MICROSOFT 365 COPILOT
Microsoft 365 Copilot is an AI-powered assistant integrated into Microsoft 365 apps like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams. It enhances productivity by assisting with tasks such as drafting emails, analyzing data, and creating presentations, all through natural language interactions. By understanding context and user intent, Copilot helps streamline workflows and allows users to focus on more strategic activities..
Microsoft 365 Copilot / 2022 - present
The Beginning of Copilot
When I joined the early efforts to design Microsoft 365 Copilot, the idea of embedding AI into Microsoft productivity tools was still a sketch on the whiteboard. There was no precedent for how generative AI should behave in Microsoft 365 products. What we had was a bold ambition: Copilot is more than just a productivity tool, is everyday AI companion that could unify work, life, and personal context across devices, apps, and operating systems.
ROLES
Led and launched multiple core features in Copilot including Navigation, Chat Output, Input, and Agent experiences.
Developed design strategies that aligned teams and drove key investments.
Created scalable frameworks and interaction patterns for consistent AI-driven experiences.
“Copilot would be the UI for AI helping users take action, customize settings, and connect across apps.” ”
The early concept of interaction models
Designing Navigation Without the Noise
Navigation wasn’t just about making Copilot easy to find - it was about keeping it simple as features rapidly expanded. I defined a framework that balanced discoverability with clarity, ensuring Copilot could grow without overwhelming the interface. The navigation system made Copilot easy to scan, lightweight to use, and flexible enough to scale across Microsoft 365.
From Tasks to Agents
I was part of the journey defining the design of Copilot Agents - intelligent assistants that autonomously support users across Microsoft 365. With many unknowns, the challenge was to balance autonomy with user control while making agents trustworthy and actionable.
I defined a scalable agent framework, designing entry points, notification systems for clarity, and early patterns for memory and cross-surface orchestration. This work is still evolving, and with each iteration we continue to learn how to shape agents into context-aware, human-centered partners in daily workflows.
Defining the Frameworks
From the beginning, I drove the creation of scalable design frameworks to ensure Copilot could work consistently across endpoints. I led the definition of core patterns - Navigation, Output and Agents - that unified the experience. These frameworks not only solved immediate design needs but also laid the groundwork for how new AI capabilities could be integrated in the long term, making Copilot extensible across Microsoft 365.
The navigation framework balances discoverability with simplicity
Making AI Responses Clear and Actionable
The output was the heart of Copilot, the place where AI met the user. The challenge was twofold: make responses easy to read and quick to act on, while keeping the framework powerful and flexible enough to handle a growing set of features.
I approached this by prioritizing clarity first. I designed the framework to be extensible, experimenting with layouts and interaction patterns that could adapt as Copilot evolved. Through iteration and user testing, we learned how to balance simplicity with depth, ensuring the output felt approachable at first glance, but robust enough to support advanced use cases.
Launching a New Era of Work
After months of iteration, alignment, and refinement, Copilot launched as one of Microsoft’s most ambitious product rollouts. Seeing it evolve from a concept into a product used by millions reinforced the impact of design in shaping how people work with AI. I helped define and drive Copilot from its earliest sketches to a product used by millions.
Microsoft Copilot Announcement
