Search input field lacking prominence

Greater prominence is not achieved by making it bigger. The search field gets the focus by default, making it one click – search. Spanning the entire menu width seems weird because filtering is on the left and results are on the right.

Also, please elaborate on why »it would make much more sense for the search input field to be positioned at the bottom«. Currently, the search field is placed so that it is crossed by user’s eyes first looking at the menu label and then going over to the displayed applications when the menu has opened.

But wait: Am I right in the assumption that you use Cardápio on a bottom panel? In that case, an option to position the search field on the bottom would indeed make sense. (Or even checking if the panel is a top or bottom one and adjusting it automatically, if possible.)

Lee:

Thanks for posting this. Although I agree with Jan-Christoph's post above, I am open to design suggestions. So I have created a blueprint where people can discuss Cardapio's design.

Let's move this conversation over there:
https://blueprints.launchpad.net/cardapio/+spec/design-discussion

Jan-Christoph: Of course you are correct that defaulting focus to the search input field affords it the greatest prominence possible. But try as I may, I cannot shake the compulsion to click in the input field before I start typing; perhaps that's just me though. In any case, thinking purely in design terms it makes more sense (IMHO) that the search input field should have greater visual prominence.

By way of an aside, the current design whereby the search input label is located above wastes a fair amount of real-estate, my above suggestions could alleviate this albeit at the cost of further real-estate for the search input field itself. Another idea, compatible with the status quo would be to either incorporate the label within the input field (a'la 'powered by google') or via an attached icon (a'la firefox's search box).

Also, you are indeed correct in your assumption that I have positioned cardapio in the bottom-left hand corner of my display. I sometimes forget that the default set-up of gnome is not so. You're suggestions vis. a positioning option and auto-detection are far more flexible; Kudos!

tvst: I was planning on getting to grips with Evolus' Pencil this evening so I may well have a bash at a mock-up (or two) to incorporate some of the ideas discussed above as well as better integration of the preference and administration menus. Rest assured I'll post them in the design blueprint you've kindly created. I just thought it best to respond to Jan-Christoph here first.