After Notes 8 was released, we began hearing that users occasionally didn’t notice important items (like meeting invitations) in their Inbox. 

But why?   Was it because the icons were too small?  Was it because they were too similar to each other?  Or could we improve scanning by removing icons for mail messages that had already been read?  To find out, we conducted a timed experiment:  24 participants found target items on 72 Inbox screens that differed from each other in the icon size, distinctiveness, and whether or not icons were included for read messages.  We also asked these participants and several other groups of customers which designs they preferred.

Results showed that we could greatly improve scanning by making the icons more distinctive from each other.  Making the icons bigger (within our constraints) didn’t help.   Users strongly preferred eliminating the icons for already-read mail messages.

So, in Notes 8.5 you will see an Inbox that’s easier to scan, with 10 improved icons for mail message types.  The biggest changes are removing the icon for read mail and using a blue star for unread mail.  We also adjusted meeting workflow items so that the most time-dependent ones (e.g., new invitation, reschedules, cancellations) stand out and those that are not so time-dependant (e.g., an invitee has accepted your meeting) are subtler.  No other changes were made to the icon grid.

Icons are a very tricky, visible part of the user experience, so Denise Shaw, our visual designer, drew and redrew them more times than she can count until we were all satisfied.  Now those of us using the new icons find that we need a new excuse for missing meetings!