Simon Says: Exploring the Importance of Notification Design Formats on User Engagement

TL;DR

The paper investigates how notification design formats, specifically color and urgency, affect user engagement using a Simon Says–style prototype. It measures interaction time $IT = T_r - T_s$ across three colors and three categories under urgent and non-urgent conditions, analyzing outcomes (Accepted, Dismissed, Ignored) and post-experiment survey responses. Key findings show color and urgency jointly shape engagement: red is more likely to be accepted for urgent content, while non-urgent signals yield longer interaction times and more dismissals; urgent contexts exhibit stronger category–status associations. The work suggests practical design guidance for notification systems, including user customization and integration with focus-modulation features, while noting limitations in sample diversity and ecological validity. The study advances understanding of how visual cues and urgency cues modulate attention and response in notification-rich environments.

Abstract

Push notifications are brief messages that users frequently encounter in their daily lives. However, the volume of notifications can lead to information overload, making it challenging for users to engage effectively. This study investigates how notification behavior and color influence user interaction and perception. To explore this, we developed an app prototype that tracks user interactions with notifications, categorizing them as accepted, dismissed, or ignored. After each interaction, users were asked to complete a survey regarding their perception of the notifications. The study focused on how different notification colors might affect the likelihood of acceptance and perceived importance. The results reveal that certain colors were more likely to be accepted and were perceived as more important compared to others, suggesting that both color and behavior play significant roles in shaping user engagement with notifications.

Figures (4)

• Figure 1: Color vs Status Heatmap
• Figure 2: Category vs Status Heatmap
• Figure 3: Most preferred color per category
• Figure 4: Least preferred color per category