Jon Friedman started as a design intern at Microsoft. This week, he was named Microsoft’s first Chief Design Officer. That title is a result of design progress and also an indication of a future where we build not just faster, but better.
Get his full reflections on microsoft.design đź“Ś
What looks effortless often isn’t.
When it comes to the packaging your Microsoft products come in, it's the result of many engineering and design hours spent creating a beautiful experience that protects your product just as well as before, but this time, with nearly no single-use plastic.
From paper-based cushioning to precision testing, this box is so much more than, just a box.
As we move toward an AI-forward design system, an early but essential part of that transformation is how Copilot shows up in Office.
Across apps. Across tasks. Across moments.
Not restarting every time you switch context.
Not waiting for perfect prompts.
Just present. Continuous. In flow.
As the thoughtful partner you need.
#Copilot #M365
Did it hallucinate? Did it run properly? Is it compliant? AI experiences can pass model evaluations through many lenses yet still fail to meet user needs. #uxr can help teams both build the right thing and build the thing right.
What links cinematic effects with vibe-coding to design widgets?
Microsoft designer You Zhang ( @atom63_ ) draws on varied experience and AI as an “engineering partner” to bridge the gap between concept and product.
#SelfPortraits is our new series on designers’ personal projects and processes.
Design is changing rapidly - and it's evolving around your unique needs.
Explore interactive examples from our Tech Futures team and see how real data shapes decisions, with design happening inside the product - not just on top of it, at the link in our bio.
Simpler, more intuitive, and accessible, our recently refreshed icons emanate a sense of fluidity and play.
But the subtle refresh signals something deeper change– AI is shifting the discipline of design and
nature of product development.
From brand new features to redesigns such as the Start menu, every Windows design journey is deeply rooted in craft, following three key steps: Explore, validate, refine.
ClearType made onscreen reading more comfortable and enjoyable, helping hundreds of millions of people move from reading on paper to the screen. Discover more about the people and processes behind its creation.
Link in bio.
The inclusive design practice at Microsoft has always been about building with, not just for, the communities we serve.
With that lens, the team launched a refreshed site that has an updated structure, new theming options, and deep collaboration with disabled and neurodivergent communities who shaped how the experience works.
Chelsey Fleming is the Research Lead for the Gen Media team at Google Labs and she has thoughts on how AI is changing UXR but making humanity even more critical. #ThinkFirst
AI can clear bottlenecks but people are essential for good judgement.
Read Rodrigo Dalcin’s take on how AI is changing UX research. It
đź’… automates the repeatable tasks
đź’… keeps interviews human
💅 sanity‑checks outputs to avoid hallucinations.
Full read on Microsoft.Design.
#ThinkFirst #ResearchOps #DesignSystems #UXResearch
