← All work
Unified Inbox
Two ways to work. One inbox.
A unified workspace for email, SMS, OTA messaging, and internal notes, designed to move the product forward without breaking how people already work.
My role
Design lead: direction and reviews
Team
Me + 1 designer, with product owners
Platform
Web, responsive
Channels
Email, SMS, OTA, internal notes
Inbox
Messages
Threads
⌕
Search conversations
All
Unread
Assigned to me
Snoozed
MA
Maria Alvarez
9:42
Could we check in a little earlier on Thursday?
JC
James Chen
OTA
9:15
Is parking included with the loft?
HK
Housekeeping
Note
8:58
Unit 4B ready after 2 PM inspection.
RO
Rosa Okafor
SMS
Yesterday
Thanks! The code worked perfectly.
DK
Daniel Kim
Yesterday
Requesting an invoice for our stay.
AR
Ana Rossi
OTA
Mon
Do you allow small dogs?
TL
Tom Lee
SMS
Mon
Running about 30 minutes late.
MA
Maria Alvarez
Harbor Loft · Oct 16 – 21
Assign
Snooze
Archive
Today
Maria Alvarez
Email · 9:42
Hi! We land early on Thursday. Could we check in a little before 4 PM?
Sam Rivera
Internal note
9:48
Cleaners finish around 1 PM. Early check-in looks possible.
You
Email · 9:51
Hi Maria, happy to help. We can have the loft ready by 2 PM on Thursday. I’ll send the door code that morning.
SMS
Internal note
Thanks for letting us know. Your door code will arrive Thursday at 8 AM.
Saved replies
Templates
✦ Improve with AI
Send
CONTACT
MA
Maria Alvarez
Returning guest · 3 stays
maria.a@example.com
Phone
(555) 014-2290
RESERVATION
Property
Harbor Loft
Dates
Oct 16 – 21
Guests
2 adults
Status
Confirmed
ACTIVITY
Booked via OTA · Sep 28
Pre-arrival email sent · Oct 9
Early check-in requested · Today
Visuals are original illustrations created for this portfolio and do not depict proprietary product screens.
The market moved to conversations. Daily habits didn’t.
Communication tools have shifted from individual messages to threaded conversations. But the existing message-based workflow was part of people’s daily routine, with established habits and muscle memory behind it. Replacing it outright would have traded one problem for another.
Evolve the product. Keep the workflow.
Instead of replacing the familiar model, the inbox supports both. Message View keeps the message-by-message workflow people know. Threaded View groups communication into conversations. Teams move to the modern model at their own pace, and the product evolves without forcing anyone to relearn it.
2 selected
Assign
Mark as read
Archive
From
Channel
Message
Received
✓
Maria Alvarez
Could we check in a little earlier?
9:42
✓
James Chen
OTA
Is parking included with the loft?
9:15
Maria Alvarez
Thank you for the quick reply!
9:03
Rosa Okafor
SMS
Thanks! The code worked perfectly.
Yest.
Daniel Kim
Requesting an invoice for our stay.
Yest.
Ana Rossi
OTA
Do you allow small dogs?
Mon
Message View
Familiar, message by message
Maria Alvarez
3 messages
James Chen
OTA
2 messages
Rosa Okafor
SMS
4 messages
Daniel Kim
1 message
Ana Rossi
OTA
2 messages
Maria Alvarez
Could we check in a little earlier on Thursday?
We can have the loft ready by 2 PM.
Thank you for the quick reply!
Reply to Maria…
Threaded View
Grouped into conversations
Two interaction models, one inbox.
4
channels in one workspace
2
interaction models
3
panels of context
Every channel. Full context.
Email, SMS, OTA messages, and internal notes live side by side, each clearly labeled. Threaded View uses a dense, three-column layout: the conversation list, the active conversation with its composer, and the contact and reservation details needed to respond, all on one screen.
Depth where daily work needs it.
Assignment, search and filters, read and unread, starring, snoozing, pinning, and archiving. Saved replies, templates, and AI-assisted writing. Contact creation and merging, message history, bulk actions, follow-up states, role-based information, and responsive behavior.
AI inside the composer.
