Challenge Summary
Best Buy Mobile, the mobile phone arm of Best Buy has recently revamped all 1000+ Best Buy locations to provide a better way to sell mobile phones. We are in the process of bringing this new experience to customers online.
Best Buy is looking to the Studio Community to help design the user interface and user workflow for their new Mobile Phones Website. This website will be a hub for customer tools, news & editorials, blogs & forums and general research. This site will not be transactional but will link into Bestbuy.com.
The goal of this contest is to produce Storyboards that deliver a customer experience that is easy to understand yet drives excitement over learning about, using and buying mobile phones.
This contest will be run in the Studio Tournament format. Please read the contest specification carefully 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 any questions you might have for the client in the forums.
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 1 Best Buy will choose five (5) Round 1 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 (5) $100 Round 1 winners and their design review from Best Buy. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ We are now in Round 2 Congratulations Round 1 Winners on your $100 Prizes: 20647 - iamtong 20649 - abedavera 20652 - RatsOnParade 20654 - abedaera 20659 - iamtong We will post individual feedback - remember there are additional screens required in Round 2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Challenge The Mobile Phones team at Best Buy is looking to build a website that aggregates content from multiple sources in the areas of customer tools, research, content, features and participation. The website needs to provide an exciting, relevant user experience. Requirements - Does not need to look like Best Buy.com - The designer can play around with the naming of Headers, Titles, or Categories - Fonts to be used: Please use Arial for all text - Mobile colors: Best Buy blue is CMYK 100 74 0 66, Yellow is CMYK 0 12 84 0, Greyscale is 0 0 0 85. White and Black. (you will need to convert to HEX) TOP NAVIGATION How the navigation is laid out is up to the designer. We would like to see different ways of this playing out. Whether it be a two tiered system or trying to fit it all on the same line. The navigation should be on all pages. Main navigation: - News - Reviews/Research - Videos - User Tools Secondary Navigation: - Forum - Store Portal - Shop Online There will need to be options for users to link their favorite articles/videos/tools/etc to Digg It/Twitter/Facebook/RSS feeds. Icons will need to be created for this. We would like original icons created not the standard icons if possible. Users can click on these links to add all articles, videos, etc to the various sites. BODY There needs to be a highlighted area which is a large ad space (flash animation) that cycles through 4-5 different ads/promotions. For now they can be placeholder options but as we get into final prototype this will be fleshed out. For the first round we do not need Flash, we just need a graphic place holder. There will be no controls on the Flash animation SECTIONS OVERVIEW Designers can play with hierarchy/priority of items. There is no particular order to the below items. TOOLS SECTION Header calls out Tools, an icon for tools, and link to tools page (a secondary tools page will need to be created that will house the tools listed below). There also needs to be a list of the tools underneath the header with links to their individual pages. The tool main page is a home for the listed tools. It will need to have a main banner. Each section will also need to have a banner calling out that tool. An image for the tool (just a place holder for now) and a brief explanation of the tool and a link to that tool. The explanation can be fake/greeked text for now. - Find a plan/phone - Check upgrade eligibility - Coverage map - Accessory finder FORUMS SECTION Header calls out Forums, an icon for Forums, and link to forum page (a secondary page will need to be created that will be a forum page). There will also be a feed that shows 2-4 of the top feeds. Designer can put in fake text/feeds as place holders. The forum page for now can be a fake forum page. We do not know the categories at this time. But it will be around cell phones. An example is http://cellphoneforums.net/ There would need to be a log in and search function on the page. THESE CAN BE SEPARATE SECTIONS OR TOGETHER IN ONE SECTION VIDEOS Videos will need a secondary page created that is a video library. It will need to include a spot for uploading user videos, a spot to search videos, and the following video categories: Reviews, How To, Tips and Tricks, Other. REVIEWS Reviews will need a secondary page created that is a review library. It will basically be a housing of various reviews of cell phones from other sites. It will need to have a search function included in it. Designer can have fake reviews in there for now. We will import data at a later time. For an example of what type of function we are thinking of: http://www.phonedog.com/cell-phone-reviews/default.aspx FAQS This will just be a link to another site/page that is hosted on another site. ASK AND ANSWER This will just be a link to another site/page that is hosted on another site. DASHWIRE This will need to be a Spot Ad for a service called DASHWIRE. For now, please just use a placeholder that says DASHWIRE.COM. There needs to be a hover over explanation that pops to read either of the following: "Make the most out of your mobile" or "Maximize your mobile life". APPLICATIONS STORE There need to be a spot/link/ad for our APPLICATIONS store. For now it can be a fake design/ad. There is no logo/design solidified to share. 