I'm Akhil, a Product Designer

at

Microsoft

I'm Akhil, a Product Designer

at

Microsoft

For the past 5 years, I’ve designed digital products that bridge people and technology.


At Microsoft, I work on making AI more usable across consumer and enterprise experiences.


I hold an M.Des from NID, with earlier roles at Cohesity and Ashoka Univerity exploring research and product design.

First layer: Normal pixelation effectBase imagePixelated image
First layer: Normal pixelation effectBase imagePixelated image

  • Data Cloud

Making visual creation easy and exciting for everyone, with Gen AI.

As a founding designer, I’ve spent near 2 years shaping Designer from concept to General Audience - where it hit 1M Monthly active users within just 2.5 weeks of going public.

More about Designer

1

Designer is a product for non-designers who want to feel great about their creations. 

Designer is a product for non-designers who want to feel great about their creations. 

2

Unlike tools based on template editing, Designer starts with user content and generates designs in quick time.

Unlike tools based on template editing, Designer starts with user content and generates designs in quick time.

3

Designer meets users where they are, being seamlessly integrated into 12+ Microsoft products and counting.

Designer meets users where they are, being seamlessly integrated into 12+ Microsoft products and counting.

Links

Links

Links

Web

Web

Mobile

Mobile

Read more

Read more

Here’s a look at the areas I owned, led, and contributed in Designer

Here’s a look at the areas I owned, led, and contributed in Designer

Here’s a look at the areas I owned, led, and contributed in Designer

Beta to Public
Blazed through it all.

Beta to Public
Blazed through it all.

Beta to Public
Blazed through it all.

30+

30+

Feature areas shipped across

desktop and mobile

Feature areas shipped across

desktop and mobile

Here are some highlights

#01

Prompt Interface

  • Image

  • Poster

  • Story

  • Infographic

  • Podcast

  • Chart

Prompt Interface

  • Image

  • Poster

  • Story

  • Infographic

  • Podcast

  • Chart

Prompt Interface

  • Image

  • Poster

  • Story

  • Infographic

  • Podcast

  • Chart

Flexible prompt interface for our customers to translate vague ideas into compelling posters, images and more using generative AI, while still feeling control & creative ownership.

#02

AI × Design Intelligence

Design frameworks that guide AI models toward usable, high-quality, and standards-aligned outputs

AI × Design Intelligence

Design frameworks that guide AI models toward usable, high-quality, and standards-aligned outputs

AI × Design Intelligence

Design frameworks that guide AI models toward usable, high-quality, and standards-aligned outputs

System-level design thinking and collaboration with ML team, to build generation models for posters, collages, etc that knows context and design sense to create editable high quality AI outputs

#03

Editing system

Editing system

Editing system

End-to-end editing workflows with layered toolbars and selectable objects so users could edit their generations quickly with precision and ease.

End-to-end editing workflows with layered toolbars and selectable objects so users could edit their generations quickly with precision and ease.

#04

Accessibility

Accessibility

Accessibility

Localization

Localization

Localization

Dark mode

Dark mode

Dark mode

Cross-platform accessibility, localization, and dark mode so that every user, regardless of their ability, language, or environment, can have consistent & inclusive experience

With its 2 MAU, Designer proved that AI-driven workflows could transform how people create.

With its 2 MAU, Designer proved that AI-driven workflows could transform how people create.

keep on scrolling down

  • DESIGNER

  • M365 COPILOT

Making everyday productivity smarter and faster, with AI at its core.

Transitioning from Designer, I shaped Copilot’s AI-powered creation flows—owning the journey from prompting to editing to sharing—hitting over 10M Monthly active users just for the creation flows

More about M365 Copilot

1

M365 Copilot is an AI-first hub for work and life, blending Microsoft 365 apps with conversational productivity.

M365 Copilot is an AI-first hub for work and life, blending Microsoft 365 apps with conversational productivity.

2

It is evolution of Office.com on the web and the Office app on mobile, used by millions worldwide.

It is evolution of Office.com on the web and the Office app on mobile, used by millions worldwide.

3

Unlike Office, Copilot puts AI at the center—helping users draft, design, communicate, and collaborate with AI.

