Challenge Summary
For this contest, we want you to design a template for the new TopCoder newsletter. The newsletter will be used in both web and email formats.
Round 1
At the end of Round 1, we 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 1 will be eligible to compete in Round 2.
Submission design for client review. Feedback will be provided to Round 1 winners when the round is complete.
- Design a new TopCoder Newsletter template design.
- Provide any notes or details about your design. This will help the client provide feedback.
Round 2
Round 2 will start with the announcement of the five (5) $100 Round 1 winners and their design review. Feedback for final fixes will be provided to winners when Round 2 is complete.
Submission design for client review:
- Design a new TopCoder Newsletter template design.
- Provide any notes or details about your design.
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.
Full Description & Project Guide
Contest Goal:
The goal of this contest is to create a template design for our new TopCoder newsletter. Included with this contest, are newsletter icons that you must use with your template design. The newsletter should be attractive, exciting, and also user-friendly. We want you to create 2 formats of the newsletter. One version must be designed so it can be embedded in an email, and the other must be designed as a web page. Details of the required items are described below.
Required items:
Create five sections in your TopCoder Newsletter template design. Use the descriptions below to design the sections of the newsletter. Section titles are not set in stone and we are open to ideas.
1. Header - This is the main Newsletter image that will tell viewers what they are looking at. Use the included Radio Tower graphic and the words: "TopCoder Newsletter". If needed, you may slightly modify the Radio Tower graphic to fit your design.
2. Output of the Month (Feature section) – A main story that focuses on a competition and its outcome which will link back to the contest page or further info.
3. News of the Platform (Sub-feature section) - A paragraph or two describing monthly platform updates which will link to more info if the reader desires the full story.
4. Member of the Month – The name and/or image of the Member of the Month with a short description or bio of them. In this section, include a link "For all Members of the Month click here".
5. Best of the Blog - This section will list three popular blog titles. The titles will link to the full article. If there’s enough room for a short description of each blog title, please include them.
Create two newsletter formats:
1. An html email newsletter (800 pixels wide). This is a shortened version of the full web page newsletter that will be embedded in an email. The goal of this email newsletter is to grab the viewer’s attention and give them a brief summary of what’s in the full newsletter. Experiment with a pull quote from the Feature section, and try versions with or without the icons. You do not have to include all sections of the newsletter here. Be creative and draw people in!
2. An html web page newsletter (1024 pixels wide). This is the full newsletter with all icons and sections designed as a web page. Also include the following social icon buttons: Blog subscription email/RSS, Twitter and Facebook.
Design Considerations:
Be creative! Experiment with different placements of the newsletter sections and icons. Your newsletter template should appear clean and professional, and have a similar look and feel as the TopCoder website: www.topcoder.com.
Target Audience:
Current and potential TopCoder members
Judging Criteria:
1. The Newsletter templates should grab the attention of the reader and draw them in.
2. The overall design should be easy to read and understand, and appear professional and creative.
3. The Newsletter templates should have a similar look and feel as the TopCoder website: www.topcoder.com.
Preview Image:
Create your designs as two (2) 1024 pixel wide JPGs or PNGs file in RGB color mode at 72dpi.
Submission File:
Low resolution JPG, PNG files of your layout.
Source Files:
All original source files of the submitted design. Files should be created in Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator or Inkscape and saved as layered PSD, AI or EPS files.
Final Fixes:
As part of the final fixes phase you may be asked to modify layout, fonts (sizes or colors) or overall colors.
DESIGN DETAILS
Size:
Email Newsletter template (800 pixels wide)
Web Page Newsletter template (1024 pixels wide)
Font:
If needed, the font Univers or one that looks similar on the approved TopCoder font list (http://community.topcoder.com/studio/the-process/font-policy/) should be used in the template design.
Color:
Colors should match the main colors of the TopCoder website: red, black, white, grey.
If needed, the font Univers should be used in the template design.
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.