We recently connected with Jeni(Jieni) Huang and have shared our conversation below.

Jeni(Jieni), thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

In addition to Microsoft Places, the AI-powered workplace platform I designed at Microsoft to support coordination and well-being for millions of hybrid employees, one of the most meaningful personal projects I’ve worked on is EMO+—a board game I co-created with my friend Xingxue Wang to help autistic adults and their loved ones better understand each other through emotional storytelling and role-play.

While autism awareness has grown over the years, the tools available for emotional support still focus heavily on early childhood or clinical therapy. But many autistic adults continue to face challenges in expressing and interpreting emotions—especially in social, family, or work environments. At the same time, those around them often lack ways to engage without miscommunication or judgment. EMO+ was designed to meet that gap—not by “fixing” communication styles, but by creating shared emotional ground.

Unlike digital tools or clinical worksheets, EMO+ offers a lightweight, visual, and collaborative format designed for everyday environments. At the heart of the game is the Atmosfield framework, adapted from a three-axis model in human-robot interaction research. It maps emotional climates across Friendly–Hostile, Lively–Calm, and Casual–Formal dimensions. I transformed this abstract model into a tangible 3D cube divided into eight intuitive zones—each representing a distinct emotional atmosphere that players can navigate during gameplay.

The gameplay blends storytelling and conflict navigation. In one part, players build a shared story and mark the emotional arc together. In another, they revisit real or imagined disagreements by stepping into each other’s emotional “position” on the board, using tokens and cards to guide the journey toward understanding.

Some players have told me it helped them put emotions into words they couldn’t find before. Others said it gave them a way to hear someone else’s experience without rushing to fix or explain it. For me, that’s what meaningful design does—not just provide a solution, but hold space for mutual recognition. EMO+ reminded me that emotional connection doesn’t have to come from technology or therapy. Sometimes, it begins with a physical object, a shared moment, and the quiet willingness to try.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I began my design journey with dual degrees in Information Design and Business Administration from Tsinghua University—China’s top university—where I was immersed in an environment of ambition, experimentation, and impact-driven thinking. Later, I earned my master’s degree at Carnegie Mellon University, where I deepened my focus on inclusive user experience and the emotional side of intelligent systems.

Currently, I’m a Product Designer at Microsoft, specializing in AI-powered innovation and inclusive design. I’m currently shaping the workplace experience in Microsoft M365 Copilot and previously designed Microsoft Places, an AI-powered workplace platform that launched in 2024 to support hybrid work coordination, employee well-being, and organizational productivity. The product has been adopted by global enterprises and featured in hundreds of outlets like The Wall Street Journal, Computerworld, and The Verge.

In addition to product work, I serve as a jury member for leading international design awards such as Awwwards, Indigo Design Award, Spark Awards, and more—evaluating projects through the lens of innovation, accessibility, and user impact. I also mentor design students at Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Washington, helping the next generation of designers navigate the evolving space between technology and humanity.

Outside of work, I’ve also played classical piano since I was young—a practice that taught me to feel and express emotion beyond words. The attention to rhythm, subtle transitions, and emotional nuance I learned through music continues to shape how I approach design: not just as problem-solving, but as storytelling that listens, moves, and resonates. That sensitivity, shaped through music, continues to guide how I design for complexity and care.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Many designers in top tech companies would say the most rewarding moments come when their products launch and meaningfully improve millions of people’s lives. I feel the same. There’s a deep satisfaction in knowing that something you designed has helped someone feel more capable, more connected, or simply more seen.

But over time, I’ve found an even deeper fulfillment in giving back to the design community—which, in many ways, is also a continuation of my core design values. In recent years, I’ve stepped into roles as a juror for international design awards and a mentor at leading HCI institutions like Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Washington, and Tsinghua University. Whether I’m evaluating great work or guiding emerging designers, I see it as a way of shaping not just products, but the people and principles behind them.

My journey has grown from launching impactful features to cultivating a culture of thoughtful, inclusive design—and that evolution has become one of the most meaningful parts of my creative life.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

Across all my work—from designing workplace platforms used by millions, to exploring how people interact with complex systems, and even how they connect and communicate with each other—my mission remains the same: to use advanced technologies to support the well-being of diverse people. That means not just making things faster or smarter, but more inclusive, more empathetic, and more responsive to the real-life complexities people face. At its core, it’s always about people—how to design better solutions for them.

These days, AI is everywhere. As a product designer working with AI, I’m often asked about the latest tools, the smartest models, or the sleekest interfaces. But what I think about more often is the emotional distance that can grow between people and the systems they use. AI can help us make decisions—but it doesn’t tell us what matters. It can support a goal—but rarely define one. And too often, it mirrors our assumptions instead of challenging them.

To me, AI isn’t the answer—it’s a medium. Like any technology, it only becomes meaningful when it serves something deeper. The real design challenge is translating that power into everyday experiences that are thoughtful, respectful, and human-centered.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeni__huang/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenihuang/