Challenge Summary
Welcome back to the TopCoder Studio Logo and Branding Design Contest 3.
This is quite an interesting and exciting new contest. TopCoder Studio is looking to revise and improve our previous contest winners' designs. We are looking for the final logo for Studio.
This competition will be to take the last 3 winning submissions from "TopCoder Studio Logo and Branding Contest 2" and improve their designs. You will also have the opportunity to design a completely new logo; your "inspiration Logo".
The Studio logo will be used in various marketing campaigns for both digital and print. This will include and is not limited to be t-shirts, merchandise (pens, keychains etc.) posters, banner ads, videos, animations and so on.
At the end of this competition we are looking to see how how you use the designs from the past contests along with design guidance to create your own logo variations. We are also interested in any unique logos that you come up with. We want this logo to represent the Studio Community.
Round 1
Checkpoint - Round One Information:
For Round 1, please submit the following for review (you may submit multiple designs):
- We are looking for 3 logos based on the provided logos and feedback.
- You can submit an optional 4th logo, "Inspirational Logo" at this round
- Logo 1: With the suggested updates
- Logo 2: With the suggested updates
- Logo 3: With the suggested updates
- Logo 4: Any inspiration you might have for feedback
- Explanation of your arrangement of the logo and graphics in your attached text file
- Reasons for color choices and use of graphics in your logo
- Use the template provided
Round 2
Final Deliverables:
- Your final 3 logo design variations with 1 optional "Inspirational Logo".
- All logos MUST read "TopCoder Design Studio"
- Your logos must be in the template. One version with the fonts as outlines and the other with editable font layers
- Any other items you would like to include to promote your solution (web banner, apparel example etc.)
- Notes about why you chose your layout, color choice and words placements in an attached text file
- Any checkpoint updates
Contest Goal:
For this contest we want you to download and examine the provided logos. We would like you to then review our feedback of these logos as guidance for designing and improving the logos. In the template we have provided each logo that we like. In the black and white fields to the right, we would like you to redesign each logo using the original logo and feedback as a guide. You have the option to also create your own original logo "Logo 4 - Inspirational Logo".
Design Problem and Goals:
- We have 3 logo winners from our previous competition that have elements about them that we like and elements we would like to see changed. See feedback below.
- We are looking to update the TopCoder Studio logo and brand to help move the Studio Community forward and help TopCoder clients understand what "Studio" is all about.
This is a continuation/iteration contest based on results from the our previous two contests.
Logo Feedback and updates:
- Use as a guide for your logo designs in this contest
- Each logo must say "TopCoder Design Studio"
Logo 1
What we like:
+ We really like the idea of using color cards
+ We like the layout of the words/entire logo and the fact that the word "design" is called out
+ We like the slight subtle overlay of the "d" and the "o"
+ We like the font choice of the word "TopCoder"
Changes we would like to see:
- New font for "Studio". Look at the other logos we've uploaded and see if you can come up with something similar to those styles. When changing the font, consider carrying over the idea of the overlaid "d" and "o" but remember to keep it subtle. Do not use gradients, shadowing, etc.
- We are not keen on the way the "t" is shaped in this font
- Reduce the size of the registered trademark circle
- Find a new font for the word "Design". It should be clean and simple and must complement the font you chose for the word "Studio". The biggest problem we have with this logo is the choice and combination of fonts. The fonts to not complement each other and are not clean enough
- Make sure the card outlines are smooth and clean
- Try a slightly darker blue for the top color card. The current blue color does not "pop" the word "Design" well enough on a white background
- Work on the hierarchy between "TopCoder", "Design", and "Studio" - TopCoder can be small
Logo 2
What we like:
+ We like the color usage
+ We like the pixel taken out of the color wheel to make the top of the "i"
+ We like the font usage and treatment
+ We like the TopCoder font size and the "idea" of the 2nd color for open innovation
Changes we would like to see:
- Studio should be the same color ("S" or any other letter should not be a separate color)
- The font color for Studio does not have to be black, white or grey
- Perhaps "TopCoder" could fit more snug into "Studio"
- We would like to see some spacing between the circle of color pixels (1-2pt line)
- We would like to see the "i" have the same slant as the "d" and have the Pixel piece have the same angle
- We need the logo to say TopCoder Design Studio (replace or add "Design" with "TopCoder")
- TopCoder and Design can be another color (like open innovation)
- What is the best color for the top of the "i"
- How does this look with no color?
Logo 3A
What we like:
+ We like the "concept" of this logo - the placement of the different design elements
We do not like:
- Size/hierarchy of the design elements
- Colors
- Font usage
Changes we would like to see:
Please also see logo 3B in the downloads
We would like to see a new logo using this concept but with refined graphics and placement
- Top: TopCoder logo
- Middle: Small color pixel bar (similar to logo 3B)
- Bottom: Design Studio (one color)
Alternate option:
- Top: TopCoder logo
- Middle: Small color pixel bar (similar to logo 3b
- Bottom: Studio
Overall Design Guidance:
- Use the attached template for your submission
- Each logo must say "TopCoder Design Studio"
- Download the attached source files
- Research the design simplicity of the famous logo designer Saul Bass
This logo must meet the requirements listed below.
Logo Requirements:
- Content: The logo must contain "TopCoder", "Design" and "Studio" along with any graphical elements you create
- Stay away from gradients and drop shadows, as they will not be easily reproduced across all media
- You must show your logo on a white and black background (You MUST use the logo template provided)
- You must identify your color theme in the submission.
- Designs must be created as VECTOR artwork so they can be resized without a loss of quality. Make sure your logo quality is not diminished when scaled up or down.
- Do not use paint brushes or icons that represent traditional print design methods such as painting or drawing
Branding Guidelines:
- Fonts: Fonts are open to the designer however we like the simple and clean font and font treatment in the attached designs. Please be aware of Studio font delivery requirements and policies.
- All colors and arrangements are open for your use
Target Audience:
- The Studio Community
- Graphic Designers
- UX (User Experience) Designers
- IA (Information Architects)
- Mobile Application Developers
- Students
Judging Criteria:
- Requirements: Does your logo meet the requirements as stated in the description?
- Quality: Does your logo look creative, appealing and convey what Studio is all about?
- Concept: Does your logo present a new and interesting concept? Is it simple, yet memorable?
ASK us questions in the forums!
IMPORTANT
- Do your research - Read the requirements and look at all the attachments
- Understand what competitions Studio launches, what design fields it focuses on and what are the people in the Studio community
- Keep things consistent. This means all graphic styles should work together.
Submissions & 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. 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.
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.