWorks’ internal perspective, without a comprehensive understanding of the customer experience. The UI needed improvements, the visual design was outdated, and development had been driven mainly by support portal feedback. While CadWorks wanted to modernise the product, the direction was unclear. Given that CadWorks had been developing its own solutions passionately for over 20 years, bringing in an external partner was an exciting but unfamiliar step.
Codemate’s goal was to make CustomWorks more intuitive and user-friendly while reinforcing its brand identity – ensuring it seamlessly integrates with SOLIDWORKS.
User research reveals key areas for improvement
Codemate’s designer started by conducting user research to uncover real-world needs and pain points. By interviewing and observing software users, the team gained valuable insights into how CustomWorks was used in daily workflows.
One of the most striking findings was that CustomWorks was far more valuable to end-users than CadWorks had initially realised. Many saw it as an indispensable tool, but the outdated UI weakened its first impression and usability.
A new UI: clearer, more modern and user-friendly
Codemate redesigned CustomWorks with a cleaner, more modern UI. The colour scheme was unified, visual elements were refined with new icons, and a dark mode was introduced based on user requests. The user experience was improved by reducing unnecessary clicks and streamlining repetitive actions, such as saving.
After the redesign, a follow-up study was conducted to fine-tune the UI before the final launch.
“The redesigned CustomWorks played a crucial role in winning a major customer and securing a significant deal in a highly competitive environment. The improved usability and modern look convinced the client.”
Esko Simpanen, CEO, CadWorks
Expanding the collaboration: additional projects
Following the successful CustomWorks redesign, CadWorks and Codemate continued working together on further development projects:
➡️ AutomateWorks – Codemate designed a modern UI aligned with CustomWorks and enhanced the UX based on user research, creating a strong foundation for future development and launch.
➡️ Service portal UI redesign – Improved the user experience and reinforced CadWorks’ brand identity despite the technical limitations of the Freshdesk platform.
➡️ Light brand guide for CadWorks – Defined fonts, colours, and style guidelines for the website and marketing materials.
➡️ Website research and redesign – Analysed development needs through customer interviews and created a new website design.
“It was incredibly inspiring to work on this project, as we had an exceptional amount of background information to guide our design. Additionally, it’s rare to work on UI design for desktop applications, making this an exciting challenge. It was also rewarding to design multiple products for the same client – developing a deeper understanding of their business and needs allows us to create solutions that serve both end-users and the company’s strategic goals.”
Tiina Nykänen
Senior UX Designer, Codemate
Results that speak for themselves
Codemate’s collaboration brought significant value to CadWorks on multiple levels. CustomWorks now has a modern look and a more user-friendly UI, strengthening CadWorks’ competitive position. AutomateWorks also received a new UI, which has not yet been launched.
The user research conducted not only improved usability but also deepened the team’s understanding of their own products’ value and their customers’ needs. Additionally, Codemate helped refine the brand identity and plan the website redesign, enhancing CadWorks’ appeal to existing and potential clients.
The close collaboration between Codemate’s design expertise and CadWorks’ technical know-how laid a solid foundation for business growth and international expansion. Communication between the teams was seamless, and the projects delivered tangible commercial benefits – while also elevating team morale. Through customer interviews, the entire CadWorks team gained a clearer understanding of how valuable their products are to their clients. This realisation strengthened team spirit and commitment – everyone now stands even more firmly behind their products.
“The redesign with Codemate was not just a visual improvement – it was a crucial step forward for our business. Without their expertise, we wouldn’t have achieved this level of execution on our own. With everything in place, we are ready to expand into international markets.”
Esko Simpanen
CEO, CadWorks
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