diff --git a/bin/app/data/color_schemes/bad_rainbow.xml b/bin/app/data/color_schemes/bad_rainbow.xml
index 8a69296c..f2703002 100644
--- a/bin/app/data/color_schemes/bad_rainbow.xml
+++ b/bin/app/data/color_schemes/bad_rainbow.xml
@@ -77,15 +77,6 @@
 		<navigation>
 			<text>#A0A0A0</text>
 			<line>#CCCCCC</line>
-
-			<button>
-				<normal>#808080</normal>
-				<hover>#B1B1B1</hover>
-				<press>#CCCCCC</press>
-				<disabled>#606060</disabled>
-				<icon>white</icon>
-				<icon_disabled>#808080</icon_disabled>
-			</button>
 		</navigation>
 
 		<file>
diff --git a/bin/app/data/color_schemes/bright.xml b/bin/app/data/color_schemes/bright.xml
index 353274f2..a9911eb2 100644
--- a/bin/app/data/color_schemes/bright.xml
+++ b/bin/app/data/color_schemes/bright.xml
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 			<press>#626262</press>
 			<disabled>#F2F2F2</disabled>
 			<icon>white</icon>
-			<icon_disabled>#FDFDFD</icon_disabled>
+			<icon_disabled>#DEDEDE</icon_disabled>
 		</button>
 
 		<field>
@@ -75,17 +75,8 @@
 		<background>white</background>
 
 		<navigation>
-			<text>#BCBCBC</text>
+			<text>#B2B2B2</text>
 			<line>#B2B2B2</line>
-
-			<button>
-				<normal>#E0E0E0</normal>
-				<hover>#B2B2B2</hover>
-				<press>#626262</press>
-				<disabled>#F2F2F2</disabled>
-				<icon>white</icon>
-				<icon_disabled>#FDFDFD</icon_disabled>
-			</button>
 		</navigation>
 
 		<file>
diff --git a/bin/app/data/color_schemes/dark.xml b/bin/app/data/color_schemes/dark.xml
index 626e9d0d..eeff6772 100644
--- a/bin/app/data/color_schemes/dark.xml
+++ b/bin/app/data/color_schemes/dark.xml
@@ -77,15 +77,6 @@
 		<navigation>
 			<text>#A0A0A0</text>
 			<line>#CCC</line>
-
-			<button>
-				<normal>#777777</normal>
-				<hover>#555555</hover>
-				<press>#444444</press>
-				<disabled>#333333</disabled>
-				<icon>white</icon>
-				<icon_disabled>#777777</icon_disabled>
-			</button>
 		</navigation>
 
 		<file>
diff --git a/bin/app/data/gui/code_view/code_view.css b/bin/app/data/gui/code_view/code_view.css
index 8817e045..ceea5e3e 100644
--- a/bin/app/data/gui/code_view/code_view.css
+++ b/bin/app/data/gui/code_view/code_view.css
@@ -22,23 +22,23 @@
 }
 
 #code_navigation QPushButton {
-	background: <color:code/navigation/button/normal>;
+	background: <color:search/button/normal>;
 	border: none;
-	color: <color:code/navigation/button/icon>;
+	color: <color:search/button/icon>;
 	height: 24px;
 	width: 24px;
 }
 
 #code_navigation QPushButton:hover, #code_navigation QPushButton:checked {
-	background: <color:code/navigation/button/hover>;
+	background: <color:search/button/hover>;
 }
 
 #code_navigation QPushButton:disabled {
-	background: <color:code/navigation/button/disabled>;
+	background: <color:search/button/disabled>;
 }
 
 #code_navigation QPushButton:pressed {
-	background: <color:code/navigation/button/press>;
+	background: <color:search/button/press>;
 }
 
 #code_navigation #reference_button_previous {
diff --git a/bin/app/data/gui/graph_view/graph_view.css b/bin/app/data/gui/graph_view/graph_view.css
index d15bdb58..ec848d86 100644
--- a/bin/app/data/gui/graph_view/graph_view.css
+++ b/bin/app/data/gui/graph_view/graph_view.css
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ QGraphicsView, QGraphicsScene {
 QPushButton {
 	background: <color:search/button/normal>;
 	border: none;
-	color: white;
+	color: <color:search/button/icon>;
 	border-radius: 5px;
 }
 
