MICROSOFT SKYPE FOR BUSINESS
VISUAL DESIGN
Conduct a visual refresh of Microsoft Lync, rebranding the meetings and communication tool as a business extension of Skype. Identify key Skype brand moments, injecting elements of the visual language as appropriate for corporate customers while simultaneously balancing brand continuity with Microsoft Office.
DESIGN PROCESS
Working with distributed teams across Europe, Palo Alto and Redmond, it was my responsibility to infuse the Skype brand to its new corporate counterpart, Skype for Business. Balancing customer demand for complex collaboration tools and high information density against the visually open, friendly tone of Skype consumer, I applied a balanced approach to color, typography, and negative space to forge a visual bond between Lync and Skype.
PHASE ONE : VISUAL FACE LIFT
In quick response to evolving brand goals and customer feedback, I collaborated with interaction designers, PMs, researchers and writers to create UI and visual refinements for a broad range of features, from file transfers, SMS, message translation, and unread notifications in chat, to presenting desktop content, managing participants, and collaborating in documents during voice and video calls. I played contributing role in defining window scaling and notification systems, an updated presence model for incorporation with Office, and most recently lent visual and interaction expertise to help shape the soon-to-be-released web version of Skype Meetings.
A fan of international travel, I spent some lovely time in London partnering with developers to oversee design implementation.
For this initial rebrand, I delivered a comprehensive system of visual renderings and marketing collateral, coordinated resources for asset production, and created a detailed body of redlines for design implementation. As a result, Skype for Business has evolved into a more visually engaging communication tool, providing a more seamless transition from social calls in the living room to business productivity in the board room.
PHASE TWO : UX UPDATE
Subsequent travel to London and the Silicon Valley focused on design workshops, where I was a key contributor in developing grid, typography, palette and brand standards that are currently being adopted by each Skype and Skype for Business platform as part of future UX updates.
Fueled by personal desire to simplify the UX with a single navigation model and stronger brand presence, I've spent the past 18 months working on a series of design solutions to better align the Skype family of products. This work is ongoing and exciting to share, but due to a healthy regard for my Microsoft NDA, you'll have to come back after the next Skype for Business release to take a peek.
