TopCoder SXSW Presentation Icons Design Contest

Welcome to the TopCoder SXSW Presentation Icons Design Contest. TopCoder is very excited to attend the annual SXSW event that will be held next month (March). As an exhibitor at the SXSW event, we would like to create a presentation that explains TopCoder to a SXSW visitior. We will have a large diplay board with 4 large monitors on it. This contest is the first of a series (of quick!) contests to get the presentation designed and created for SXSW! Help us out! 

[adroc] will be managing this project and providing feedback so let me know what questions you have!

Round 1

Okay - I'm looking for you intitial concepts - ANYTHING you want feedback on. I don't want you to waste time going in the wrong direction. Show me your thoughts! 

I would like to see some initial design for the icons and background design. 
- How does the icon look by itself as the opening slide
- How do the icons look together as the opening to an HTML5 app.

Icons
1. Studio
2. Education
3. Analytics
4. Enterprise
- Number your images! (01, 02, 03 etc.) in the order I should view them 
- Notes.jpg: Send me some notes and comments! (I'll read them...promise!)

Round 2

Final designs! 
- All requested items
- Any new items requested in Round 2 
- Number your images! (01, 02, 03 etc.) in the order I should view them 
- Notes.jpg: Send me some notes and comments! (I'll read them...maybe) :)
 

Contest Details
South by Southwest (SXSW) is the annual film/music/interactive conference conducted every March in Austin, Texas. One of the more popular events of SXSW is the interactive portion of the conference that draws a large technology/interactive/creative crowd to one location. The conference is a platform for startups and techies to showcase their new ideas and services to the world.
  
This year, Topcoder will attend as an exhibitor at this big event. I would like to create a great "presentation" of what TopCoder brings to the technology/interactive world. I'm looking to impress viewers who step into our booth and want to learn more about TopCoder and the TopCoder community. 

Design Concept
We have four (4) areas that we want to focus on:
- Studio
- Education
- Analytics
- Enterprise

I envision each of these "TopCoder Pillars" being on 1 of 4 large monitors we will have in our booth. A user can go though any of the presentations to see how the TopCoder community creates and completes projects within these 4 areas. We will also create a quick iPad (HTML5) application to launch a user into 1 of the 4 presentations. I would also like to use this design after SXSW to help explain TopCoder to potential customers.

Design concepts [adroc] wants you to think about
- Think large beautiful "iPad" esque icons
- Think lush colors that would look great on large wall mounted monitors
- Think "great slide presentation" - modern graphic design 
- If anyone is familiar with the recent Hestia tablet design - this design direction is influencing my concept (see attached "hestia-tablet.png")

For this first contest I want to focus on the large navigation icons. I think capturing how these look and how they are presented will help influence/flesh out the rest of the presentation design. Please share any designs/thoughts you have on how this presendation could work and look. 

Note: I also want to track how we get this project done (I'll make sure to recognize the contestants) as a case study at SXSW 

Icons Design Requirements
- We want Ultra High Quality Details Icons that looks great within 512px x 512px size. (Think Tablet/large monitor!)
- Each icon should show solid characters design.
- Remember, all of the icons will be placed on a "darker" lush background. Make sure the icon blends on black color very well.
- All the icons must displayed in the same direction and angle. 

Deliverables (what I'm looking for)
I would like to see the icons and initial presentation/background concepts.
- How would the icon look by itself as the opening slide (up on the monitor)
- How would the icons look together as the opening to an HTML5 app.

References 
Reference Design #1
Reference Design #2
Reference Design #3
Reference Design #4

Icon Descriptions
Here are the icons you need to be designed:
1. Studio
- An icon that represents TopCoder Studio
- This could reference the logo but I'm looking for something new  

2. Education
This icon need represents TopCoder Education.
- The presentation for Eduction will use slides and information from our education site NoNameSite

3. Analytics
This icon should represent data management and business analytics.
- This is extending the TopCoder algorithm and marathon match capabilities

4. Enterprise
This icon should represent TopCoder Enterprise
- These are TopCoder clients and the projects we complete through the TopCoder community

Attachments
- Let me know if your looking a specific TopCoder file or reference - I'll try and help you out
- I like the "TopCoder Circuit" design used at the TCO - not sure if it will work - but I'll attach if you think its useful

Target User
- SXSW attendee
- Potential Customer

Judging Criteria
- Hey - is your design cool!
- High Quality and Cleanliness of design (always a priority)
- User Exprience (it needs to be sweet)

Submission & Source Files
Preview Image
Please create your preview image as one (1) 800x800 JPG or PNG file in RGB color mode at 72dpi and place a screenshot of your submission within it. You are free to resize or crop your submission to fit this size, but do not add any filters or elements for dramatic effect, such as drop shadows or reflections.

Submission File
Submit JPG/PNG image files based on contest submission requirements stated above.

Source Files
All original source files. Original source files should be saved as layered Photoshop PSD files or AI / EPS (Illustrator) files.

Final Fixes
As part of the final fixes phase you may be asked to modify your graphics (sizes or colors) or modify overall colors.