Designing a first-in-class product UI for Solo.io’s Gloo platform

Our team partnered with Solo.io to design a scalable GUI platform that simplifies cloud-native API and service mesh management for developers and administrators.

Project overview

Solo.io, a leader in cloud-native API gateway and service mesh solutions, partnered with Pixels 360 to design and develop a cutting-edge graphical user interface (GUI) for its Gloo software platform. The goal was to transform Gloo from a command-line driven tool into a visually intuitive and powerful application management platform that developers and administrators could use with ease.

The problem at hand

Solo.io had established itself as a trusted solution provider for modern application networking through products like Gloo Gateway and Gloo Mesh. However, these powerful tools lacked a centralized graphical interface, limiting accessibility and usability for their growing user base. With the platform being command-line only, many users found the workflow intimidating or too complex, especially when trying to manage and observe services across hybrid or multi-cloud environments.

Solo.io needed a design partner that could translate its sophisticated infrastructure tools into a sleek and intuitive experience that aligned with developer workflows and enhanced administrative oversight.

Devising a strategy

To solve this challenge, our team at Pixels 360 adopted a user-centered approach, collaborating closely with stakeholders at Solo.io to define the goals and behaviors of the platform’s primary users—developers and administrators. We created detailed journey maps, and task flows to understand the technical environment in which users operated and identify key pain points we needed to address based on user personas.

From there, we developed an overarching design system and architecture that could support the expansive Gloo platform while allowing room for iterative expansion. Through a series of agile design sprints, we delivered wireframes, prototypes, and high-fidelity UI mockups for modules within both Gloo Gateway and Gloo Mesh. We maintained tight collaboration with engineering and product teams to ensure seamless integration and real-world usability.

Turning strategy into success

The launch of the GUI marked a transformational moment for the Gloo platform. What began as a command-line-only tool evolved into a sophisticated, visual-first software product—opening the door for broader adoption and improved user satisfaction. The new interface brought clarity to complex network infrastructures and provided actionable visibility across APIs and microservices, all in a centralized platform.

This multi-year effort, marked by tight cross-functional collaboration and an agile design approach, ultimately contributed to Solo.io reaching a $1B+ valuation and onboarding over 100 enterprise customers. With a refined user experience and an extensible interface design, Solo.io’s GUI platform is now recognized as a best-in-class solution in the cloud-native networking space.