Outcome
Met DSA requirements months ahead of deadline Improved clarity and consistency across regulated experiences Reduced escalations and designer rework Established a durable system for future regulations
%
Global annual revenue saved
For parent company, Microsoft
Business areas coordinated
To ensure design organization compliance
%
%
Global annual revenue saved
For parent company, Microsoft
Business areas coordinated
To ensure design organization compliance
Outcome
Met DSA requirements months ahead of deadline Improved clarity and consistency across regulated experiences Reduced escalations and designer rework Established a durable system for future regulations
%
Global annual revenue saved
For parent company, Microsoft
Business areas coordinated
To ensure design organization compliance
%
Global annual revenue saved
For parent company, Microsoft
Business areas coordinated
To ensure design organization compliance
Cross-functional
Cross-functional
Cross-functional
Goals
Create alignment at scale
Goal 1
Protect user experience under regulatory pressure
Goal 2
Enable designers to move faster (without escalations)
Goal 3
Future-proof design for upcoming regulations
Goal 4
Addressing fragmentation
Addressing fragmentation
Addressing fragmentation
Alignment at scale
Outcome
I brought designers together to share wins and failures, identify gaps across experiences, and align on core values. This led to a clear set of DSA design guidelines—covering audience definitions, guest treatment, escalation thresholds, and transparency standards—so teams could design from a shared starting point.
Outcome
I brought designers together to share wins and failures, identify gaps across experiences, and align on core values. This led to a clear set of DSA design guidelines—covering audience definitions, guest treatment, escalation thresholds, and transparency standards—so teams could design from a shared starting point.
Working through regulatory pressure
Working through regulatory pressure
Working through regulatory pressure
Reframing
With limited time for new research, teams struggled to push back on overly complex or legally driven solutions—often at the expense of clarity and usability. Rather than treating the DSA as a checklist, we reframed it around unmet user needs for transparency and safety.
Outcome
We established clear transparency guidelines for copy, created a centralized repository for deeper explanations (reducing on-screen overload), and partnered with UX Research to scope studies using insights from the DSA public consultation. The goal wasn’t just compliance—it was relevance.
Outcome
We established clear transparency guidelines for copy, created a centralized repository for deeper explanations (reducing on-screen overload), and partnered with UX Research to scope studies using insights from the DSA public consultation. The goal wasn’t just compliance—it was relevance.
Looking ahead
Looking ahead
Looking ahead
Future-proofing
Outcome
Knowing the DSA wouldn’t be the last regulation of its kind, I focused on durability. We recommended global design approaches with geo-specific adaptations, defined clearer escalation thresholds to support decision-making, and introduced design oversight earlier in regulatory scoping conversations.
Outcome
Knowing the DSA wouldn’t be the last regulation of its kind, I focused on durability. We recommended global design approaches with geo-specific adaptations, defined clearer escalation thresholds to support decision-making, and introduced design oversight earlier in regulatory scoping conversations.
Going live
Going live
Going live
Delivery
Outcome
The guidelines enabled teams to meet DSA requirements months ahead of deadline, while improving clarity, consistency, and user trust across experiences. Designers moved faster with fewer escalations, leadership gained confidence in design decisions, and the groundwork was set for future regulatory work—without reinventing the wheel each time. We also proposed ongoing legal office hours, designer onboarding for future phases, and living guidelines that evolve as teams—and regulations—do. Compliance became a system, not a scramble.
Outcome
The guidelines enabled teams to meet DSA requirements months ahead of deadline, while improving clarity, consistency, and user trust across experiences. Designers moved faster with fewer escalations, leadership gained confidence in design decisions, and the groundwork was set for future regulatory work—without reinventing the wheel each time. We also proposed ongoing legal office hours, designer onboarding for future phases, and living guidelines that evolve as teams—and regulations—do. Compliance became a system, not a scramble.
Takeaways
Compliance fails when it’s designed screen by screen
Regulation demands systems, not one-off UI fixes.
Compliance fails when it’s designed screen by screen
Regulation demands systems, not one-off UI fixes.
Designing for the next regulation starts with this one
Future-proofed patterns beat reactive compliance every time.
Designing for the next regulation starts with this one
Future-proofed patterns beat reactive compliance every time.
Transparency needs structure to earn trust
Clarity comes from hierarchy and restraint—not more copy.
Alignment is the real acceleration
A shared approach reduced rework, escalations, and timeline risk.
Alignment is the real acceleration
A shared approach reduced rework, escalations, and timeline risk.
Compliance fails when it’s designed screen by screen
Regulation demands systems, not one-off UI fixes.
Transparency needs structure to earn trust
Clarity comes from hierarchy and restraint—not more copy.
Compliance fails when it’s designed screen by screen
Regulation demands systems, not one-off UI fixes.
Alignment is the real acceleration
A shared approach reduced rework, escalations, and timeline risk.
Designing for the next regulation starts with this one
Future-proofed patterns beat reactive compliance every time.
Alignment is the real acceleration
A shared approach reduced rework, escalations, and timeline risk.
Designing for the next regulation starts with this one
Future-proofed patterns beat reactive compliance every time.
Compliance fails when it’s designed screen by screen
Regulation demands systems, not one-off UI fixes.
Transparency needs structure to earn trust
Clarity comes from hierarchy and restraint—not more copy.
Designing for the next regulation starts with this one
Future-proofed patterns beat reactive compliance every time.
Alignment is the real acceleration
A shared approach reduced rework, escalations, and timeline risk.
Takeaways
Compliance fails when it’s designed screen by screen
Regulation demands systems, not one-off UI fixes.
Compliance fails when it’s designed screen by screen
Regulation demands systems, not one-off UI fixes.
Designing for the next regulation starts with this one
Future-proofed patterns beat reactive compliance every time.
Designing for the next regulation starts with this one
Future-proofed patterns beat reactive compliance every time.
Transparency needs structure to earn trust
Clarity comes from hierarchy and restraint—not more copy.
Alignment is the real acceleration
A shared approach reduced rework, escalations, and timeline risk.
Alignment is the real acceleration
A shared approach reduced rework, escalations, and timeline risk.
Compliance fails when it’s designed screen by screen
Regulation demands systems, not one-off UI fixes.
Transparency needs structure to earn trust
Clarity comes from hierarchy and restraint—not more copy.
Designing for the next regulation starts with this one
Future-proofed patterns beat reactive compliance every time.
Alignment is the real acceleration
A shared approach reduced rework, escalations, and timeline risk.