Replace 'New Layer' menu in Essential Graphics with an intelligent design

[Pierre Louis B.]

The 'New Layer' menu in the Essential Graphics window is poorly designed because:
1. It doesn't allow users to draw a shape (it only allows users to click on 'Rectangle', 'Ellipse' or 'Polygon' to have an unsymmetrical shape appear on screen. This robs users of the benefit of quickly drawing a perfectly symmetrical shape while holding the Shift key)
2. It takes 2 clicks to get to any option.

I suggest replacing this menu with actual buttons that can be reached in 1 click instead of 2, and which would give users the ability to draw shapes, including symmetrical ones while holding the Shift key. Doing it this way would also respect the workflow that users have grown accustomed to in Pr's Legacy Titler, Photoshop, Illustrator and After Effects (all of which allow direct, 1-click access to shapes, with access to the Shift-key modifier). Note: While the Tools panel does allow 1-click access to one shape (whichever one of the 3 is currently displayed), users like myself that have a keyboard-centric workflow generally have no use for that panel, and therefore leave it out of their workspace to save space are reduce clutter.

Why reinvent the wheel with the New Layer menu when it breaks longstanding workflows? Especially if the new design provides no benefits?

Implementing intelligent designs that respect existing workflows can go a long way towards improving the user experience!