A better way for developers to learn with Microsoft
Microsoft does a lot more than ship software. It teaches millions of developers, architects, and companies how to use it, through docs, courses, videos, events, and communities.
As Microsoft grew across cloud and AI, all of that kept growing too, mostly in separate directions. There was wonderful material everywhere and no obvious front door. We helped Microsoft build one.
The context
So much to learn, so many places to start
- A huge library of technical content
- Different starting points for every skill level
- Older platforms living next to new ones
- Audiences all over the world, each with their own needs
The risk we cared about most was someone giving up before they found what they came for.
The role we played
Long-term partner on the big picture
We worked with Microsoft across branding, design, copywriting, strategy, and information architecture. Most of the job was connecting things that had grown up apart: learning, storytelling, architecture guidance, and live events, arranged so the whole system could keep growing without a rebuild every year.
What we built together
One place to learn
Our work covered Microsoft Learn, Developer Relations, Channel 9, and the Azure Architecture Center, online and at events.
- Shaped the structure and strategy of Microsoft Learn, bringing training, docs, and certification into one self-guided platform
- Designed navigation that takes learners from the basics to real-world projects without getting lost
- Brought Channel 9's video storytelling into the learning experience
- Helped make the Azure Architecture Center a trusted guide to building resilient enterprise systems
- Built content and design systems that scale, in line with Fluent and Fluent AI
At the events
The part you could hold
- Strategy and experiences for Ignite, Build, and Create
- A system for organizing learning tracks across thousands of sessions
- Channel 9 plushies with swappable badges (yes, really)
- 2,700 custom badges for Microsoft Learn tracks around the world
People wore their badges like they'd earned them, because they had.
The plushies were fun. They also did something we didn't fully expect.
The outcome
A platform that teaches itself
- Millions of learners and developers supported worldwide
- One plan behind the website and the keynote stage
- Microsoft seen as a teacher as well as a tech company
The takeaway
At scale, teaching is part of the product.
The platforms that last show people how to use them and give them a reason to stay. Good design makes that feel effortless, even when it took a lot of effort.
