BRIEF:
Consider the methodology and implementation of your solutions. Research the technologies you will need and the methods of how they can be applied to make you proposals a reality. This will help ensure your solutions are feasible. Start bringing your proposed interactions into a visual form as UI prototypes. You can redesign the interface entirely, or offer small changes - whatever is needed for your proposed solution. Start with broad strokes and general layout
Research
The problem with Windows Mail is mainly that the email client has a very lackluster structure and that there is no way to efficiently and easily organize emails. A user would normally rely on the search bar to find emails that have not been organized. Widows Mail does make the search hard for users as you cannot search for contacts or names, and the search takes a lot of time to load. There is also no way to create custom flaggings or filter emails. Overall Windows Mail lacks of features and functions that encourages customization for users by their needs.
Further research
We made further research by looking into more email clients and functions that are similar to the ones we are implementing for Windows Mail. After looking at many other clients it seemed more than feasible for our solutions to easily be implemented. We mainly focused on clients who had similar functions, and researched how they work and what they do.
Smart inboxes and Smart labels
Apple Mail allows for users to customize smart inboxes. Users can decide the inbox name, who or what conditions the mailbox follows to filter emails. Additionally it can include removed emails from the main inbox. Google Gmail has a similar function called Smart Labels that helps you organize emails. It can automatically categorize emails by categories such as Bulk, Notification and Forum messages, and labels the inboxes that as well.
Flags and Importance markers
Outlook Mail and Windows mail are similar in the functionality that you can flag emails. But the flag system is limited to only one flag. Apple Mail is one client example where you have the options of multiple different colored flags which can help you organize emails even better. Google Gmail also has an importance marker that you can mark your important messages with. Gmail will eventually learn behaviors and patterns with contacts that are often marked as important and autamatically mark these emails as important for the user.
Low Fidelity Prototypes
Method 1: Smart Folders
Method 2: Importance Priority Setting
Windows Mail currently only offers one function to mark emails of importance which is by flagging it. The flag is only available as one function and only comes in one color so if you receive a lot of important emails, the flag may be overused and defeat the purpose of becoming organized when it comes to important emails.
Rather than implementing multiple colors, we decided to add a importance function with priority from low to high. Adding importance to your email will also showcase a small colored bar next to the conversation so you can easily see when a new important email is in your inbox. Simultaneously with the smart boxes a user could filter the most important emails, or any important emails, to go to a smart inbox
Method 3: Email Efficiency Dashboard
Email Efficiency Dashboard enhances overall email organization by prioritizing crucial emails, setting daily goals to encourage better email management habits, and minimizing inbox clutter through actionable insights and tailored recommendations. As a result, users can maintain a well-organized inbox, leading to improved productivity and a more efficient email experience.