LinkedIn User Study

Overview

The study analyzed how professionals perceive and respond to notifications on LinkedIn. Through usability testing and heuristic evaluation, it became clear that users face notification fatigue, often missing crucial updates due to irrelevant or overwhelming alerts. The redesign focused on relevance, timing, and control, balancing productivity with connection.

Research Findings

• •Conducted 12 user interviews with recruiters, designers, and job seekers.
• •83% of participants said they ignored LinkedIn notifications because they appeared "too often and with low relevance."
• •Users wanted personalized control — the ability to categorize or mute topics easily.

Key Problems

• •Overlapping notifications (e.g., likes, comments, endorsements).
• •Lack of visual hierarchy made it hard to see what's actually important.
• •Intrusive "You may know" prompts disrupted focus sessions.

Key Solutions

• •Smart grouping & relevance filters — automatically cluster related alerts.
• •Focus Mode — pauses low-priority notifications during deep work.
• •Improved visual hierarchy — new color and weight distinctions between critical vs. social alerts.
• •User-defined priority settings with one-tap customization.

Process

• •Heuristic analysis using Nielsen's 10 Usability Principles.
• •Low-fidelity wireframes → mid-fi prototypes → user testing with 6 professionals.
• •Feedback led to refinements in language tone and notification frequency logic.