Brave for iOS began as a privacy-first browser beloved by tech enthusiasts. But to reach a broader audience,
they needed an interface that felt more intuitive to newcomers from Safari—without alienating their loyal user
base.
In 2024, they made the strategic choice to hire Upstory to work alongside their internal
design team and help reshape three of their core features.
Privacy shouldn’t be a niche selling point.
Brave wanted to show everyday users how a browser could protect them—without the complicated jargon. Our goal was to make Brave’s benefits – such as Brave Shields – obvious from the moment you launched the app, all while preserving the advanced features that die-hard fans expect.
Streamlined menus & address bar
Moving from the default Safari browser to Brave should feel seamless. We revamped the design with familiar iOS design patterns, reducing clutter so new users could find what they need instantly. At the same time, we kept it customizable for power users—giving them the flexibility they love in Brave.
Playlist, Reimagined
Brave's Playlist feature allows users to save videos, articles, or podcasts for later. Our redesign focuses on effortless content consumption: a clean interface that doesn’t get in the way, a clear “add to playlist” flow, and consistent feedback so users always know where their content lives—without being tracked of course.
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Our internal team needed extra bandwidth, but instead of going the traditional route with a staffing agency or full-time hire, we took a different approach. That’s when we found Upstory—a design team that could seamlessly integrate with us while channeling the expertise of multiple designers through a single point of contact. This not only helped us maintain our high standard of craft but also enabled us to ship faster.
Brad Richter
VP of Design — Brave