This is a fictional Skype Redesign I worked on as a personal project.
I am in no way affiliated with Skype.
Since Skype has lost its status as the #1 digital communications app I wanted to rebrand and redesign their logo and main GUI to create a more dynamic, fun and approachable identity for them.
I slightly updated their colors, making them a bit brighter and more friendly to fit the overall redesign and make it look less corporate. My first focus was the Logo, which got an official update in 2019, replacing the iconic cloud design with a more modern and corporate wordmark and accompanying icon. This change in design was likely due to microsoft wanting to fit skype into their repertoire of office applications.
I decided to stick with the more modern approach of a simple icon and a wordmark. For the icon, I created a geometric S shape, which symbolizes the duality of communication and the two "halves" each conversation is made up of. It's easily recognized and can be used as an app icon as well. You will see later that it is also really easy to create a pattern out of.
The wordmark was a bit too light and conservative for my taste, so I increased the width and paid homage to the old logo by making the letters overlap. I tried to incorporate the new shapes of the S into the E and P but that didn't really work out.
Overall I'm really happy with this new logo.
Since Skype has lost its status as the #1 digital communications app I wanted to rebrand and redesign their logo and main GUI to create a more dynamic, fun and approachable identity for them.
I slightly updated their colors, making them a bit brighter and more friendly to fit the overall redesign and make it look less corporate. My first focus was the Logo, which got an official update in 2019, replacing the iconic cloud design with a more modern and corporate wordmark and accompanying icon. This change in design was likely due to microsoft wanting to fit skype into their repertoire of office applications.
I decided to stick with the more modern approach of a simple icon and a wordmark. For the icon, I created a geometric S shape, which symbolizes the duality of communication and the two "halves" each conversation is made up of. It's easily recognized and can be used as an app icon as well. You will see later that it is also really easy to create a pattern out of.
The wordmark was a bit too light and conservative for my taste, so I increased the width and paid homage to the old logo by making the letters overlap. I tried to incorporate the new shapes of the S into the E and P but that didn't really work out.
Overall I'm really happy with this new logo.
Next, I opened up Adobe XD and started creating some Screen-Mockups to incorporate the new Design Identity into their application layout. First up was the Log-In Screen where I used the new Icon as a pattern for the background.
The main GUI of Skype's Chat Window was the biggest thing I wanted to work on as the current one feels really bland and lifeless and for me, skype always stood out as a super friendly and approachable application so I wanted to bring some of that back.
I incorporated the new colors and gradients from the logo and tried to create a layout and interface that married both what makes Skype special and what works on other applications. A fun little detail are the Call-Buttons (top right) and the Media-Button (bottom left). For these, I started with simple circles like Skype has, but then I added the new icon silhouette to them, to further integrate the brand and really drive the point home.
I incorporated the new colors and gradients from the logo and tried to create a layout and interface that married both what makes Skype special and what works on other applications. A fun little detail are the Call-Buttons (top right) and the Media-Button (bottom left). For these, I started with simple circles like Skype has, but then I added the new icon silhouette to them, to further integrate the brand and really drive the point home.
And at last, here's a look at a direct comparison