3RD PARTY CONTENT The 3rd party content is a spot where we are featuring data from other sites: blogs, reviews, videos, etc. For the front page we want to feature the three sites we are working with Phonedog, PhoneScoop, CNET and 2 other sites (these can be made up) by showing (placeholders that say their logo names) and an article title featured by them (this can be fake for this design). There should also be a See More link. Clicking on these will bring you to a second page, which is a content catalog. This should have a search function. It should showcase these sites and what they have to offer and what it going on in the mobile world at that time. The second page would have a main banner and the following categories: Editorials, Reviews, Blogs, and White Pages. The content underneath each of these would be links that we would import in from other sites. Clicking on an link will take you to that link page. The article is displayed along with a list of articles, blogs, videos, or phones that user may be interested in because of their choice of that article. Similar to Amazon's based on your purchase of this... you might like this. Design Goals The design is completely open to the designer. All design choices should be focused on usability and visual cues for the user and need to adhere to a level of professionalism consistent with Best Buy's overall image. Design Considerations - Research! Research modern web application design and usability. - Showing an intuitive interface that is easy-to-use. Specific Contest Details Size: Pages should fit comfortably within a 1024px display with no horizontal scrolling. Vertical scrolling should be kept to a minimum Relevant links www.mobilesyrup.com REMIX Parameters and Constraints - What is Remix http://remix.bestbuy.com - REMIX Challenge Homepage http://www.remixchallenge.com - Remix Forums at TopCoder Stock Photography For this contest you are allowed to use product images from the Best Buy website and only the Best Buy website. Contest Submissions Requirements Tournament Round 2: Main-Page.jpg = Finished and completed design solution Video-Library.jpg = Finished and completed design solution Tools-Launch.jpg = Finished and completed design solution Review-Library.jpg = Finished and completed design solution Third-Party-Content-Library = Finished and completed design solution You must submit all requested deliverables to be considered for prizes - you may submit more pages if necessary to show your design. Submission & Source Files Preview Image Please create your preview image as one (1) 1024x1024 JPG or PNG file in RGB color mode at 72dpi and place your submissions within it. Submission File All requested Contest Deliverables in JPG or PNG file format in RGB color mode at 72dpi. plus your notes.txt file Source Files All original source files of the submitted design. Files should be created in Adobe Photoshop, Gimp, Adobe Illustrator or Inkscape and saved as layered PSD files, AI or EPS files. Final Fixes As part of the final fixes phase you may be asked to modify fonts (sizes or colors) or modify overall storyboard colors. Additional Information In this competition, Best Buy employees (other than those in the group sponsoring the competition) may participate, however, they may not use any Best Buy resources when participating in the competition, and also may not have any contact with members of the group sponsoring the competition about the competition, other than through TopCoder and the public forums.
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 1 Best Buy will choose five (5) Round 1 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 (5) $100 Round 1 winners and their design review from Best Buy. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ We are now in Round 2 Congratulations Round 1 Winners on your $100 Prizes: 20647 - iamtong 20649 - abedavera 20652 - RatsOnParade 20654 - abedaera 20659 - iamtong We will post individual feedback - remember there are additional screens required in Round 2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Challenge The Mobile Phones team at Best Buy is looking to build a website that aggregates content from multiple sources in the areas of customer tools, research, content, features and participation. The website needs to provide an exciting, relevant user experience. Requirements - Does not need to look like Best Buy.com - The designer can play around with the naming of Headers, Titles, or Categories - Fonts to be used: Please use Arial for all text - Mobile colors: Best Buy blue is CMYK 100 74 0 66, Yellow is CMYK 0 12 84 0, Greyscale is 0 0 0 85. White and Black. (you will need to convert to HEX) TOP NAVIGATION How the navigation is laid out is up to the designer. We would like to see different ways of this playing out. Whether it be a two tiered system or trying to fit it all on the same line. The navigation should be on all pages. Main navigation: - News - Reviews/Research - Videos - User Tools Secondary Navigation: - Forum - Store Portal - Shop Online There will need to be options for users to link their favorite articles/videos/tools/etc to Digg It/Twitter/Facebook/RSS feeds. Icons will need to be created for this. We would like original icons created not the standard icons if possible. Users can click on these links to add all articles, videos, etc to the various sites. BODY There needs to be a highlighted area which is a large ad space (flash animation) that cycles through 4-5 different ads/promotions. For now they can be placeholder options but as we get into final prototype this will be fleshed out. For the first round we do not need Flash, we just need a graphic place holder. There will be no controls on the Flash animation SECTIONS OVERVIEW Designers can play with hierarchy/priority of items. There is no particular order to the below items. TOOLS SECTION Header calls out Tools, an icon for tools, and link to tools page (a secondary tools page will need to be created that will house the tools