AI-assisted writing sits where replies are written, not in a separate tool. A rough draft becomes a polished reply, and the person sending it stays in control of what goes out.
SMS
Internal note
hi maria yes early checkin is fine we will send the code thursday
Saved replies
Templates
✦ Improve with AI
Send
→
✦
Suggested rewrite
· in your brand voice
Hi Maria, early check-in on Thursday is no problem. We’ll have the loft ready by 2 PM and send your door code that morning. Safe travels!
Friendlier
Shorter
More formal
Replace draft
Regenerate
Discard
A rough draft, rewritten in the brand’s voice. The sender decides.
The unified view customers asked for.
The direction came from clients: they asked clearly for a threaded view, and a group of client beta testers, plus usability sessions where possible, shaped the details. Adoption was strong and the feedback very positive, and keeping Message View meant no one was forced to change how they work.
Leading through direction.
I led the Unified Inbox and set its direction, including the decision to support both interaction models. A designer on my team did the hands-on design, working from my direction and reviews.
The strongest product evolutions don’t ask people to forget what they know. They build on it.
Next case study
AI as a platform capability →
Product design leader. Design functions,
systems, and products for complex SaaS.
Work
Web design system
Native design system
Unified Inbox
AI capability
About
About
Résumé
© 2026 Alina Dohotaru
Visuals are original illustrations and do not depict proprietary product screens.
← All work
Unified Inbox
Two ways to work. One inbox.
A unified workspace for email, SMS, OTA messaging, and internal notes, designed to move the product forward without breaking how people already work.
My role
Design lead: direction and reviews
Team
Me + 1 designer, with product owners
Platform
Web, responsive
Channels
Email, SMS, OTA, internal notes
Inbox
Messages
Threads
⌕
Search conversations
All
Unread
Assigned to me
Snoozed
MA
Maria Alvarez
9:42
Could we check in a little earlier on Thursday?
JC
James Chen
OTA
9:15
Is parking included with the loft?
HK
Housekeeping
Note
8:58
Unit 4B ready after 2 PM inspection.
RO
Rosa Okafor
SMS
Yesterday
Thanks! The code worked perfectly.
DK
Daniel Kim
Yesterday
Requesting an invoice for our stay.
AR
Ana Rossi
OTA
Mon
Do you allow small dogs?
TL
Tom Lee
SMS
Mon
Running about 30 minutes late.
MA
Maria Alvarez
Harbor Loft · Oct 16 – 21
Assign
Snooze
Archive
Today
Maria Alvarez
Email · 9:42
Hi! We land early on Thursday. Could we check in a little before 4 PM?
Sam Rivera
Internal note
9:48
Cleaners finish around 1 PM. Early check-in looks possible.
You
Email · 9:51
Hi Maria, happy to help. We can have the loft ready by 2 PM on Thursday. I’ll send the door code that morning.
SMS
Internal note
Thanks for letting us know. Your door code will arrive Thursday at 8 AM.
Saved replies
Templates
✦ Improve with AI
Send
CONTACT
MA
Maria Alvarez
Returning guest · 3 stays
maria.a@example.com
Phone
(555) 014-2290
RESERVATION
Property
Harbor Loft
Dates
Oct 16 – 21
Guests
2 adults
Status
Confirmed
ACTIVITY
Booked via OTA · Sep 28
Pre-arrival email sent · Oct 9
Early check-in requested · Today
Visuals are original illustrations created for this portfolio and do not depict proprietary product screens.
The market moved to conversations. Daily habits didn’t.
Communication tools have shifted from individual messages to threaded conversations. But the existing message-based workflow was part of people’s daily routine, with established habits and muscle memory behind it. Replacing it outright would have traded one problem for another.
Evolve the product. Keep the workflow.
Instead of replacing the familiar model, the inbox supports both. Message View keeps the message-by-message workflow people know. Threaded View groups communication into conversations. Teams move to the modern model at their own pace, and the product evolves without forcing anyone to relearn it.
2 selected
Assign
Mark as read
Archive
From
Channel
Message
Received
✓
Maria Alvarez
Could we check in a little earlier?