@@ -21,3 +21,64 @@ QPushButton:hover {
 QPushButton:pressed {
 	background: <color:search/button/press>;
 }
+
+#expand_button {
+	max-width: 26px;
+	max-height: 26px;
+}
+
+#collapse_button {
+	border-radius: 0;
+	border-top-left-radius: 7px;
+	border-top-right-radius: 7px;
+}
+
+#trail_button {
+	border-radius: 0;
+}
+
+#depth_label {
+	background: <color:search/button/normal>;
+	color: <color:search/button/icon>;
+}
+
+#depth_label:disabled {
+	background: <color:search/button/disabled>;
+	color: <color:search/button/icon_disabled>;
+}
+
+#depth_slider {
+	background: <color:search/button/normal>;
+	padding-bottom: 5px;
+	border-bottom-left-radius: 7px;
+	border-bottom-right-radius: 7px;
+}
+
+#depth_slider:disabled {
+	background: <color:search/button/disabled>;
+}
+
+#depth_slider::groove {
+	margin: 5px;
+	width: 2px;
+}
+
+#depth_slider::handle {
+	height: 10px;
+	margin: 0px -4px;
+	border-radius: 5px;
+}
+
+#depth_slider::handle:hover {
+	height: 12px;
+	margin: 0px -5px;
+	border-radius: 6px;
+}
+
+#depth_slider::groove, #depth_slider::handle {
+	background: <color:search/button/icon>;
+}
+
+#depth_slider::groove:disabled, #depth_slider::handle:disabled {
+	background: <color:search/button/icon_disabled>;
+}
diff --git a/bin/app/data/gui/graph_view/images/graph.png b/bin/app/data/gui/graph_view/images/graph.png
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e6209f35
Binary files /dev/null and b/bin/app/data/gui/graph_view/images/graph.png differ
diff --git a/bin/app/data/gui/graph_view/images/graph_arrow.png b/bin/app/data/gui/graph_view/images/graph_arrow.png
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2b6a4c05
Binary files /dev/null and b/bin/app/data/gui/graph_view/images/graph_arrow.png differ
diff --git a/bin/app/data/gui/graph_view/images/graph_down.png b/bin/app/data/gui/graph_view/images/graph_down.png
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..37487f1c
Binary files /dev/null and b/bin/app/data/gui/graph_view/images/graph_down.png differ
diff --git a/bin/app/data/gui/graph_view/images/graph_left.png b/bin/app/data/gui/graph_view/images/graph_left.png
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d645e99c
Binary files /dev/null and b/bin/app/data/gui/graph_view/images/graph_left.png differ
diff --git a/bin/app/data/gui/graph_view/images/graph_right.png b/bin/app/data/gui/graph_view/images/graph_right.png
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..6e0a6e65
Binary files /dev/null and b/bin/app/data/gui/graph_view/images/graph_right.png differ
diff --git a/bin/app/data/gui/graph_view/images/graph_up.png b/bin/app/data/gui/graph_view/images/graph_up.png
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..101339e6
Binary files /dev/null and b/bin/app/data/gui/graph_view/images/graph_up.png differ
diff --git a/bin/app/user/ApplicationSettings_template.xml b/bin/app/user/ApplicationSettings_template.xml
index f2ea4d00..a64eaa05 100644
--- a/bin/app/user/ApplicationSettings_template.xml
+++ b/bin/app/user/ApplicationSettings_template.xml
@@ -26,6 +26,8 @@
 		<scroll_speed><!-- DECIMAL: multiplier for default scroll speed in views --></scroll_speed>
 
 		<logging_enabled><!-- BOOL: define if console and file logging is enabled --></logging_enabled>
+
+		<graph_controls_visible><!-- BOOL: define if the graph controls are visible or collapsed --></graph_controls_visible>
 	</application>
 
 	<indexing>
diff --git a/src/lib/settings/ApplicationSettings.cpp b/src/lib/settings/ApplicationSettings.cpp
index a573cee9..683a8473 100644
--- a/src/lib/settings/ApplicationSettings.cpp
+++ b/src/lib/settings/ApplicationSettings.cpp
@@ -176,6 +176,16 @@ void ApplicationSettings::setScrollSpeed(float scrollSpeed)
 	setValue<float>("application/scroll_speed", scrollSpeed);
 }
 
+bool ApplicationSettings::getGraphControlsVisible() const
+{
+	return getValue<bool>("application/graph_controls_visible", true);
+}
+
+void ApplicationSettings::setGraphControlsVisible(bool visible)
+{
+	setValue<bool>("application/graph_controls_visible", visible);
+}
+
 bool ApplicationSettings::getLoggingEnabled() const
 {
 	return getValue<bool>("application/logging_enabled", false);
diff --git a/src/lib/settings/ApplicationSettings.h b/src/lib/settings/ApplicationSettings.h
index 46e056f1..0a014102 100644
--- a/src/lib/settings/ApplicationSettings.h
+++ b/src/lib/settings/ApplicationSettings.h
@@ -50,6 +50,9 @@ public:
 	float getScrollSpeed() const;
 	void setScrollSpeed(float scrollSpeed);
 
