Product Design

Gmail

Redesigning Gmail

May 12, 2020

About the Redesigning series:

Each week, we explore a popular tech product or service. We start by evaluating the product’s strengths and overall business strategy. In this process, we can understand the target audience, key metrics of success, and design principles.

From here, I try to find ways to fundamentally improve the product, with a focus on improving user experience and understanding company priorities. 

Understanding Gmail

1. 

Launched in 2006, Gmail introduced consumers to seemingly unlimited storage space and powerful spam filters. 

2. 

Unlike competitors at the time, Gmail was invite-only. It launched first on college campuses, spread among Ivy league institutions. Word quickly spread, and a Gmail invite became a hot commodity. 

Target Audience

While Google’s greatest ambitions are for Gmail to become the default email client for anyone on the internet, they focus their features on 2 primary audiences: 1.) the most tech-savvy, who demand advanced features like email scheduling and undo, and 2.) business customers through G Suite. 

Key Engagement Metrics

For a product as important as Gmail, big changes are few and far between. Google’s decisions on Gmail are heavily influenced by hard data, including: # of emails sent, time spent on Gmail, # of devices users are signed in on, etc. Any improvements or redesigns will need to definitively up these metrics.

Future Development

Comprehend

Redesign is a
big word — what is the scope of this exercise?

Redesign Gmail with an Emphasis on Improving G Suite Engagement

G Suite is Google’s SaaS bundle of administration software, including a version of Gmail where companies can specify custom domains, logos, and other defaults. In this exercise, we will attempt to redesign Gmail in G Suite to better service these enterprise clients.

Identify

Who are we targeting? How many kinds of users are there?

Who are these “Enterprise Clients”?  

G Suite is Google’s SaaS bundle of administration software, including a version of Gmail where companies can specify custom domains, logos, and other defaults. In this exercise, we will attempt to redesign Gmail in G Suite to better service these enterprise clients.

Report Needs

Are all clients in this user group the same? How do they use the product?

What do “Enterprise Clients” do? How do they use Gmail? 

G Suite is Google’s SaaS bundle of administration software, including a version of Gmail where companies can specify custom domains, logos, and other defaults. In this exercise, we will attempt to redesign Gmail in G Suite to better service these enterprise clients.

Cut; Prioritize

Okay — we can’t do it all. Pick one. Why? 

What do “Enterprise Clients” do? How do they use Gmail? 

G Suite is Google’s SaaS bundle of administration software, including a version of Gmail where companies can specify custom domains, logos, and other defaults. In this exercise, we will attempt to redesign Gmail in G Suite to better service these enterprise clients.

List Solutions

The moment we’ve all been waiting for.

What do “Enterprise Clients” do? How do they use Gmail? 

G Suite is Google’s SaaS bundle of administration software, including a version of Gmail where companies can specify custom domains, logos, and other defaults. In this exercise, we will attempt to redesign Gmail in G Suite to better service these enterprise clients.

Evaluate

Sadly, not every idea can be built. What are strengths and weaknesses? Which one do you pick?

What do “Enterprise Clients” do? How do they use Gmail? 

G Suite is Google’s SaaS bundle of administration software, including a version of Gmail where companies can specify custom domains, logos, and other defaults. In this exercise, we will attempt to redesign Gmail in G Suite to better service these enterprise clients.

Summary

Here’s the idea.
Here’s why it’ll work.

What do “Enterprise Clients” do? How do they use Gmail? 

G Suite is Google’s SaaS bundle of administration software, including a version of Gmail where companies can specify custom domains, logos, and other defaults. In this exercise, we will attempt to redesign Gmail in G Suite to better service these enterprise clients.

© Benson Lao                                                                                                                                                      All Rights Reserved