listed below). There also needs to be a list of the tools underneath the header with links to their individual pages. The tool main page is a home for the listed tools. It will need to have a main banner. Each section will also need to have a banner calling out that tool. An image for the tool (just a place holder for now) and a brief explanation of the tool and a link to that tool. The explanation can be fake/greeked text for now. - Find a plan/phone - Check upgrade eligibility - Coverage map - Accessory finder FORUMS SECTION Header calls out Forums, an icon for Forums, and link to forum page (a secondary page will need to be created that will be a forum page). There will also be a feed that shows 2-4 of the top feeds. Designer can put in fake text/feeds as place holders. The forum page for now can be a fake forum page. We do not know the categories at this time. But it will be around cell phones. An example is http://cellphoneforums.net/ There would need to be a log in and search function on the page. THESE CAN BE SEPARATE SECTIONS OR TOGETHER IN ONE SECTION VIDEOS Videos will need a secondary page created that is a video library. It will need to include a spot for uploading user videos, a spot to search videos, and the following video categories: Reviews, How To, Tips and Tricks, Other. REVIEWS Reviews will need a secondary page created that is a review library. It will basically be a housing of various reviews of cell phones from other sites. It will need to have a search function included in it. Designer can have fake reviews in there for now. We will import data at a later time. For an example of what type of function we are thinking of: http://www.phonedog.com/cell-phone-reviews/default.aspx FAQS This will just be a link to another site/page that is hosted on another site. ASK AND ANSWER This will just be a link to another site/page that is hosted on another site. DASHWIRE This will need to be a Spot Ad for a service called DASHWIRE. For now, please just use a placeholder that says DASHWIRE.COM. There needs to be a hover over explanation that pops to read either of the following: "Make the most out of your mobile" or "Maximize your mobile life". APPLICATIONS STORE There need to be a spot/link/ad for our APPLICATIONS store. For now it can be a fake design/ad. There is no logo/design solidified to share. 3RD PARTY CONTENT The 3rd party content is a spot where we are featuring data from other sites: blogs, reviews, videos, etc. For the front page we want to feature the three sites we are working with Phonedog, PhoneScoop, CNET and 2 other sites (these can be made up) by showing (placeholders that say their logo names) and an article title featured by them (this can be fake for this design). There should also be a See More link. Clicking on these will bring you to a second page, which is a content catalog. This should have a search function. It should showcase these sites and what they have to offer and what it going on in the mobile world at that time. The second page would have a main banner and the following categories: Editorials, Reviews, Blogs, and White Pages. The content underneath each of these would be links that we would import in from other sites. Clicking on an link will take you to that link page. The article is displayed along with a list of articles, blogs, videos, or phones that user may be interested in because of their choice of that article. Similar to Amazon's based on your purchase of this... you might like this. Design Goals The design is completely open to the designer. All design choices should be focused on usability and visual cues for the user and need to adhere to a level of professionalism consistent with Best Buy's overall image. Design Considerations - Research! Research modern web application design and usability. - Showing an intuitive interface that is easy-to-use. Specific Contest Details Size: Pages should fit comfortably within a 1024px display with no horizontal scrolling. Vertical scrolling should be kept to a minimum Relevant links www.mobilesyrup.com REMIX Parameters and Constraints - What is Remix http://remix.bestbuy.com - REMIX Challenge Homepage http://www.remixchallenge.com - Remix Forums at TopCoder Stock Photography For this contest you are allowed to use product images from the Best Buy website and only the Best Buy website. Contest Submissions Requirements Tournament Round 2: Main-Page.jpg = Finished and completed design solution Video-Library.jpg = Finished and completed design solution Tools-Launch.jpg = Finished and completed design solution Review-Library.jpg = Finished and completed design solution Third-Party-Content-Library = Finished and completed design solution You must submit all requested deliverables to be considered for prizes - you may submit more pages if necessary to show your design. Submission & Source Files Preview Image Please create your preview image as one (1) 1024x1024 JPG or PNG file in RGB color mode at 72dpi and place your submissions within it. Submission File All requested Contest Deliverables in JPG or PNG file format in RGB color mode at 72dpi. plus your notes.txt file Source Files All original source files of the submitted design. Files should be created in Adobe Photoshop, Gimp, Adobe Illustrator or Inkscape and saved as layered PSD files, AI or EPS files. Final Fixes As part of the final fixes phase you may be asked to modify fonts (sizes or colors) or modify overall storyboard colors. Additional Information In this competition, Best Buy employees (other than those in the group sponsoring the competition) may participate, however, they may not use any Best Buy resources when participating in the competition, and also may not have any contact with members of the group sponsoring the competition about the competition, other than through TopCoder and the public forums.
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.