September 6, 2017 TCO17 UI Design Finalists: The Secret Sauce to Winning a Trip to the Finals

This year’s qualifications were very tough, because of the lower number of challenges and high competition. What was your secret to get the golden ticket?

Ariefk: It looks like I’m just lucky. But one thing in every challenge, I always focused on one challenge. I totally followed one challenge and got the placement which was better than following 2 or 3 challenges at once but without being focused. chekspir: Yes, I totally agree, this year was very tough. It wasn’t easy at all. I think that working on LUX/RUX challenges helped me to get the points. These kind of challenges offered good points to qualify, but also required a lot of work in a very short time. djackmania: Focus on challenges that I think had a chance to win. eriantoongko: Honestly, I never thought or planned to qualify this year, though that was on my bucket list! When I heard that my name on the finalist list, I was surprised and jumped up to my ceiling! The secret? I think winning in the two RUX—which were fun challenges—brought me to winning the golden ticket. iamtong: So as a regular submitter, I don’t think it affected me much, I just kept submitting. But obviously LUX/RUX challenges played the big part in qualification periods. khanhlinh: I tried my best for all the challenges I have joined, concentrated for finishing the winning checkpoint challenges first. Every challenge just following this basic three-step:

1. Read challenge spec carefully, ask questions in forum for more clarity.
2. Sketch on paper.
3. Crazy working.

And also waiting for some of the best designers to be on their vacation 🙂 kharm: No secret I think, but I performed better when I didn’t pay much attention to entertainment. Ravijune: The major thing that motivated me is to get qualified for TCO17. The best event one could ever be a part of. Tewibowo: The secrets maybe never give up, keep challenging yourself by competing in every challenge at Topcoder and of course luck really matters. universo: 15 hours per day in front of the computer, especially on busy weeks. yiming: Perseverance + a little bit of luck. yoki: I really want to see my fellow Topcoder friends again as we had a wonderful time spent together last TCO16. zazulyaziz: My biggest secret is the Internet. I learned many things on the Internet related to UI UX. I read the UX articles and ebooks, followed the trends, joined some online training, watch UI UX Videos on YouTube and also I have many Designer friends surrounding me who always inspire and teach me.

If your best friend wanted to be a designer and join Topcoder, name 2-3 pieces of advice you would give them to succeed.

Ariefk:

1. You must have “PASSION” in your self and totally focus on every challenge.
2. Never stop learning.
3. Don’t forget to prepare snacks, coffee, playing the game and watch movie.

chekspir:

1. Learn something new everyday. Doesn’t matter if is a design technique, or a new tool/software, or new concepts, just try something new everyday.
2. Be disciplined and organized.
3. Be honest, with yourself and with the community.

djackmania: Keep submitting and learn from others. eriantoongko: First, read the spec carefully. Second, post your questions in the forum if in doubt. Third and I think this is the most important thing: do your thorough research, then make a to do list and complete the tasks right away. iamtong:

1. Read specs carefully to understand specs/ problems
2. Don’t be afraid to ask questions/ extension
3. Pay attention to details
4. Organize your layers/ files
5. You need your lucky charm

khanhlinh:

1. If you really love graphic design, join Topcoder, you can learn a lot from others competitor.
2. If you want to be successful, never give up.

kharm: Keep your life balance, health and relationship first, your youth doesn’t come twice. Focus. Ravijune: It’s the best place to learn from the best of the best designers, also it could help you financially if you are really enthusiastic about learning Interaction design. And you’d have great flexibility to work from anywhere you want. And the best part, you meet like minded (Designers) people and could make friends for life. Tewibowo: Keep trying, keep pushing, keep it simple universo: Perseverance, determination & confidence yiming: Keep calm and think more. yoki:

1. TC is the best place for you to develop your design skills and knowledge.
2. Design until you get your first dollar!!
3. If you failed, follow 2nd rule.

zazulyaziz: First, always learn and practice. Second, try to make portfolio, as many as you can, and the last is find other UX designers and make them your friends.

As a kid, what did you want to become when you grew up?

Ariefk: Seriously, when I was child, I drew airplanes and UFOs dashboard at ground and imagined I was flying and war with that. And you know, after grew up, I’m still designing dashboards. So…what that I loved when I was child has still not changed till now. hahaha… chekspir: Honestly I wanted to be an Astronaut. Who has never dreamed of going to space? djackmania: An Architect. My degree is in Electrical Engineering. Now I’m UI/UX designer eriantoongko: I remember back then I have plenty of them! First, I wanted to be doctor—the general dream of every kid, then writer as I read lots of books, a professor since I found the word was very cool, a chef, a botanist, a detective—shout out for all Three Investigators and Enid Blyton’s The Famous Five readers. Que sera sera! iamtong: I always wanted to be an architect, I liked drawing since I was kid, and always imagined if I could design/ build my own house, cool buildings, etc. It would be awesome. khanhlinh: I wanted to become a Pilot. I want to fly 🙂 kharm: Astronaut & programmer Ravijune: I always wanted to become a good artist (Fine arts). Like I love exhibiting my works, which I did back in college. Would love to have one again. Tewibowo: I used to dream about becoming a rich man! (sounds bizarre) :)) universo: Billionaire $$$ yiming: Astronomer. yoki: I wanted to be a pilot.. fighter jet & robot pilot zazulyaziz: Back then I was really wanted to become an artist or a painter. I also want to become a motoGP racer since I’m a Valentino Rossi fans. Still curious to see who’s who? This article is part of the 5 Weeks to Learn Topcoder educational series. Want to learn more? Check out the entire series and all the helpful content here.