Microsoft Edge
Overview
What is Microsoft Edge
Microsoft is a global technology leader, and during my tenure, I collaborated with the team supporting Microsoft Edge, their flagship web browser. The focus was on creating a competitive and user-friendly browsing experience for hundreds of millions of users.
My contribution
Illustration Motion Design Branding Product design
The team
1 × creative director 2 × product designers
Year
2020 - 2021
Process
The Problem
The Microsoft Edge browser, while highly functional, lacked a distinct and engaging visual personality at key user interaction points. Critical but often neglected UX states—like empty pages (404 errors), shopping notifications, and other transitional moments felt sterile and utilitarian. This created a missed opportunity to build an emotional connection with users and guide them effectively through their browsing journey.
The Goal
The mission was to humanize the Edge experience by injecting a cohesive and thoughtful visual language into these key moments. My specific contributions were to:
- Define a Visual Language: I established a "flow and water" theme to create a sense of fluidity and calm. When a user sees they have gone to a 404 page or sees a notification, I wanted to create a sense that the Edge browser will guide the user and not a jarring experience.
- Design for Key UX States: Create a suite of static and motion illustrations, as well as high-fidelity icons, for empty states and the Edge shopping experience.
- Bridge Design and Development: Animated concepts in After Effects and prepared files for implementation using Lottie, ensuring the final product matched the design vision.
- Collaborate Cross-Functionally: Worked directly with UX designers, researchers, and engineers to ensure the designs were user-validated and technically sound.
Outcome
The new illustrative and motion design system successfully gave Microsoft Edge a more distinctive and approachable personality. By transforming blank, error-prone screens into engaging, helpful moments, the design enhanced the overall user experience, making it feel more guided and intentionally crafted. This work helped elevate the perception of Edge from a purely functional tool to a more considerate and visually coherent product.