We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative Akhil Patel ("AP").
Akhil is currently the Founding Designer/Head of Design of an AI pioneer startup, Hero - building the world's first daily assistant. He's responsible for everything design and brand in the company. Here's an article talking about his work: https://edm.com/gear-tech/inside-hero-innovative-ai-productivity-app-the-chainsmokers Akhil is also a member of AIVA (Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts) and a jury member for W3 Awards, Communicator Awards, and Davey Awards. He's won numerous national/international design awards as well. Akhil has led design for Microsoft Shopping on Bing and other Microsoft surfaces with over 100 Million users. He also helped design the Ramp Advisor console, used by some of the biggest accounting firms in the world. Furthermore, Akhil teaches interaction design online and has trained more than 250 students. He's also a public speaker who likes to talk to young and aspiring designers in design schools and design communities.
Akhil Patel Designs
We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by Akhil Patel.
Akhil Patel Design - Alz Well Dementia Caregiving Ecosystem
Akhil Patel Design - Hero AI Daily Assistant
Designer Interview of Akhil Patel:
DI: Could you please tell us more about your art and design background? What made you become an artist/designer? Have you always wanted to be a designer?
AP : I have been designing products for years, working on experiences at Microsoft, Meta, and startups and i studied Interaction Design during my Bachelors and Masters. I have always been drawn to the point where function, beauty, and human behavior meet, so becoming a designer felt natural.
DI: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
AP : Moat recently I was the founding designer at Hero AI where I helped create the world's first mobile daily assistant.
DI: What is "design" for you?
AP : For me, design is intentional problem solving. It is about turning complexity into clarity.
DI: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
AP : I enjoy designing digital products that combine utility with a sense of delight, especially AI-driven experiences.
DI: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
AP : My favorite design is Hero, my AI-powered assistant app. It brings together context, utility, and a human touch in a way that people enjoy using every day.
DI: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
AP : The first thing I designed was posters for a fragrance company.
DI: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
AP : My favorite platform to design for is mobile. It is personal and always with the user, which makes it a powerful design canvas.
DI: When do you feel the most creative?
AP : I feel most creative when I am deeply immersed in a real user problem and thinking about bold solutions.
DI: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
AP : I focus most on clarity in interactions and creating an emotional connection with the user.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
AP : When I design, I feel focused, curious, and excited.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
AP : When my designs are brought to life, I feel grateful and proud to see them out in the world.
DI: What makes a design successful?
AP : A design is successful when it solves the right problem in a way that feels natural to the user.
DI: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
AP : When judging a design, I look first at usability, emotional impact, and whether it will last over time.
DI: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
AP : Designers have a responsibility to create work that is inclusive, responsible, and sustainable. Good design should improve the world in some way.
DI: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
AP : I think the design field is moving toward hyper-personalization, stronger AI collaboration, and deeper integration into daily life.
DI: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
AP : My exhibitions have been product launches that reached a global audience. I would like my next to be an interactive installation.
DI: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
AP : I get inspiration from people, culture, and technology, especially by observing how people adapt to new tools.
DI: How would you describe your design style? What made you explore more this style and what are the main characteristics of your style? What's your approach to design?
AP : My style is minimal, purposeful, and human-centered. It has been shaped by working on large-scale products with real-world impact.
DI: Where do you live? Do you feel the cultural heritage of your country affects your designs? What are the pros and cons during designing as a result of living in your country?
AP : I live in San Francisco, which is a hub for innovation. The culture here pushes me to think globally and design for diverse audiences.
DI: How do you work with companies?
AP : I work with companies by deeply understanding their goals and aligning design strategy with their vision.
DI: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
AP : My advice to companies is to choose a designer who listens, challenges assumptions, has a deep love for craft and aligns with their values.
DI: Can you talk a little about your design process?
AP : My process starts with understanding the problem, exploring many directions, refining quickly, testing with users, and then polishing.
DI: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
AP : My five favorite design items at home are my iPhone, mechanical keyboard, sketchbook, noise-cancelling headphones, and my favorite coffee mug.
DI: Can you describe a day in your life?
AP : A typical day for me is a mix of deep design work, reviewing feedback, and exploring new tools or ideas (currently learning Javascript).
DI: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
AP : My advice to young designers is to learn fast, build often, seek feedback early, and avoid simply following trends.
DI: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
AP : The positives are the creative fulfillment and the ability to make an impact. The negatives are the constant deadlines and rapid context switching.
DI: What is your "golden rule" in design?
AP : My golden rule is to design for the user first, always!
DI: What skills are most important for a designer?
AP : The most important skills are curiosity, empathy, and the ability to clearly communicate ideas.
DI: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
AP : I use Figma, Origami, Framer, Rive, AI tools, and a library of books and references for inspiration.
DI: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
AP : I manage my time by working in focused sprints, setting clear milestones, and saving perfectionism for the final stage.
DI: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
AP : It can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months to design something, depending on scope.
DI: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
AP : The question I hear most often is “Where do you get your ideas?”
DI: What was your most important job experience?
AP : My most important job experience was redesigning a core Microsoft Search product used by hundreds of millions. It taught me about scale and precision.
DI: Who are some of your clients?
AP : I have worked with Meta, Microsoft, startups, and on independent projects.
DI: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
AP : I enjoy work that blends utility with emotional resonance. It is design that uses both head and heart.
DI: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
AP : My future plans are to create more AI-powered experiences that feel human and meaningful.
DI: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
AP : I work both independently and in teams, depending on the project.
DI: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
AP : I am currently working on forward looking ad experiences.
DI: How can people contact you?
AP : People can contact me through my LinkedIn.
DI: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
AP : I believe the highest purpose of design is to make life simpler, richer, and more human. Technology should serve people, not the other way around.