Challenge Summary
TopCoder is running a $12,000 Contest Series to illustrate and build a flash animation for a UK IT services provider.
In this contest, you will take the winning character design and sample scenes of "Matt, the server repair guy" and design the animation scenes from the provided script.
The concept that we want to get across is how Unified Communications can help you make better use of your time by keeping you connected using different technologies. We will be looking for a dynamic, clean and professional style to represent the look and feel of the character and environment.
This is Contest Two (2) in a proposed series of Three.
Contest #1: Design & Illustration: Initial concepts - "What is the style of the character and environment" - Design the look and feel. ( completed )
Contest #2: Animation Storyboards: "Create the story" using the character and scene design/illustration styles from Contest #1, create the animation storyboard sequence to tell the full story of a "day in the life". ( THIS CONTEST )
Contest #3: Flash Animation: Using the previous contests inputs - integrate voice overs and the storyboard frames/sequence to create a Flash Animation.
We are now in Round 2 - if you did not submit to Round 1 you are not eligible to compete in this contest. Round 2 ends Wednesday, April 8th at 2pm EST Congratulations Round 1 Winners on your $100 Prizes: 18907 - 5y5 18980 - Trial_and_Error 18971 - djnapier 18976 - Elizabethhee 18978 - RatsOnParade Round 2 will be for $1500 with a First Place prize of $1250 a Second Place prize of $250.
This contest will be run in the Studio Tournament Format. Please read the contest specification and watch the forums for any questions or feedback concerning this contest. It is important that you monitor any updates provided by the client or Studio Admins in the forums. Please post a
Studio Tournament Format This Studio competition will be run as a two-round tournament with a total prize purse of $2000. Round 1 At the end of Round One, the client will choose FIVE (5) first round winners; EACH will win $100 and a Design Review. These winners and ANY MEMBER WHO HAD A PASSING SUBMISSION IN ROUND ONE will be eligible to compete in Round 2 for the additional $1500 in prizes. Round 2 Round 2 will start with the announcement of the Five $100 Round 1 winners and their design review from the client.
We are now in Round 2 (04/03/09) Please view the forums for individual feedback. Please ask the client any design or company related questions in the Forums. All members who submitted passing submissions to Round 1 are eligible to compete in Round 2.
Concept This is a story about an IT guy named "Matt" and it is the day in a life of how Unified Communications makes his life and job easier. In this tournament we are looking to establish the animation scene sequence based in winning character and sample scene design in the first contest. How do you think the full storyline will go? This is Contest Two (2) in a series of contests. Goals The client is looking to illustrate a story that tells how an IT persons' life can be easier with the use of Unified Communications. The primary goal of this contest is to create the "look and feel" of the animation scenes shown in the provided script. The "style" should be clean, fun, professional and follow the established styles of the winning character design (provided). Please also refer to the link below in the "Reference Designs" as an example. Unified Communications The concept of Unified Communications can be defined as stated at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unified_communications Animation Concept This series of contests is meant to tell the following story: 1. To bring to life how Unified Communications makes work so much easier. 2. Demonstrate its: - Simplicity to use - How it saves time - Keeps you in control 3. Make the viewer think: - "I want that!" - This company knows what they are doing - They can help me Design Requirements and Considerations The following should be integrated into your designs as you see fit. 1. Confidence - The client would like the character to appear more confident. Please update the character design as you see fit to show this confidence. One specific area to concentrate on is the character's eyes. The shape of the eye and the direction of the eyebrows make a big difference in what feeling the character is portraying. 2. Winning Styles - For each of the scenes, you should build upon the styles and perspectives provided in the winning character animation design. Do NOT simply duplicate these styles, but use them as a foundation for your own unique perspective to the animation. 3. Time - The time should be displayed in all scenes (see provided script). You are free to place the time in an overlay box (as in the provided winning design). You can also make it more integrated buy showing various clocks, phones, etc within the scenes themselves. 4. Narration - As shown in the provided winning designs, the voiceover text is displayed in a box at the bottom of each screen. You MUST include this narration text on every screen. Keep this in mind as you design. 5. Final Scene - You must use a placeholder logo for the final scene in the animation (script description says "logo"). You should also insert a call to action button and/or link that will eventually be used for customer contact. Please name the call to action "Contact Us Today". ** Your work MUST be in Vector Format (Final Source Files) ** Target Audience - UK based, typically still wearing suits. - Aged between 25 and 60 - Generally male - assume 75-80% - They may already use some elements of unified communications but may not know they are users or how much more they could achieve. - Office workers - all levels from junior/new starters to senior execs - Mobile workers - engineers, sales, support staff - Flexible workers - who can work from home or in the office Branding Company colors: R211, B222, G43. C27, M0, Y100, K 0. HTML code #D3DE2B. Reference Designs Reference Design Link (We like the way the story gets the business message across) Round 2 Deliverables For this final round of the competition, you should submit all the necessary designed screens to show every scene in the provided script. Additional Submission Information For both submission rounds, you are free to include a text file to help explain your designs and animation intentions. This is not a requirement, but a way to communicate your ideas and intentions to the client. Please post any questions to the forums. Judging Criteria: - User Experience: Vector art should be fun, clean and professional style that captivates the desired target audience - Consistency: How well it works together with the winning character and sample scene design - Interpretation: The quality of your scene ideas and the design implementation into the each scene and the overall animation. Preview Image Please create your preview image as one (1) 1024x1024 JPG or PNG file in RGB color mode at 72dpi and place your design of any scene within it. You are free to resize or crop your design to fit this size, but do not add any filters or elements for dramatic effect, such as drop shadows or reflections.