Unlike Office, Copilot puts AI at the center—helping users draft, design, communicate, and collaborate with AI.

Links

Links

Links

Web

Web

Web

Mobile

Mobile

Mobile

Release notes

Release notes

Release notes

Here’s a look at the areas I owned, led, and contributed in M365 Copilot

Here’s a look at the areas I owned, led, and contributed in M365 Copilot

Reimagining productivity,
the AI-first way

Reimagining productivity,
the AI-first way

15+

15+

Mobile features shipped

Mobile features shipped

Here are some highlights

Here are some highlights

#05

Create & Edit with Chat

Create & Edit with Chat

Create & Edit with Chat

Integrated chat and voice directly into the prompt and edit interface, so users can create and refine with ease, in natural language.

#06

Designer agent

in Copilot*

Designer agent

in Copilot*

Designer agent

in Copilot*

*in progress

Designer agent

An agentic workflow that fetches context, gathers assets, and asks clarifying questions when needed, turning basic prompts into complete designs quickly and smartly.

Here are some highlights

and some more…

and some more…

Designing for the Web. Designed and shipped vital web features like visuals, my media, multipage, preview etc end-to-end, flexibly contributing to both web and mobile experiences.

Modernizing the Homepage. Reimagined Designer’s homepage for GA, introducing dark mode and a fresh visual language in just 3 weeks.

Uncovering Prompting Behaviors. Conducted 35+ interviews and 118 surveys, revealing what makes effective GenAI prompts and informing product guidance.

Madlibs-Style Prompting. Created viral fill-in-the-blank templates that made GenAI prompting simple, playful, and widely adopted in Designer.

Design System for Editor. Built and scaled the atomic system that unified editing in Designer and Copilot, powering artifact creation at scale.

Multi-Modal Storytelling with AI. In collaboration with the ML team, designed a dedicated storyteling model that turned user prompts into shareable video creations.

It's been quite a ride. I’ve seen Designer and M365 Copilot evolve from concepts to powerful tools for creation at Microsoft, with strong user love along the way.

Designing for the Web. Designed and shipped vital web features like visuals, my media, multipage, preview etc end-to-end, flexibly contributing to both web and mobile experiences.

Modernizing the Homepage. Reimagined Designer’s homepage for GA, introducing dark mode and a fresh visual language in just 3 weeks.

Uncovering Prompting Behaviors. Conducted 35+ interviews and 118 surveys, revealing what makes effective GenAI prompts and informing product guidance.

Madlibs-Style Prompting. Created viral fill-in-the-blank templates that made GenAI prompting simple, playful, and widely adopted in Designer.

Design System for Editor. Built and scaled the atomic system that unified editing in Designer and Copilot, powering artifact creation at scale.

Multi-Modal Storytelling with AI. In collaboration with the ML team, designed a dedicated storyteling model that turned user prompts into shareable video creations.

It's been quite a ride. I’ve seen Designer and M365 Copilot evolve from concepts to powerful tools for creation at Microsoft, with strong user love along the way.

Designing for the Web. Designed and shipped vital web features like visuals, my media, multipage, preview etc end-to-end, flexibly contributing to both web and mobile experiences.

Modernizing the Homepage. Reimagined Designer’s homepage for GA, introducing dark mode and a fresh visual language in just 3 weeks.

Uncovering Prompting Behaviors. Conducted 35+ interviews and 118 surveys, revealing what makes effective GenAI prompts and informing product guidance.

Madlibs-Style Prompting. Created viral fill-in-the-blank templates that made GenAI prompting simple, playful, and widely adopted in Designer.

Design System for Editor. Built and scaled the atomic system that unified editing in Designer and Copilot, powering artifact creation at scale.

Multi-Modal Storytelling with AI. In collaboration with the ML team, designed a dedicated storyteling model that turned user prompts into shareable video creations.

