Max Bar Research Project

Summary

I was tasked with leading the exploration of a new engagement surface — known internally as Max Bar — across Word, Excel, and PowerPoint on the Win32 platform. Given the scope and cost of implementation, I focused on validating its value early to ensure we built the right thing for both users and the business.

Balancing Ambition with Evidence

Recognizing the potential development cost and complexity of this new surface, I prioritized strategic validation. I led a collaboration between design and consumer research teams to test the proposed UI concept with real M365 subscribers through Figmas and and interviews

Key Activities:

• Defined the core hypotheses and success criteria.
• Partnered with UX and consumer research to design a qualitative study.
• Positioned the surface in comparison to existing UI entry points (e.g., account notifications, in-app messaging).
• Focused on use cases for both offers and account-related actions.

Research-Driven Decision Making

While I am unable to disclose the specific findings of the study, the research was instrumental in shaping the internal perspective on Max Bar’s viability and role within the M365 ecosystem.

The study influenced:

• Strategic prioritization of engagement surfaces.
• Partner alignment around UX trade-offs and opportunity costs.
• A more nuanced understanding of where and how to engage users without causing disruption.

Outcomes & My Role

This project demonstrated my ability to:

• Challenge assumptions respectfully but effectively.
• Drive evidence-based product thinking within a large organization.
• Coordinate cross-functional efforts to answer strategic product questions before committing resources.

Regardless of the final implementation path, the work ensured that decision-making was grounded in real user insight — not just stakeholder enthusiasm.