Alexa Comms App for PC
A desktop app experience that brings Amazon's Alexa Communications features to PC, allowing customers to stay connected with loved ones from anywhere.
Types
PC App
Role
Product Designer
Launch Year
2020
Project Summary
Alexa Communications on the Alexa app for PC allows people to make calls, Drop In on loved ones, and send announcements directly from their desktop, just like they would from an Echo device. Customers had been asking for these features since the PC app first launched, wanting their desktop to feel like a fully connected part of their Alexa ecosystem.
This project focused on closing that parity gap by bringing core Alexa Comms features to Windows devices for the first time. The goal was to make it easy for customers to stay in touch across surfaces, especially while working or traveling.
Under a tight four-month timeline, the feature launched across 13 locales and quickly became one of the most impactful updates to the Alexa PC experience, strengthening engagement and helping customers stay connected wherever they are.
My Role
As the sole designer responsible for Alexa Communications on PC, I led the end-to-end UX and visual design for bringing Alexa Communications features to the Alexa desktop app. I worked closely with the Alexa Voice Services (AVS) design team to ensure design consistency, feasibility, and platform alignment.
With only four months to scope, design, and deliver the full experience, I focused on fast, informed decision-making, detailed specifications, and clear communication across teams. This was a high-visibility, high-stakes project that required close cross-functional collaboration to bring Alexa’s communication features to a new platform for the first time.
Impact
Bringing Alexa Communications to PC filled one of the most requested gaps in the Alexa app experience. The launch gave customers a new way to stay connected from anywhere, and strengthened Alexa’s position as a cross-platform communications tool.
Enabled 1.7MM endpoints and reached over 30 major PC models.
Expanded to 13 international locales.
57% increase in Calling monthly active users after launch.
35% increase in Drop In monthly active users.
Recognized by Alexa leadership as the biggest release of the year.
Called a “complete success” by Alexa’s VP & COO in a company-wide announcement.
Cited by the Head of UX, Alexa Voice Services, as a model collaboration between domain and AVS design teams.
Shout-out from the head of UX, AVS org:
"Song, Jorge and Radhika’s UX work spanned from July-2019 to Feb-2020 and was pivotal to our ability to launch this engaging feature for customers. At the time the collaboration began, our UX team was severely resource constrained (one designer for the entire PC experience). These three stepped up in a big way to partner with our designer, Yona, and create detailed designs and specifications. This represents our deepest collaboration between AVS and Domain teams to date (a model we’d like to see more of). Together the team went beyond parity to optimize the experience for the PC. Best of all, since the PC is a free experience, now more customers can communicate!"
Recognition from the VP & COO of Alexa, Debra J. Charapaty called the release a complete success in an email to all- staff:
"On 10/27 the Alexa Comms for PC team released the latest version of the app (Inky release). This release is the biggest of the year for the team with significant feature launches and UX improvements. The two biggest features included in this release are Alexa Communications and Spotify App Deep Linking."
What I'm excited to bring to my next journey
This project reinforced the value of designing with clarity and momentum, especially under tight timelines and across complex platforms. With just four months to deliver a net-new experience on desktop, I learned how to make fast, thoughtful decisions without losing sight of user needs or design quality.
It also deepened my appreciation for cross-team alignment. Collaborating closely with the AVS design team helped ensure the experience felt cohesive and native, not just to PC, but to the larger Alexa ecosystem. In my next role, I’m excited to bring that same energy: clear thinking, strong systems design, and the ability to move quickly while building trust across teams. I’m especially drawn to roles where strategy and execution go hand in hand, and where thoughtful design can make everyday experiences more useful and intuitive.
A detailed case study is available upon request.
I'd be happy to walk you through the full design process, decisions, and results in a one-on-one conversation.