The Exchange Notifications System was designed to address a significant communication gap within the platform. Prior to this initiative, users were inundated with email notifications, many of which were buried in their inboxes, resulting in missed action-required tasks and delayed responses. The project aimed to centralize all urgent tasks, informational updates, and announcements into a single, intuitive notification hub, empowering users to act quickly and manage their communication more efficiently.

Design Process & Iterative Collaboration
Research & Discovery:
The design process began with a comprehensive exploration of the problem space. We conducted extensive user research, including interviews and surveys across various job categories, to understand pain points with the existing notification system. Users expressed frustration with fragmented communication, relying on email as the primary mode of notification, which lacked prioritization and structure for their workflows. To create an efficient solution, we mapped out how notifications were flowing from multiple data sources through Core Event Services (CES) and identified how the new system could centralize and streamline these communications.

Collaborative Design:
Working closely with product managers, technical leads, and stakeholders, we collaborated to define the scope and key functionality of the new system. We designed a real-time communication hub that consolidated notifications with functionalities such as task assignment, pinning for later, previewing details, and archiving. Throughout the design process, we continuously iterated on solutions and integrated feedback from cross-functional teams to ensure we were addressing both user needs and technical constraints.

User Testing & Iterative Refinement
User Flows & Wireframing:
To visualize how notifications would flow within the system, we conducted several collaborative whiteboarding sessions to map the user and process flows. These sessions allowed us to design an intuitive notification structure that would help users easily identify critical tasks and take immediate action. Wireframing was the next step, where we explored layout variations, content containers, and interaction models. Through multiple iterations, we refined the user experience, ensuring that notifications were easy to manage and prioritize.

A/B/C Testing & User Feedback:
Once we had semi-hi-fidelity prototypes, we conducted A/B/C testing with users from five different job categories. This phase focused on evaluating user preferences regarding layout, color schemes, tab organization, and filtering options. The goal was to ensure the design met the specific needs of users across various workflows. Feedback from these tests was instrumental in fine-tuning the visual hierarchy and interaction patterns to better support task prioritization and quick action.

Refinement & Final Testing:
Following the A/B testing phase, we refined the design into high-fidelity mockups and conducted a final round of usability testing to ensure the system was intuitive, efficient, and met the needs of users. This included testing core features such as filter selections, the ability to prioritize tasks, and how users interacted with notifications. The insights from this final round allowed us to make necessary adjustments before launch, ensuring the product was as effective as possible for the V1 release.

Results-Driven Impact
Enhanced Efficiency & User Engagement:
The redesigned Exchange Notifications system resulted in a substantial improvement in how users interacted with the platform. By consolidating notifications into a central space, users could more easily manage urgent tasks and keep track of ongoing updates, reducing the noise created by email-based communication. The result was a 50% reduction in non-regulatory email notifications and a 30% increase in task completion rates within the first month of launch. These improvements were directly linked to the system’s ability to streamline communication and empower users to take action more quickly.

Ongoing Iteration & Future Enhancements:
The V1 launch of the system was a success, driving immediate improvements in task efficiency and user satisfaction. As we continue to gather user feedback and monitor usage metrics, we plan to enhance the system further with additional features such as bulk archiving, pinning for later, and aggregated notifications in V2. This ongoing iterative process ensures that we are continuously evolving the system to better serve user needs and business goals.