+	bool getGraphControlsVisible() const;
+	void setGraphControlsVisible(bool visible);
+
 	// logging
 	bool getLoggingEnabled() const;
 	void setLoggingEnabled(bool loggingEnabled);
diff --git a/src/lib_gui/qt/element/QtCodeNavigator.cpp b/src/lib_gui/qt/element/QtCodeNavigator.cpp
index f11f9848..a6828247 100644
--- a/src/lib_gui/qt/element/QtCodeNavigator.cpp
+++ b/src/lib_gui/qt/element/QtCodeNavigator.cpp
@@ -526,22 +526,22 @@ void QtCodeNavigator::refreshStyle()
 
 	m_prevButton->setIcon(utility::createButtonIcon(
 		ResourcePaths::getGuiPath() + "code_view/images/arrow_left.png",
-		"code/navigation/button"
+		"search/button"
 	));
 
 	m_nextButton->setIcon(utility::createButtonIcon(
 		ResourcePaths::getGuiPath() + "code_view/images/arrow_right.png",
-		"code/navigation/button"
+		"search/button"
 	));
 
 	m_listButton->setIcon(utility::createButtonIcon(
 		ResourcePaths::getGuiPath() + "code_view/images/list.png",
-		"code/navigation/button"
+		"search/button"
 	));
 
 	m_fileButton->setIcon(utility::createButtonIcon(
 		ResourcePaths::getGuiPath() + "code_view/images/file.png",
-		"code/navigation/button"
+		"search/button"
 	));
 
 	m_prevButton->setIconSize(QSize(12, 12));
diff --git a/src/lib_gui/qt/view/QtGraphView.cpp b/src/lib_gui/qt/view/QtGraphView.cpp
index c590bfae..87d72c3b 100644
--- a/src/lib_gui/qt/view/QtGraphView.cpp
+++ b/src/lib_gui/qt/view/QtGraphView.cpp
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 #include <QPushButton>
 #include <QScrollBar>
 #include <QSequentialAnimationGroup>
+#include <QStackedLayout>
 #include <QSlider>
 
 #include "component/controller/helper/DummyEdge.h"
@@ -89,36 +90,70 @@ void QtGraphView::initView()
 
 	// trail controls
 	{
-		m_forwardTrailButton = new QPushButton("<");
-		m_backwardTrailButton = new QPushButton(">");
+		QStackedLayout* stack = new QStackedLayout();
 
-		connect(m_forwardTrailButton, SIGNAL(clicked()), this, SLOT(clickedForwardTrail()));
-		connect(m_backwardTrailButton, SIGNAL(clicked()), this, SLOT(clickedBackwardTrail()));
+		{
+			m_expandButton = new QPushButton();
+			m_expandButton->setObjectName("expand_button");
+			m_expandButton->setToolTip("show depth graph controls");
+			m_expandButton->setGeometry(0, 0, 26, 26);
+			connect(m_expandButton, SIGNAL(clicked()), this, SLOT(clickedExpand()));
+			stack->addWidget(m_expandButton);
+		}
 
-		m_trailDepthSlider = new QSlider(Qt::Horizontal);
-		m_trailDepthSlider->setMinimum(1);
-		m_trailDepthSlider->setMaximum(51);
-		m_trailDepthSlider->setValue(10);
-		m_trailDepthSlider->setFixedWidth(150);
-		connect(m_trailDepthSlider, SIGNAL(valueChanged(int)), this, SLOT(trailDepthChanged(int)));
+		{
+			QWidget* ui = new QWidget();
+			ui->setGeometry(0, 0, 26, 210);
+			stack->addWidget(ui);
 
-		m_trailDepthLabel = new QLabel("10");
-		m_trailDepthLabel->setFixedWidth(30);
+			m_collapseButton = new QPushButton(ui);
+			m_collapseButton->setObjectName("collapse_button");
+			m_collapseButton->setToolTip("hide depth graph controls");
+			connect(m_collapseButton, SIGNAL(clicked()), this, SLOT(clickedCollapse()));
 
