Here is how the upcoming redesigned Outlook for Windows app looks like

Microsoft has (accidetnally?) posted a screenshot of a redesigned Outlook for Windows app. It has been shared on the Beta channel update page for Office for Windows. The changelog describes the new Org Explorer feature, and sports the new user interface of Outlook.

What is a bit disappointing is that the Org Explorer tool and the new UI can't be found in the most recent Beta builds of the Office suite. Quite possible that the team has posted this screenshot way to early, before actually including it to the software. Here's how it looks.

Also, if you look at the screenshot, you will find that the app doesn't appear in the taskbar. So this can be just a mockup which is posted in the changelog by a mistake. Also, the main app window which can be seen behind the Org Explorer dialog is notable for having rounder corners. This nelw look is expected to be part of the major Sun Valley redesign of Windows 10. However, the Org Explorer window appears with regular square window borders.

The overall look of the upcoming Outlook app is notable for having both the UWP-like sidebar and the now-classic Ribbon toolbar. The sidebar can be seen in most of the built-in productivity apps on Windows 10, including Calendar and Mail, while the Ribbon UI is something that remains available in Microsoft Office since 2007. There are also icons for folders and settings on the left that give a feeling of the Outlook Web app.

Now it is not clear when exactly the Org Explorer feature will hit the Beta channel of Office. It was announced during the Build 2021 event, and was planned for gradual roll-out to Outlook running the app version 14107 and later. It allows"exploring" people, their skills and relationships within the organization in form of a graph.