7 Model-Driven App Design Secrets
Howdang Rashid
Saturday, 22 August 2026 · 2 min read
Model-driven apps generate their own UI - which is both their superpower and why so many look identical and slightly dated. These seven design secrets are the gap between a default MDA and one users actually enjoy, from five-minute wins to the new frontier of generative pages.
The full carousel with linked tutorials is free in the Powercademy Success Kit.
What are the quick wins?
1. Child subgrids - view related data directly inside your views (Lisa Crosbie's video covers the how). Users stop clicking into records just to see their children.
2. Icons in navigation - replace the default jigsaw-puzzle pieces with relevant icons: app editor → select the view → Settings → Select icon. Crucially, add each icon as a web resource so it survives your deployments.
3. Emojis - in tabs and field labels for a lighter, more scannable app. Don't overdo it.
4. Modern theming - customise title bars to match your organisation's brand (Riccardo Gregori's article is the reference).
What are the power moves?
5. Custom pages - canvas-style design and different data sources inside your MDA (Matthew Devaney's full guide is the deep dive).
6. PCF controls - extend forms with custom controls for unique needs; the PCF Gallery has a library ready to browse. Use with caution and prefer out-of-the-box first.
7. Generative pages - full React and TypeScript flexibility inside model-driven apps, generated from a description. Flexibility like MDAs have never seen, and surprisingly easy to put together.
FAQ
Why do navigation icons need to be web resources?
So they travel with your solution: icons added ad hoc get lost between environments, while web resources deploy like any other component. Small habit, saves a confused prod deploy later.
Custom page or generative page for a tailored screen?
Need external connectors or Power Fx skills on tap → custom page. Dataverse-only with modern UI ambitions → generative page, and you get editable React out. Both live happily in one app.
Are PCF controls risky?
They're code you now own - maintenance, upgrades, and testing included. The gallery's community controls vary in quality, so vet before adopting, and always ask whether a standard control plus good configuration gets you close enough.
Do these tricks survive Microsoft's updates?
Yes - all seven use supported extension points (settings, web resources, pages, PCF), not hacks. That's exactly why they're the secrets worth learning.
The full carousel is in the Powercademy Success Kit - free, along with hundreds of other cheat sheets, roadmaps, and guides for Microsoft professionals.