Gmail Redesign UX Case Study: Personal Hobby Project

As a graduate student, Gmail was my lifeline for university communications. Yet, like many, I often missed critical emails buried under promotional clutter. Frustrated by this recurring problem, I decided to reimagine Gmail as a personal project, exploring how AI could transform it into a smarter, more intuitive platform. This case study reflects my journey of identifying pain points, brainstorming with peers, and creating mockups for an improved Gmail experience.

Introduction

My Role

UX Designer & Researcher

Project

Self Initiated Concept Project

Timeline

1 Week (2021)

Tools Used

Figma, Google Docs

Act 1: The Problem

Managing emails is a universal struggle, especially in a high-pressure academic environment. Despite its popularity, Gmail’s design often leaves users overwhelmed.

Key Challenges I Observed:

  • Important Emails Overlooked: Critical university updates were lost amidst promotional emails.

  • Inefficient Search: Finding specific emails was time-consuming.

  • Lack of Prioritization: No clear way to focus on what matters most.

Act 2: The Idea

Through casual conversations with peers, I realized I wasn’t alone. We brainstormed ways Gmail could be smarter, more proactive, and user-friendly.

Proposed Features:

  1. Smart Inbox Prioritization

    • Automatically highlight emails deemed important based on sender and context.

    • Group promotions and less critical emails into a separate section.

  2. AI-Powered Search

    • Predictive search to surface relevant results even before a query is fully typed.

    • Summarized emails and actionable suggestions (e.g., calendar invites, reminders).

Act 3: The Research

This project was informal, relying on insights from personal experiences and peer discussions.
What We Noticed:

  • Common Struggles: Many peers also missed important emails amidst clutter.

  • Interest in AI Tools: Suggestions like smarter categorization and automated summaries resonated strongly.

  • Desire for Simplicity: Overcomplicated interfaces deterred many from exploring advanced Gmail features.

I created low-fidelity mockups to visualize my ideas.

Highlights:

  1. Smart Inbox Layout: A clean, focused interface with clearly prioritized sections.

  2. Enhanced Search Bar: Predictive and intuitive, making email discovery faster.

  3. Email Summaries: Condensed views with actionable insights for quick decision-making.

Design goals included minimizing cognitive load and ensuring the features aligned with real user needs.

Act 4: Designing Mockups

Act 5: Reflection

Although this was a personal project, it was a valuable learning experience:

  • Lesson 1: Email management is deeply personal, and flexibility is key.

  • Lesson 2: Even small AI-driven enhancements could significantly improve productivity.

  • Lesson 3: User feedback—even informal—is vital in uncovering blind spots.