It's been quite a ride. I’ve seen Designer and M365 Copilot evolve from concepts to powerful tools for creation at Microsoft, with strong user love along the way.

keep on scrolling down

Side Quests

Side Quests

Microsoft’s First GTM on Product Hunt. I led Designer’s launch on Product hunt in Oct ’22, later featuring in the Makers newsletter, and helping push our waitlist past 1M signups

Mentoring Aspiring Designers. I deeply enjoy introducing design to new learners. Over the past year, I’ve mentored 15+ students and design aspirants in my free time, guiding them with skills, feedback, and encouragement.

Championing Learning at Work. As my team’s learning champ, I lead sessions on Figma, emerging design tools, and AI — helping teammates of all levels stay current, sharpen skills, and feel empowered.

Making Work a Little More Fun. From morale activities to outbound trips, I love creating moments that bring teams closer - like our recent Rishikesh training I helped organise.

Telling Stories Beyond Screens. From animated clips to event reels, I’ve created videos for team events, leadership meetings, and marketing campaigns.

Curiousity Is My Superpower. Driven by curiosity, I love exploring new spaces, from 3D and AR/VR to web design and vibe coding. Picking up new tools isn’t just something I do — it’s what I’m best at.

keep on scrolling down

Microsoft’s First GTM on Product Hunt. I led Designer’s launch on Product hunt in Oct ’22, later featuring in the Makers newsletter, and helping push our waitlist past 1M signups

Mentoring Aspiring Designers. I deeply enjoy introducing design to new learners. Over the past year, I’ve mentored 15+ students and design aspirants in my free time, guiding them with skills, feedback, and encouragement.

Championing Learning at Work. As my team’s learning champ, I lead sessions on Figma, emerging design tools, and AI — helping teammates of all levels stay current, sharpen skills, and feel empowered.

Making Work a Little More Fun. From morale activities to outbound trips, I love creating moments that bring teams closer - like our recent Rishikesh training I helped organise.

Telling Stories Beyond Screens. From animated clips to event reels, I’ve created videos for team events, leadership meetings, and marketing campaigns.

Curiousity Is My Superpower. Driven by curiosity, I love exploring new spaces, from 3D and AR/VR to web design and vibe coding. Picking up new tools isn’t just something I do — it’s what I’m best at.

keep on scrolling down

Off the clock

Off the clock

Off the clock

Off the clock

Off the clock

Off the clock

Off the clock

Off the clock

Off the clock

Off the clock

Hey, you did econ, right?…
can you file my taxes? 🤓

11.14 AM

11.15 AM

From Economics to Design. I have my background in economics and liberal studies. I even trained to be an actuary before pivoting to UX.

I've been unlearning old paths and learning new ones. I call it my X-factor.

Build my work desk. I sketched, 3D-modeled, and built my workstation with help of a carpenter.


Its where I spend most of my time designing things from the ground up…

Always Geeking Out on Tech. From the latest phones to laptops and headphones — I keep up with every update, always curious what’s next.


Not sure what device to buy? I've got you covered.

Living in Kerala. Surrounded by backwaters, mountains, and my own garden, I’m lucky to call this place my home.


Showing off some of my clicks.

Stories That Pull Me In. From cinematic games like Red Dead Redemption to films, I love experiences that draw you in with their world, pace, and thrill.

Hey, you did econ, right?…
can you file my taxes? 🤓

11.14 AM

11.15 AM

From Economics to Design. I have my background in economics and liberal studies. I even trained to be an actuary before pivoting to UX.

I've been unlearning old paths and learning new ones. I call it my X-factor.

Build my work desk. I sketched, 3D-modeled, and built my workstation with help of a carpenter.


Its where I spend most of my time designing things from the ground up…

Always Geeking Out on Tech. From the latest phones to laptops and headphones — I keep up with every update, always curious what’s next.


Not sure what device to buy? I've got you covered.

Living in Kerala. Surrounded by backwaters, mountains, and my own garden, I’m lucky to call this place my home.


Showing off some of my clicks.

Stories That Pull Me In. From cinematic games like Red Dead Redemption to films, I love experiences that draw you in with their world, pace, and thrill.

keep on scrolling down

That's a wrap
That's a wrap
That's a wrap

If you’d like to know more or chat about an opportunity, I’d love to connect.

akhil.prakash.ux@gmail.com

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