-		QHBoxLayout* trailLayout = new QHBoxLayout();
-		trailLayout->addWidget(m_backwardTrailButton);
-		trailLayout->addWidget(m_forwardTrailButton);
-		trailLayout->addStretch();
-		trailLayout->addWidget(new QLabel("depth:"));
-		trailLayout->addWidget(m_trailDepthSlider);
-		trailLayout->addWidget(m_trailDepthLabel);
+			m_forwardTrailButton = new QPushButton(ui);
+			m_forwardTrailButton->setObjectName("trail_button");
+			connect(m_forwardTrailButton, SIGNAL(clicked()), this, SLOT(clickedForwardTrail()));
 
-		QWidget* trailWidget = new QWidget(widget);
-		trailWidget->setMinimumWidth(380);
-		trailWidget->setMinimumHeight(50);
-		trailWidget->setLayout(trailLayout);
+			m_backwardTrailButton = new QPushButton(ui);
+			m_backwardTrailButton->setObjectName("trail_button");
+			connect(m_backwardTrailButton, SIGNAL(clicked()), this, SLOT(clickedBackwardTrail()));
+
+			m_trailDepthLabel = new QLabel(ui);
+			m_trailDepthLabel->setObjectName("depth_label");
+			m_trailDepthLabel->setToolTip("adjust graph depth");
+			m_trailDepthLabel->setAlignment(Qt::AlignCenter);
+
+			m_trailDepthSlider = new QSlider(Qt::Vertical, ui);
+			m_trailDepthSlider->setObjectName("depth_slider");
+			m_trailDepthSlider->setToolTip("adjust graph depth");
+			m_trailDepthSlider->setMinimum(1);
+			m_trailDepthSlider->setMaximum(26);
+			m_trailDepthSlider->setValue(5);
+			connect(m_trailDepthSlider, SIGNAL(valueChanged(int)), this, SLOT(trailDepthChanged(int)));
+
+			m_collapseButton->setGeometry(0, 0, 26, 20);
+			m_backwardTrailButton->setGeometry(0, 22, 26, 26);
+			m_forwardTrailButton->setGeometry(0, 50, 26, 26);
+			m_trailDepthLabel->setGeometry(0, 78, 26, 26);
+			m_trailDepthSlider->setGeometry(0, 104, 26, 100);
+		}
+
+		m_trailWidget = new QWidget(widget);
+		m_trailWidget->setGeometry(8, 8, 26, 210);
+		m_trailWidget->setLayout(stack);
+
+		if (ApplicationSettings::getInstance()->getGraphControlsVisible())
+		{
+			clickedExpand();
+		}
+		else
+		{
+			clickedCollapse();
+		}
 
 		updateTrailButtons();
+		trailDepthChanged(0);
 	}
 
 	doRefreshView();
@@ -275,6 +310,22 @@ void QtGraphView::trailDepthChanged(int)
 	}
 }
 
+void QtGraphView::clickedCollapse()
+{
+	dynamic_cast<QStackedLayout*>(m_trailWidget->layout())->setCurrentIndex(0);
+
+	ApplicationSettings::getInstance()->setGraphControlsVisible(false);
+	ApplicationSettings::getInstance()->save();
+}
+
+void QtGraphView::clickedExpand()
+{
+	dynamic_cast<QStackedLayout*>(m_trailWidget->layout())->setCurrentIndex(1);
+
+	ApplicationSettings::getInstance()->setGraphControlsVisible(true);
+	ApplicationSettings::getInstance()->save();
+}
+
 void QtGraphView::clickedBackwardTrail()
 {
 	activateTrail(false);
@@ -350,40 +401,54 @@ void QtGraphView::updateTrailButtons()
 
 	m_backwardTrailButton->setEnabled(message.trailType);
 	m_forwardTrailButton->setEnabled(message.trailType);
+	m_trailDepthLabel->setEnabled(message.trailType);
 	m_trailDepthSlider->setEnabled(message.trailType);
 
+	std::string backwardImagePath;
+	std::string forwardImagePath;
+
 	if (message.trailType & Edge::EDGE_CALL)
 	{
-		m_backwardTrailButton->setToolTip("caller graph");
-		m_forwardTrailButton->setToolTip("callee graph");
+		m_backwardTrailButton->setToolTip("show caller graph");
+		m_forwardTrailButton->setToolTip("show callee graph");
 
-		m_backwardTrailButton->setText(">");
-		m_forwardTrailButton->setText("<");
+		backwardImagePath = "graph_left.png";
+		forwardImagePath = "graph_right.png";
 	}
 	else if (message.trailType & Edge::EDGE_INHERITANCE)
 	{
-		m_backwardTrailButton->setToolTip("base hierarchy");
-		m_forwardTrailButton->setToolTip("derived hierarchy");
+		m_backwardTrailButton->setToolTip("show base hierarchy");
+		m_forwardTrailButton->setToolTip("show derived hierarchy");
 