We are now in Round 2 - if you did not submit to Round 1 you are not eligible to compete in this contest. Round 2 ends Wednesday, April 8th at 2pm EST Congratulations Round 1 Winners on your $100 Prizes: 18907 - 5y5 18980 - Trial_and_Error 18971 - djnapier 18976 - Elizabethhee 18978 - RatsOnParade Round 2 will be for $1500 with a First Place prize of $1250 a Second Place prize of $250.
This contest will be run in the Studio Tournament Format. Please read the contest specification and watch the forums for any questions or feedback concerning this contest. It is important that you monitor any updates provided by the client or Studio Admins in the forums. Please post a
Studio Tournament Format This Studio competition will be run as a two-round tournament with a total prize purse of $2000. Round 1 At the end of Round One, the client will choose FIVE (5) first round winners; EACH will win $100 and a Design Review. These winners and ANY MEMBER WHO HAD A PASSING SUBMISSION IN ROUND ONE will be eligible to compete in Round 2 for the additional $1500 in prizes. Round 2 Round 2 will start with the announcement of the Five $100 Round 1 winners and their design review from the client.
We are now in Round 2 (04/03/09) Please view the forums for individual feedback. Please ask the client any design or company related questions in the Forums. All members who submitted passing submissions to Round 1 are eligible to compete in Round 2.
Concept This is a story about an IT guy named "Matt" and it is the day in a life of how Unified Communications makes his life and job easier. In this tournament we are looking to establish the animation scene sequence based in winning character and sample scene design in the first contest. How do you think the full storyline will go? This is Contest Two (2) in a series of contests. Goals The client is looking to illustrate a story that tells how an IT persons' life can be easier with the use of Unified Communications. The primary goal of this contest is to create the "look and feel" of the animation scenes shown in the provided script. The "style" should be clean, fun, professional and follow the established styles of the winning character design (provided). Please also refer to the link below in the "Reference Designs" as an example. Unified Communications The concept of Unified Communications can be defined as stated at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unified_communications Animation Concept This series of contests is meant to tell the following story: 1. To bring to life how Unified Communications makes work so much easier. 2. Demonstrate its: - Simplicity to use - How it saves time - Keeps you in control 3. Make the viewer think: - "I want that!" - This company knows what they are doing - They can help me Design Requirements and Considerations The following should be integrated into your designs as you see fit. 1. Confidence - The client would like the character to appear more confident. Please update the character design as you see fit to show this confidence. One specific area to concentrate on is the character's eyes. The shape of the eye and the direction of the eyebrows make a big difference in what feeling the character is portraying. 2. Winning Styles - For each of the scenes, you should build upon the styles and perspectives provided in the winning character animation design. Do NOT simply duplicate these styles, but use them as a foundation for your own unique perspective to the animation. 3. Time - The time should be displayed in all scenes (see provided script). You are free to place the time in an overlay box (as in the provided winning design). You can also make it more integrated buy showing various clocks, phones, etc within the scenes themselves. 4. Narration - As shown in the provided winning designs, the voiceover text is displayed in a box at the bottom of each screen. You MUST include this narration text on every screen. Keep this in mind as you design. 5. Final Scene - You must use a placeholder logo for the final scene in the animation (script description says "logo"). You should also insert a call to action button and/or link that will eventually be used for customer contact. Please name the call to action "Contact Us Today". ** Your work MUST be in Vector Format (Final Source Files) ** Target Audience - UK based, typically still wearing suits. - Aged between 25 and 60 - Generally male - assume 75-80% - They may already use some elements of unified communications but may not know they are users or how much more they could achieve. - Office workers - all levels from junior/new starters to senior execs - Mobile workers - engineers, sales, support staff - Flexible workers - who can work from home or in the office Branding Company colors: R211, B222, G43. C27, M0, Y100, K 0. HTML code #D3DE2B. Reference Designs Reference Design Link (We like the way the story gets the business message across) Round 2 Deliverables For this final round of the competition, you should submit all the necessary designed screens to show every scene in the provided script. Additional Submission Information For both submission rounds, you are free to include a text file to help explain your designs and animation intentions. This is not a requirement, but a way to communicate your ideas and intentions to the client. Please post any questions to the forums. Judging Criteria: - User Experience: Vector art should be fun, clean and professional style that captivates the desired target audience - Consistency: How well it works together with the winning character and sample scene design - Interpretation: The quality of your scene ideas and the design implementation into the each scene and the overall animation. Preview Image Please create your preview image as one (1) 1024x1024 JPG or PNG file in RGB color mode at 72dpi and place your design of any scene within it. You are free to resize or crop your design to fit this size, but do not add any filters or elements for dramatic effect, such as drop shadows or reflections.
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.