BONUS: 3‌ CHECKPOINTS AWARDED WORTH ‌$75‌ EACH

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Challenge Summary

Badges are fun, colorful representations of member achievements. They are currently displayed in the right column of Studio profiles under the member's picture (as in this example) and will be conspicuously featured in TopCoder software profiles too. All members have badges, but only some members are copilots. We want to enhance the profiles of copilots in TopCoder software and Studio with badges that identify their areas of expertise.

Round 1

All badges specified below must be submitted in the milestone round.

Round 2

All badges specified below must be submitted in the final round.


Primary Goals

We are looking for badges that identify 14 areas of copiloting expertise in five different groups, as listed below. The badges within each group must be easy to distinguish from one another.

UI and Graphic Design (Studio)

  • Wireframe: a Studio contest type that seeks to define the flow of information in an application or web page
  • Desktop App UI: interface design for traditional computer software
  • Mobile UI: interface design for applications that run on smartphones and tablets
  • Web UI: interface design for web pages and web applications
  • Branding/Marketing/Presentation: design in any medium that is used for branding, marketing, and presentations


Business Analysis

  • Idea Generation: a Studio contest type that is used for brainstorming new ideas
  • Conceptualization: a TopCoder software track that defines the broad outlines of a software project


Implementation

  • UI Development: a TopCoder software track that develops UI prototypes
  • Architecture and Design: a set of TopCoder software tracks that write software specifications
  • Component Development: a TopCoder software track that develops software components
  • Assembly: a TopCoder software track that assembles software components into a finished product


Testing and Quality Assurance

  • Test Scenarios: a TopCoder software track that develops automated testing tools
  • Bug Hunts: a TopCoder software track that challenges members to manually find bugs


Analytics

  • Big Data: looking for patterns (data mining) and performing calculations (number crunching) in very large collections of data

 

Each badge must be rendered in two sizes: 48x48 and 17x17 pixels. The 48x48 version should be a detailed design that takes full advantage of the available pixels, while the 17x17 version will necessarily leave out details due to the much lower resolution. Automatic downscaling is not likely to result in an acceptable appearance for the small badge, so you should expect to design it specially at the pixel level.

Attached to this contest specification is a Photoshop template that you must use to prepare your submission. Insert the full set of 28 badges into this template, then hide the gray background squares and save the template as a 1024x1024 PNG image.

 

Branding Guidelines

These badges will be displayed on TopCoder software and Studio member profiles. Please consult the attached branding document for additional guidelines. Note that we are looking for skill badges to be used by copilots, but eventually we will want to make a parallel set of badges for regular members. You are not required to show how your badge designs can be converted for use by regular members. This is just something to keep in mind.

 

Target Audience

The copilot skill badges will be useful for three groups of users:

  • TopCoder software and Studio copilots whose profiles will display these badges
  • TopCoder administrators who are selecting copilots for projects
  • TopCoder clients who are evaluating applications from copilots

 

Reference Designs

Please refer to the attached UI kit for the required badge shape: use the Skill shape for all badges in this set.

 

Judging Criteria

We are looking for badge designs that clearly communicate a copilot's areas of expertise to administrators and clients who are evaluating copilot applications.


What to Submit

Submission ZIP File:
A 1024x1024 PNG image that displays the full set of badges on a pure white background. To make the image, complete the Photoshop template attached to this contest specification, then hide the gray background squares and save to PNG format.

Source ZIP File:
All fully editable original source files of the submitted design as listed under "Source Files" in the side bar.

Preview JPG/PNG Image File:
The same 1024x1024 PNG image that you uploaded in the submission zip.

 

Final Fixes

As part of the final fixes phase you may be asked to complete one round of minor changes to ensure your submission meets the stated requirements of this contest. See more information about Final Fixes.

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.

Stock Photography

Stock photography is not allowed in this challenge. All submitted elements must be designed solely by you. See this page for more details.

How To Submit

  • New to Studio? ‌Learn how to compete here
  • Upload your submission in three parts (Learn more here). Your design should be finalized and should contain only a single design concept (do not include multiple designs in a single submission).
  • If your submission wins, your source files must be correct and “Final Fixes” (if applicable) must be completed before payment can be released.
  • You may submit as many times as you'd like during the submission phase, but only the number of files listed above in the Submission Limit that you rank the highest will be considered. You can change the order of your submissions at any time during the submission phase. If you make revisions to your design, please delete submissions you are replacing.

Winner Selection

Submissions are viewable to the client as they are entered into the challenge. Winners are selected by the client and are chosen solely at the client's discretion.

ELIGIBLE EVENTS:

2012 TopCoder(R) Open

Challenge links

Screening Scorecard

Submission format

Your Design Files:

  1. Look for instructions in this challenge regarding what files to provide.
  2. Place your submission files into a "Submission.zip" file.
  3. Place all of your source files into a "Source.zip" file.
  4. Declare your fonts, stock photos, and icons in a "Declaration.txt" file.
  5. Create a JPG preview file.
  6. Place the 4 files you just created into a single zip file. This will be what you upload.

Trouble formatting your submission or want to learn more? ‌Read the FAQ.

Fonts, Stock Photos, and Icons:

All fonts, stock photos, and icons within your design must be declared when you submit. DO NOT include any 3rd party files in your submission or source files. Read about the policy.

Screening:

All submissions are screened for eligibility before the challenge holder picks winners. Don't let your hard work go to waste. Learn more about how to  pass screening.

Challenge links

Questions? ‌Ask in the Challenge Discussion Forums.

Source files

  • Layered PSD files created in Adobe Photoshop or similar
  • AI files created in Adobe Illustrator or similar
  • EPS files created in Adobe Illustrator or similar

You must include all source files with your submission.

Submission limit

5 submissions

ID: 30026202