-		m_backwardTrailButton->setText("b");
-		m_forwardTrailButton->setText("d");
+		backwardImagePath = "graph_up.png";
+		forwardImagePath = "graph_down.png";
 	}
 	else if (message.trailType & Edge::EDGE_INCLUDE)
 	{
-		m_backwardTrailButton->setToolTip("including files hierarchy");
-		m_forwardTrailButton->setToolTip("included files hierarchy");
+		m_backwardTrailButton->setToolTip("show including files hierarchy");
+		m_forwardTrailButton->setToolTip("show included files hierarchy");
 
-		m_backwardTrailButton->setText(">");
-		m_forwardTrailButton->setText("<");
+		backwardImagePath = "graph_left.png";
+		forwardImagePath = "graph_right.png";
 	}
 	else
 	{
-		m_backwardTrailButton->setToolTip("no hierarchy available for active symbol");
-		m_forwardTrailButton->setToolTip("no hierarchy available for active symbol");
+		m_backwardTrailButton->setToolTip("no depth graph available for active symbol");
+		m_forwardTrailButton->setToolTip("no depth graph available for active symbol");
 
-		m_backwardTrailButton->setText(">");
-		m_forwardTrailButton->setText("<");
+		backwardImagePath = "graph_left.png";
+		forwardImagePath = "graph_right.png";
 	}
+
+	m_backwardTrailButton->setIcon(utility::createButtonIcon(
+		ResourcePaths::getGuiPath() + "graph_view/images/" + backwardImagePath,
+		"search/button"
+	));
+
+	m_forwardTrailButton->setIcon(utility::createButtonIcon(
+		ResourcePaths::getGuiPath() + "graph_view/images/" + forwardImagePath,
+		"search/button"
+	));
 }
 
 void QtGraphView::switchToNewGraphData()
@@ -583,8 +648,21 @@ void QtGraphView::doRefreshView()
 
 	std::string css = utility::getStyleSheet(ResourcePaths::getGuiPath() + "graph_view/graph_view.css");
 	view->setStyleSheet(css.c_str());
-
 	view->setAppZoomFactor(GraphViewStyle::getZoomFactor());
+
+	m_trailWidget->setStyleSheet(css.c_str());
+
+	m_expandButton->setIcon(utility::createButtonIcon(
+		ResourcePaths::getGuiPath() + "graph_view/images/graph.png",
+		"search/button"
+	));
+
+	m_collapseButton->setIcon(utility::createButtonIcon(
+		ResourcePaths::getGuiPath() + "graph_view/images/graph_arrow.png",
+		"search/button"
+	));
+
+	updateTrailButtons();
 }
 
 std::shared_ptr<QtGraphNode> QtGraphView::findNodeRecursive(const std::list<std::shared_ptr<QtGraphNode>>& nodes, Id tokenId)
@@ -772,7 +850,7 @@ QRectF QtGraphView::getSceneRect(const std::list<std::shared_ptr<QtGraphNode>>&
 		sceneRect |= rect;
 	}
 
-	return sceneRect.adjusted(-25, -75, 25, 25).translated(m_sceneRectOffset);
+	return sceneRect.adjusted(-25, -25, 25, 25).translated(m_sceneRectOffset);
 }
 
 void QtGraphView::compareNodesRecursive(
diff --git a/src/lib_gui/qt/view/QtGraphView.h b/src/lib_gui/qt/view/QtGraphView.h
index 88db218a..a355c8b0 100644
--- a/src/lib_gui/qt/view/QtGraphView.h
+++ b/src/lib_gui/qt/view/QtGraphView.h
@@ -63,6 +63,10 @@ private slots:
 	void scrolled(int);
 
 	void trailDepthChanged(int);
+
+	void clickedCollapse();
+	void clickedExpand();
+
 	void clickedBackwardTrail();
 	void clickedForwardTrail();
 
@@ -144,6 +148,9 @@ private:
 	QtScrollSpeedChangeListener m_scrollSpeedChangeListenerHorizontal;
 	QtScrollSpeedChangeListener m_scrollSpeedChangeListenerVertical;
 
+	QWidget* m_trailWidget;
+	QPushButton* m_expandButton;
+	QPushButton* m_collapseButton;
 	QPushButton* m_forwardTrailButton;
 	QPushButton* m_backwardTrailButton;
 	QSlider* m_trailDepthSlider;