UI Production Director
Surface Laptop was part of the first Copilot+ PC push, so the video had to do two jobs at once. It needed to introduce the device, but it also had to make a new set of AI features feel clear and tangible on screen.
As UI Production Director, I led the UI side of the film. I worked across screen design, animation, and review with the art direction team to make sure moments like live translation, Studio Effects, and Recall felt built into the story instead of dropped in as feature callouts.
One of the clearest examples was the translation sequence. We started in 2D to figure out the layout and caption behavior, then moved it into 3D and kept refining it until the feature read cleanly and still felt cinematic. That kind of iteration shaped the whole project. Get the UI right, keep the pacing moving, and make the bigger Copilot+ PC story feel real.
- Led UI production for key feature moments across the Surface Laptop launch film.
- Developed the live translation sequence from early 2D layouts into a refined 3D screen story.
- Worked closely with Melissa Kim, Piper Phan, Toliy Patel, and the wider motion team to keep the UI cohesive inside the larger film.
Microsoft
Showcasing the groundbreaking Live Translations feature, which translates 44 languages into English from any audio source, was a focal point of the Surface Laptop video. This feature demonstrates the advanced AI capabilities of the Copilot+ PC. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the process:
Initial Conception:
- Developed the foundational 2D design to visually present the feature effectively.
Evolution to 3D:
- Transitioned the concept from 2D to 3D, focusing on basic animations and initial integration of live caption functionality.
- Enhanced the design by incorporating dynamic elements and refining the user interface for improved clarity and engagement.
- Further refined the 3D version, showcasing the fully realized feature with polished animations and clear demonstrations of real-time translation capabilities.
This progression highlights our commitment to delivering cutting-edge AI features that enhance user experiences, making language barriers a thing of the past. Each iteration built upon the previous one, refining both visual and functional aspects to ensure a seamless user experience.
Director - Cisco McCarthy
Art Director - Melissa Kim
Producers - Emily Duarte, Ryta Karagodina & Justin Sund
Creative Director - Brian Townsend
Executive Creative Director - Markus Weickenmeier
3D Motion Designers - Ziye Liu, Danny Yoon, Gap Yossanun, Kyle Moore
3D Art Development - Wes Cockx
Art Design - Phoebe Hsu
Storyboard Artist - Alex Alvarado
UI Production Director - Patrick Flaherty
2D Motion Designer - Toliy Patel
UI Design - Piper Phan
Selected Works
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