Some Products
Microsoft Office Japan
Microsoft relocated me to Tokyo, and I joined the Office division in late 2013 to help design the next generation of productivity tools, apps, and services. What made it unusual: I didn’t report into a design organization — I reported into UX Research. My manager led the research team, and every interface decision I made was scrutinized and pressure-tested by researchers who questioned each pixel. It was a completely different way to work than I’d done before, and it made me sharper. I learned to ground design in evidence rather than opinion, and to defend the judgment behind every choice.
The harder part was that I had to reach across the organization for what I needed. The company was mid-migration from its old design language to Microsoft’s new Fluent Design System, so I actively pursued the Office design teams for the latest guidance. It made the work more difficult — but it forced me to communicate constantly across stakeholders and teams, a habit that paid off for the rest of my career.
I created UI and UX flows based on user journeys, established experience outcomes, and conducted competitive analyses to prioritize features. Notable contributions include the design of Docs.com and the Office Lens Mobile App, which was recognized as one of the “Best Apps of 2015” in the U.S. and Puerto Rico by Google Play.
Additionally, I served as the design lead for other products, including the Immersive Reader Mobile App, Sway Mobile App and Web, and the OneNote whiteboard app. I led the design efforts for all the mentioned projects and services. It is challenging to convey the full extent of the designs here, so if you would like to see more, please feel free to contact me.