Here's some pictures of how I feel it would look.
Single Item:
Inventory:
Deconstruction Window:
Green Graduation Cap = This Item has a Trait on it that you can research. You don't know this trait for this item yet, give it a GO.
Red Graduation Cap = This Item has a trait on it you already know, STOP holding on to it.
Red Hour Glass = You're in the process of researching this trait, again STOP wasting bank space with this.
It would obviously apply to the bank, guild bank, guild store, vendors, trades (and maybe loot windows?) as well, but I figured you got the point.
PS: If you feel the Icons on the Inventory Windows and Deconstruction Windows are too overwhelming, even just including the icons for the individual item would be a huge help (see image #1). Or the option to toggle icons on particular windows so you could have the best of both worlds.