I am practicing design a webpage for a product like Skype. From my research of the brand and their website, I learn that Skype keep a very square and pointy elements from drop down to buttons and their signature color blue. Skype is also a part of Microsoft so I also look through their sites and designs.
The goal of my redesigned Skype website is to make the contents more spread out vertically to fit better for mobile viewing as more people are accessing through mobile. And to make Skype stand out from other Microsoft products and still look familiar.
The theme I go for is REMINISCENCE, I want the customer to be reminded of their family, of old traditions, of calling and talking about memories.
My version have the blue be the whole background to highlight more of its signature look and adding clouds that reminiscent to their old background designs. I will have glowing effect and blurry screen to create a dreamy and soothing feel for the viewers.
Also the glow and dreamy look of 3D cloud and rounded Skype logo convey the feeling soft, relaxing, and happy like they are on cloud nine when go through this page. The visual is to connect the idea that customers will be at ease when using Skype to call family or set up meetings with colleagues.
I make all button and big typography sharpe to stay consistent to Skype and Microsoft branding and the pointy elements are also contrasting the soft-rounded-clouds. Following Skype branding guidelines, I keep the color scheme simple with only White and Blue, and even add blending mode to the images to make every elements consistent with the blue color.
The effect of 3D logo also emphasize on the brand identity by make it more popping and more to life in 3D. This will make Skype stand out more as a modern app and keep up with Microsoft new advertising campaigns with lots of 3D designs.
Finally, the current website has little information layout in vertical so the scrolling feel cut short and that there is not much Skype can offer to potential customers. Which is why I have more designed and display vertically so that viewers can scroll more to see. People are more familiar with scrolling to read more and viewing website on their mobile so my design is to target that tendency and allow Skype to show more of what the app has to offer.
