rundown
type
timeline
tools
Updates were going unseen
Students and companies were missing important GIG program updates such as start dates, submission deadlines, reimbursements, and task changes.
Reports of confusion and missed opportunities surfaced from the lack of a robust notification system. My goal was to find a way for the platform to notify users of important events and actions.
Creating a comprehensive email system
I began by exploring the platform and observing how current users navigated it, focusing on where emails could drive action and improve clarity. I looked at:
Which emails already existed and if they were relevant
Whether the emails needed to be updated to new design system
Where there was no confirmation for essential actions/events in the platform
Key opportunities for notifications
Program date updates
Expense reimbursements
Invoices paid
Subscription plan updates
Samples requested or sent
Designing for scale
To reduce future design and dev work, I created email templates for four key categories. Each template is mobile-friendly, uses reusable components, and supports dynamic data.
Transactional
Confirm payments, updates
Dates
Program date changes
Events
Drive time-sensitive behavior
How it works
New user onboarding
Implementation considerations
Some emails relied on a Stripe webhook, while others used custom logic tied to the platform's workflows
I created each email to be optimized for mobile and componentized for scale. Each relied on dynamic user data (e.g. GIG name, due date, or student information), making them personalized and event-driven.
Reimbursement trigger and notification flow
testing my code @H\FC HQ!
Tackling the development
Here's how I went about implementing the emails:
Learned React + JavaScript in three days
Reviewed codebase to understand trigger logic
Created emails in React Email with modular components
Placed triggers inside backend logic (e.g., on reimbursement approval, program dates changed, GIG ended, etc…)
Exciting outcomes
I’m proud to have contributed to the backend & design of outstanding email performance.
In a world of fragmented attention, effective email design can serve as a subtle yet powerful driver of retention, satisfaction, and loyalty. These numbers show how engaged a community is with the right notifications!
