Challenge Summary
Through other Studio competitions, we have created a Flex 3 Framework, which will be used in the next generation of TopCoder applications.
In this contest, you will be designing the look and feel of a Flex Calendar widget for the TopCoder Contest Pipeline. The pipeline is a TopCoder tool that lists out all active contests, when they are scheduled, for how long and organized by contest type.
This is where the fun stuff happens! We do not want the current boring data grid format, but a highly interactive and engaging experience for the users. Get creative, see what's out there and show us what you've got!
We are looking for a highly creative and interactive Flex calendar design for our TopCoder Cockpit Pipeline widget. Calendar Requirements: - Have the ability to change the layout between a daily, weekly, monthly and list view - Allow users to scroll between days, weeks and/or months depending on the layout view (in above requirement) - Use the February contest data listed in the provided Excel file to populate your calendar. - Color code each pipeline item on the calendar based on the contest type (assign a different color for each type). What colors you use is up to you. - Allow the user to filter the contest types so only the ones they are interested in display on the calendar. You can see similar functionality on iCal and Outlook calendars. - In the monthly view, please show a modal, dialog box or some other method to see the details of the contest without having to drill into the actual contest. Design Requirements: - Innovative and Creative - Compliments the cool interactions Flex is capable of - Consistent with look of overall application and designs provided (Photoshop files). DO NOT simply duplicate the provided designs, but create your design to work smoothly with them. - Good use of white space. We are looking for a clean and open design - Place your design inside of the blank widget in the provided "Widget_Template.jpg" We want this calendar to be very cool and exciting, so we highly encourage you to use fun interactions and animations. This is a visual design contest. We are looking for you to design the look and feel as well as show any functionality and interactions. Our Design Feedback For every submission that is received by Tuesday, February 10th at 3pm EDT, we will provide feedback on your designs in the forums. Your design itself will NOT be viewable by the other competitors. They will only be able to see the feedback you receive. This is a great opportunity to find out how you are doing and give you a stronger opportunity to be successful in this contest. Submission Deliverables You must provide the following screens for your submission: - Daily View - Weekly View - Monthly View - List View Target Audience The users of the TopCoder Direct application are all levels and types of business professionals - marketing, design, technology, management, owners, etc. TopCoder and Studio members will also be using this application in the near future, so it has to be a strong user experience for both clients and members alike. Reference Designs Here are some links to some fun and engaging Flex calendars. These are only a few of the interactions and transitions that we feel the user will have a lot of fun with. Do not directly copy these samples, but use these examples to give you inspiration for your ideas and designs. - http://srinivasannam.wordpress.com/2008/07/01/new-flex-calendar-controls/ - http://demo.quietlyscheming.com/calendar/app.html Flex is a very versatile application - do not think that these examples are the only interactions available for the calendars. Push your design and your interactions to make a highly engaging experience. Your submission will be judged on the following criteria: Usability - How well the design enhances the user experience and how easily the user understands the tasks at hand. Consistency - How well the calendar widget design fits together with the new look of the overall application and provides a complete user experience. Clean Design - Design a look and feel that compliments the provided screenshots. Clean and spacious designs with simple (but slick!) touches are what we are looking for in this contest. Preview Image Use a screenshot of the Widget Template with your design of the monthly view as your preview image. Do not skew, enhance or modify the image for dramatic effect. The client should be able to focus on the design itself.
Entries must be your original work, and must not infringe on the copyright or licenses of others. Stock art, clip art, templates and other design elements from other sources are prohibited unless specifically permitted here in the Contest Details.
We are looking for a highly creative and interactive Flex calendar design for our TopCoder Cockpit Pipeline widget. Calendar Requirements: - Have the ability to change the layout between a daily, weekly, monthly and list view - Allow users to scroll between days, weeks and/or months depending on the layout view (in above requirement) - Use the February contest data listed in the provided Excel file to populate your calendar. - Color code each pipeline item on the calendar based on the contest type (assign a different color for each type). What colors you use is up to you. - Allow the user to filter the contest types so only the ones they are interested in display on the calendar. You can see similar functionality on iCal and Outlook calendars. - In the monthly view, please show a modal, dialog box or some other method to see the details of the contest without having to drill into the actual contest. Design Requirements: - Innovative and Creative - Compliments the cool interactions Flex is capable of - Consistent with look of overall application and designs provided (Photoshop files). DO NOT simply duplicate the provided designs, but create your design to work smoothly with them. - Good use of white space. We are looking for a clean and open design - Place your design inside of the blank widget in the provided "Widget_Template.jpg" We want this calendar to be very cool and exciting, so we highly encourage you to use fun interactions and animations. This is a visual design contest. We are looking for you to design the look and feel as well as show any functionality and interactions. Our Design Feedback For every submission that is received by Tuesday, February 10th at 3pm EDT, we will provide feedback on your designs in the forums. Your design itself will NOT be viewable by the other competitors. They will only be able to see the feedback you receive. This is a great opportunity to find out how you are doing and give you a stronger opportunity to be successful in this contest. Submission Deliverables You must provide the following screens for your submission: - Daily View - Weekly View - Monthly View - List View Target Audience The users of the TopCoder Direct application are all levels and types of business professionals - marketing, design, technology, management, owners, etc. TopCoder and Studio members will also be using this application in the near future, so it has to be a strong user experience for both clients and members alike. Reference Designs Here are some links to some fun and engaging Flex calendars. These are only a few of the interactions and transitions that we feel the user will have a lot of fun with. Do not directly copy these samples, but use these examples to give you inspiration for your ideas and designs. - http://srinivasannam.wordpress.com/2008/07/01/new-flex-calendar-controls/ - http://demo.quietlyscheming.com/calendar/app.html Flex is a very versatile application - do not think that these examples are the only interactions available for the calendars. Push your design and your interactions to make a highly engaging experience. Your submission will be judged on the following criteria: Usability - How well the design enhances the user experience and how easily the user understands the tasks at hand. Consistency - How well the calendar widget design fits together with the new look of the overall application and provides a complete user experience. Clean Design - Design a look and feel that compliments the provided screenshots. Clean and spacious designs with simple (but slick!) touches are what we are looking for in this contest. Preview Image Use a screenshot of the Widget Template with your design of the monthly view as your preview image. Do not skew, enhance or modify the image for dramatic effect. The client should be able to focus on the design itself.
Please read the challenge specification carefully and watch the forums for any questions or feedback concerning this challenge. It is important that you monitor any updates provided by the client or Studio Admins in the forums. Please post any questions you might have for the client in the forums.