9:42
✓
James Chen
OTA
Is parking included with the loft?
9:15
Maria Alvarez
Thank you for the quick reply!
9:03
Rosa Okafor
SMS
Thanks! The code worked perfectly.
Yest.
Daniel Kim
Requesting an invoice for our stay.
Yest.
Ana Rossi
OTA
Do you allow small dogs?
Mon
Message View
Familiar, message by message
Maria Alvarez
3 messages
James Chen
OTA
2 messages
Rosa Okafor
SMS
4 messages
Daniel Kim
1 message
Ana Rossi
OTA
2 messages
Maria Alvarez
Could we check in a little earlier on Thursday?
We can have the loft ready by 2 PM.
Thank you for the quick reply!
Reply to Maria…
Threaded View
Grouped into conversations
Two interaction models, one inbox.
4
channels in one workspace
2
interaction models
3
panels of context
Every channel. Full context.
Email, SMS, OTA messages, and internal notes live side by side, each clearly labeled. Threaded View uses a dense, three-column layout: the conversation list, the active conversation with its composer, and the contact and reservation details needed to respond, all on one screen.
Depth where daily work needs it.
Assignment, search and filters, read and unread, starring, snoozing, pinning, and archiving. Saved replies, templates, and AI-assisted writing. Contact creation and merging, message history, bulk actions, follow-up states, role-based information, and responsive behavior.
AI inside the composer.
AI-assisted writing sits where replies are written, not in a separate tool. A rough draft becomes a polished reply, and the person sending it stays in control of what goes out.
SMS
Internal note
hi maria yes early checkin is fine we will send the code thursday
Saved replies
Templates
✦ Improve with AI
Send
→
✦
Suggested rewrite
· in your brand voice
Hi Maria, early check-in on Thursday is no problem. We’ll have the loft ready by 2 PM and send your door code that morning. Safe travels!
Friendlier
Shorter
More formal
Replace draft
Regenerate
Discard
A rough draft, rewritten in the brand’s voice. The sender decides.
The unified view customers asked for.
The direction came from clients: they asked clearly for a threaded view, and a group of client beta testers, plus usability sessions where possible, shaped the details. Adoption was strong and the feedback very positive, and keeping Message View meant no one was forced to change how they work.
Leading through direction.
I led the Unified Inbox and set its direction, including the decision to support both interaction models. A designer on my team did the hands-on design, working from my direction and reviews.
The strongest product evolutions don’t ask people to forget what they know. They build on it.
Next case study
AI as a platform capability →
Product design leader. Design functions,
systems, and products for complex SaaS.
Work
Web design system
Native design system
Unified Inbox
AI capability
About
About
Résumé
Contact
aln.dohotaru@gmail.com
© 2026 Alina Dohotaru
Visuals are original illustrations and do not depict proprietary product screens.
← All work
Unified Inbox
Two ways to work. One inbox.
A unified workspace for email, SMS, OTA messaging, and internal notes, designed to move the product forward without breaking how people already work.
My role
Design lead: direction and reviews
Team
Me + 1 designer, with product owners
Platform
Web, responsive
Channels
Email, SMS, OTA, internal notes
Inbox
Messages
Threads
⌕
Search conversations
All
Unread
Assigned to me
Snoozed
MA
Maria Alvarez
9:42
Could we check in a little earlier on Thursday?
JC
James Chen
OTA
9:15
Is parking included with the loft?
HK
Housekeeping
Note
8:58
Unit 4B ready after 2 PM inspection.
RO
Rosa Okafor
SMS
Yesterday
Thanks! The code worked perfectly.
DK
Daniel Kim
Yesterday
Requesting an invoice for our stay.
AR
Ana Rossi
OTA
Mon
Do you allow small dogs?
TL
Tom Lee
SMS
Mon
Running about 30 minutes late.
MA
Maria Alvarez
Harbor Loft · Oct 16 – 21
Assign
Snooze
Archive
Today
Maria Alvarez
Email · 9:42
Hi! We land early on Thursday. Could we check in a little before 4 PM?
Sam Rivera
Internal note
9:48
Cleaners finish around 1 PM. Early check-in looks possible.
