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MICROSOFT
Microsoft Fabric
Case Study
10 minute read
ROLE
Product Design Intern
Contract
TIMELINE
2025 (Jan - May)
SKILLS
Product Design
Prototyping
AI UX
SOME PARTS OF THIS CASE STUDY ARE PASSWORD PROTECTED
karenhclai@gmail.com
If you'd like to read more than what's presented, please reach out to me!
Project Brief
THE CHALLENGE
Overlapping Features
Fabric has multiple features that do similar tasks for slightly different use cases and users. How can we unify these features and provide one cohesive solution?
AI Ubiquity
How can Fabric implement Al in a ubiquitous way, how can we make it invisible/non- intrusive to the user?
THE ASK
Evaluate the current product experience to determine which features should be preserved, merged, or reimagined for a more intuitive UI. Additionally, improve the onboarding experience to help users navigate and adopt key functionalities more seamlessly. Deliver AI integration concepts and high-fidelity prototypes that demonstrate how intelligence can be woven naturally into the user flow.
RESEARCH
information architecture
outlining user flows and feature journeys across Fabric's workloads
powerbi
warehouse
science
engineering
factory
real time intelligence
MAJOR INSIGHTS
Fragmented Workloads
The 6 workloads function well individually, but feel disconnected
users struggled to move fluidly between tools.
Overlapping Features
engineering & factory both use Apache Spark and perform similar ETL tasks
powerbi & real time intelligence overlap in visualization
Users faced decision fatigue from duplicated features and unclear distinctions.
Complex Users, Unclear Flows
Fabric’s users are technically skilled; the challenge wasn’t complexity itself but inconsistent structure and terminology.
Lack of clarity—not data depth—caused onboarding friction and feature drop-offs.
The rest of the case study can be found
Reflection: What I've learned and Future Steps
Over the course of 5 months, I worked with Microsoft Fabric’s design team to explore and improve how users interact with complex data tools at scale. My role spanned from early research synthesis to prototyping and design iteration, working closely with designers, PMs, and engineers.
Big thanks to the Microsoft Fabric team, especially Gresshaa Mehta and Brent Sandifer for their guidance, collaboration, and trust throughout this project!
WHAT I'VE LEARNED
Designing for Scale Requires Systems Thinking
Working within a product ecosystem as large as Microsoft Fabric taught me to think beyond individual screens. Every design decision had to align with broader product principles, accessibility standards, and cross-platform consistency.
Cross-Functional Collaboration is a Design Skill
I learned how to navigate feedback loops between designers, PMs, and engineers—balancing technical constraints with user needs while keeping the end-to-end experience cohesive.
The Power of Storytelling
Clear, engaging narratives made it easier to communicate my ideas and influence decisions in team reviews. I saw firsthand how framing a problem and solution can turn a good design into a well-supported one.
BIGGEST TAKEAWAY
Great design goes beyond visuals or features — it’s about understanding the people who use it. Throughout this project, I learned that investing in empathy and building trust with users transforms solutions from functional tools into meaningful experiences.
Thanks for reading!