Skype has revolutionized the art of long-distance relationships, allowing friends and loved ones to speak face-to-face no matter how many miles separate them physically. It is often impossible to remain in the same location as those we care about due to job demands and family commitment. Fortunately, as means of communication have improved to reflect technological advancements, it has become more possible to maintain important relationships over time and distance. Many people take advantage of the services that Skype provides, but few users stop to wonder how this impressive company came to be, from the Skype logo to the development of services.
About the Skype Brand
Skype, created by Niklas Zennstrom and Janus Friis in 2003, is the most prominent online communication service worldwide. In 2011, there were 663 million people who used Skype around the world to stay in touch with loved ones and conduct business. Skype was one of the first companies to greatly affect the internet phone market. In 2011, Microsoft Corp bought Skype for $8.5 billion dollars.
Skype is a software that focuses on video chats and voice calls between phones, computers, tables, the Xbox and smart watches. It connects regular telephones to other devices, making communication possible in new convenient ways, along with allowing for instant messages. Along with having conversations across times zones and distances, Skype allows users to send videos, images and other documents to each other. Much of the services provided by Skype are free, but there are certain subscription services for those who wish to call a landline or mobile phone.
Skype not only helps us stay in touch with friends and family; it also opens up the possibilities for the online job market and business strategies. Because of Skype, we are able to conduct face-to-face interviews and business meetings from around the world, and employees who travel for work are able to keep their colleagues up to date on proceedings. Entrepreneurs are also able to use the internet to teach classes and explain concepts, using Skype as a platform to conduct their business. Skype has given more options to consumers and business owners, providing a new way to communicate and spread knowledge.
Brand Design Objectives
The Skype brand was designed to be welcoming to users, with high functionality and a wide variety of services. The strapline that accompanies the current version of Skype in the United States is, “Take a deep breath,” which encourages users to relax and implies that Skype will help to calm your worries. The international strapline is, “Let’s talk,” since Skype allows us to communicate with people across continents and oceans, removing the physical barriers of communication that used to restrict us. Skype has resulted in a more connected and globalized world through its versatile services.
The Skype brand is centered around bringing people together and making daily life easier. It is meant to engage users in productive and organic conversations with colleagues, friends and loved ones. The color scheme, font and design of the Skype logo were created to generate feelings of goodwill and relaxation, creating a calming effect on users.
Another important aspect of the brand is its use of photography to display genuine communication, showing users what Skype can bring to their lives. Each photo is natural and free of treatment or filter, reflecting the organic nature of the conversations that develop through Skype. Its images are full of people engaged in discourse, joined together by a single cause or topic. The designers of the Skype logo and brand attempt to draw users in by displaying a world of unique, happy relationships that are made more possible by the interconnectivity that Skype provides.
Brand Audience
The development of the Skype brand is based on the audiences that Skype hopes to cater to. The main groups of people who use Skype are families, businesses and students, so Skype does its best to reflect the needs and desires of these three groups. When working on its services and icon, the designers of Skype consider how best to help the groups they serve.
The key to business is effective and positive communication, which is made more efficient and easier through the medium of Skype. As for families, the modern culture of globalization and travel has resulted in a new way of family life. Families are often spread throughout the world in various countries and locations, and services such as Skype allow them to stay in touch and maintain personal ties. Skype is also perfect for the student life as it can be used anytime and any place, allowing for the utmost spontaneity and flexibility.
Skype Logo Design History
The Skype logo was first designed and launched in 2003, based on a yellow speech balloon. The logo went through a number of transformations before becoming the blue and white “S” that it is known as today. Every detail of the Skype logo has a deeper meaning that symbolizes what Skype hopes to bring into the lives of its users, helping to set intentions for its effects on the world. The shade of blue used in the Skype logo represents prosperity, hope and communication, while the white color behind it symbolizes harmony and peace.
The Skype logo has been tweaked and changed over the years to result in its most pleasant and inviting version. The original small yellow speech cloud was designed and implemented in 2003. In the same year, the logo became a blue rectangle outside of a white rectangle. In 2004, it was updated into a more complicated icon, created out of a number of circles of different sizes. These circles combine to create the image of a cloud.
2004 – Present
None of these early versions of the Skype logo lasted long, and in late 2004, the “S” icon was brought into the emblem. The original “S” was very similar to the one that Skype is known for today, but its proportions have been adjusted minimally over the years. Along with these small changes, the colors used in the Skype logo have changed over time to match Skype’s brand goals. New visual effects have also been implemented, giving the Skype logo a 3D effect.
In 2012, the icon of Skype was adapted to a more modern version. The company also created its own app on Windows 8, a version of which is available for Windows 10 as well. The new, simpler version of the Skype logo was meant to reflect continuance through the brand and ensure that it has a similar design language to the Office 365 applications. Then, in 2018, Microsoft displayed new versions of the well-known icon for Office 365, reflecting advancements in web design and variations in style.
Skype Logo Design Evolution
This evolution of the Skype logo reflects the technological advancements and changes in brand focus that have occurred since its creation in 2003. The Skype logo is designed to communicate its values to the public, representing the natural connections that its services make available. Clouds were part of the original design, but they’ve become a more central piece in recent years. The clouds that make up the Skype logo were created from a number of circles of varying sizes. They are meant to symbolize the free, natural conversations that happen through Skype.
Skype Illustrations
Another aspect of the Skype brand is its collection of illustrations, each of which represents a different use of Skype. The many variations and categories of images can be found at www.Skype.com. These categories include work, social events and nature, and they provide a range of uses for the users of Skype. The designers of Skype strive to make its services accessible and enjoyable for all. The illustrations available on the Skype website have developed over the years to encompass the values and objectives of the company.
Conclusion
In today’s day and age, it can be easy to feel distant and disconnected from the people we consider important. It can be difficult to balance work commitments and personal relationships, and this can cause us to lose contact with friends and family whose realities are different from our own. Skype strives to prevent this disconnect, bringing people together through its many means of communication. With Skype, a family member is only so far away because Skype creates the possibility of face-to-face communication in seconds.
The services that Skype provides help users around the world be more connected to their loved ones, helping to bring people together despite the physical distances separating them. It also allows business to create strategies that take into account an online client base, opening up possibilities for new ways of distributing services and products. This new online way of communicating makes life and work easier for students, businesses and families. Thanks to Skype and its many services, we can maintain our personal and professional relationships in new, efficient ways, allowing us to connect naturally and easily with friends, loved ones and colleagues. What are you waiting for? Ready to sign on?
Featured Image via unsplash
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