You
Email · 9:51
Hi Maria, happy to help. We can have the loft ready by 2 PM on Thursday. I’ll send the door code that morning.
SMS
Internal note
Thanks for letting us know. Your door code will arrive Thursday at 8 AM.
Saved replies
Templates
✦ Improve with AI
Send
CONTACT
MA
Maria Alvarez
Returning guest · 3 stays
maria.a@example.com
Phone
(555) 014-2290
RESERVATION
Property
Harbor Loft
Dates
Oct 16 – 21
Guests
2 adults
Status
Confirmed
ACTIVITY
Booked via OTA · Sep 28
Pre-arrival email sent · Oct 9
Early check-in requested · Today
Visuals are original illustrations created for this portfolio and do not depict proprietary product screens.
The market moved to conversations. Daily habits didn’t.
Communication tools have shifted from individual messages to threaded conversations. But the existing message-based workflow was part of people’s daily routine, with established habits and muscle memory behind it. Replacing it outright would have traded one problem for another.
Evolve the product. Keep the workflow.
Instead of replacing the familiar model, the inbox supports both. Message View keeps the message-by-message workflow people know. Threaded View groups communication into conversations. Teams move to the modern model at their own pace, and the product evolves without forcing anyone to relearn it.
2 selected
Assign
Mark as read
Archive
From
Channel
Message
Received
✓
Maria Alvarez
Could we check in a little earlier?
9:42
✓
James Chen
OTA
Is parking included with the loft?
9:15
Maria Alvarez
Thank you for the quick reply!
9:03
Rosa Okafor
SMS
Thanks! The code worked perfectly.
Yest.
Daniel Kim
Requesting an invoice for our stay.
Yest.
Ana Rossi
OTA
Do you allow small dogs?
Mon
Message View
Familiar, message by message
Maria Alvarez
3 messages
James Chen
OTA
2 messages
Rosa Okafor
SMS
4 messages
Daniel Kim
1 message
Ana Rossi
OTA
2 messages
Maria Alvarez
Could we check in a little earlier on Thursday?
We can have the loft ready by 2 PM.
Thank you for the quick reply!
Reply to Maria…
Threaded View
Grouped into conversations
Two interaction models, one inbox.
4
channels in one workspace
2
interaction models
3
panels of context
Every channel. Full context.
Email, SMS, OTA messages, and internal notes live side by side, each clearly labeled. Threaded View uses a dense, three-column layout: the conversation list, the active conversation with its composer, and the contact and reservation details needed to respond, all on one screen.
Depth where daily work needs it.
Assignment, search and filters, read and unread, starring, snoozing, pinning, and archiving. Saved replies, templates, and AI-assisted writing. Contact creation and merging, message history, bulk actions, follow-up states, role-based information, and responsive behavior.
AI inside the composer.
AI-assisted writing sits where replies are written, not in a separate tool. A rough draft becomes a polished reply, and the person sending it stays in control of what goes out.
SMS
Internal note
hi maria yes early checkin is fine we will send the code thursday
Saved replies
Templates
✦ Improve with AI
Send
→
✦
Suggested rewrite
· in your brand voice
Hi Maria, early check-in on Thursday is no problem. We’ll have the loft ready by 2 PM and send your door code that morning. Safe travels!
Friendlier
Shorter
More formal
Replace draft
Regenerate
Discard
A rough draft, rewritten in the brand’s voice. The sender decides.
The unified view customers asked for.
The direction came from clients: they asked clearly for a threaded view, and a group of client beta testers, plus usability sessions where possible, shaped the details. Adoption was strong and the feedback very positive, and keeping Message View meant no one was forced to change how they work.
Leading through direction.
I led the Unified Inbox and set its direction, including the decision to support both interaction models. A designer on my team did the hands-on design, working from my direction and reviews.
The strongest product evolutions don’t ask people to forget what they know. They build on it.
Next case study
AI as a platform capability →
Product design leader. Design functions,
systems, and products for complex SaaS.
Work
Web design system
Native design system
Unified Inbox
AI capability
About
About
Résumé
© 2026 Alina Dohotaru
Visuals are original illustrations and do not depict proprietary product screens.