To kick off Season 2 of Uncut Design, I sat down with Matt Shelton, Principal UX Content Designer at Microsoft, for a heartfelt conversation about the importance of building genuine relationships in tech.

Matt shares how leading with kindness, empathy, and authenticity has helped him build real connections across teams. These relationships aren’t just valuable during challenges—they shape everyday collaboration and make it easier to navigate feedback, design critiques, and even major career shifts.

This episode is a reminder that design is about people—and the relationships we cultivate along the way are what truly shape our careers.

In this episode of Uncut Design, we sit down with Joe Hallock, Partner Design Director in the Azure Cloud Experiences Studio at Microsoft. Joe shares his unique journey into design, as well as his experience advocating for design decisions, navigating pushback from leadership, turning setbacks into opportunities, and so much more!

This episode is particularly valuable for those new to designing at a big tech company, offering a candid look at the day-to-day challenges and strategies for thriving in a corporate environment.

In this episode of Uncut Design, Lennon Macharia, a senior at the University of Minnesota and recent Microsoft UX intern, shares the secrets which helped him secure internships at multiple big tech companies. We discuss his journey, key steps in interview prep, essential skills to stand out, as well as the culture and day-to-day experience of a design intern at Microsoft. Lennon also gives tips on having building a personal brand, having real-world impact, and making the most of professional growth opportunities. If you're looking to land an internship, this episode has exactly what you need!

In this episode of Uncut Design, we sit down with Jennifer Han, Design Program Manager at Microsoft’s Azure Cloud Experiences Studio. Jennifer shares her strategies for leading without a formal leadership title, discussing how to influence teams, navigate resistance, and foster ownership among team members.

This episode is especially valuable for early-career designers looking to grow and differentiate themselves. Jennifer offers practical advice on how to build influence and drive impactful work, even without an official leadership position. Her insights provide a roadmap for standing out and making a lasting impact, no matter where you are in your career journey.

In this episode of Uncut Design, we sit down with Lance Garcia, Principal Design Manager at Microsoft, to explore how design can drive business impact beyond aesthetics. We discuss how to integrate design thinking into business strategy, making design decisions that deliver measurable value, and the lessons Lance learned while designing experiences overseas in Japan. Whether you're a generalist or a specialist, this conversation sheds light on how to balance innovation with business goals, particularly in the context of AI and cloud computing.

In this episode of Uncut Design, we dive into the power of storytelling in design with insights from Samantha Neufeld and Anuja Singhal, two leaders shaping AI-driven experiences at Microsoft. We discuss how to tailor narratives for different audiences, build trust within teams, and balance user needs with business goals—all while navigating the rapidly evolving world of AI and technology.