Challenge Summary
Welcome to the TCO14 logo contest - yes it's here already! The 2014 TopCoder Open logo is a very important design for us. Our premier tournament next year must showcase an amazing logo design from our Studio community. The goal of this competition is to create a new eye-catching logo that recognizes this event as one of the industry's premier places to showcase high-tech talent from the global community.
This logo must be unique for a TopCoder tournament, and not something you can find at any everyday business or event. The TCO14 logo will be used on all the event promotional material, the t-shirt, the tournament program, and the website. Representatives from top companies around the world will be attending the event to watch and evaluate our competitors' performances. The prestigious TopCoder Open brings together the best of the best from countries all over the world, with various backgrounds, cultures, and skill sets.
We will also run a storyboard contest for the TCO website; the winning logo you design will set the look and feel of this tournament. For this edition of the TCO, competitors will have all year to try and make their way to the finals.
Round 1
Your submitted design solution for checkpoint review:
- Logo in Color (on white)
- Logo in Color (on black)
- Logo in grayscale
Please explain your design with notes that will help us understand the meaning/purpose of your logo
Round 2
Your final design solutions after incorporating checkpoint feedback:
- Logo in Color (on white)
- Logo in Color (on black)
- Logo in grayscale
Please explain your design with notes that will help us understand the meaning/purpose of your logo
Challenge
The TCO14 logo is featured on every piece of the tournament. From the t-shirts, the program, the website, and much more. This one logo must encompass what the tournament means; not literally but figuratively. The TCO14 is all about competition either by coding, designing or building software. You must take all of the things the TCO means and produce a visual that people can relate to the tournament.
Design Considerations:
Please stay away from ideas/color schemes that have been used in past tournaments, here is a complete list of previous logos: http://community.topcoder.com/tc?module=Static&d1=tournaments&d2=home as well as this year's logo.
Too often we have had globes, computers, circles, and computer mice depicted in logo designs. We want to stay away from anything that has been done in the past and expect something fresh and new - something bold that symbolizes a spirit of competition.
Concept, composition, and simplicity will be taken into serious consideration in the selection process (see judging criteria below). Most great logos share some characteristics; they are clean, simple and easy to remember. The winning logo will be used in many different areas, on the tournament website, the printed program, apparel and large format event graphics.
TCO14 LOGO REQUIREMENTS
- We are looking for something fresh and new but at the same time, something that conveys competition, innovation, and the concept of a tournament. We want something that speaks TCO - not just a random design that could relate to any business.
- The logo may say only ONE of these phrases NOT both: TCO14 or 2014 TopCoder Open.
- We need you to create the logo in All Color and Black & White versions.
- We only allow a maximum usage of 3 colors in your logo.
- Make sure the color scheme has not been used in a previous TopCoder tournament.
- Please do not use any track names, event place, or icons, but something more overall representative.
- Please stay away from gradients, as they will not be able to be easily reproduced across all media.
- Your logo must be recognizable when printed on a Black & White background.
- You must also identify your colors 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.
- The logo should encapsulate the message of the logo design within three seconds of the first glimpse. Anyone who sees your logo for the first time should retain that image in their memory.
- You can use the attached template (Template.zip)
Please note, the TCO14 website will be very generic and we are counting on the logo alone to give the website character - the most important piece of the tournament. Select your colors and design carefully.
Fonts
- Fonts are open to the designer with exception of the Bank Gothic family. All non-standard Windows fonts must be listed in a text file within your submission folder. Include the name of the font and a link to where it can be downloaded/purchased. DO NOT include any font files in your submission or source files.
Colors:
- Colors are open to the designer, but we only allow a maximum usage of 3 colors in your logo.
- Make sure the color scheme has not been used in a previous TopCoder tournament.
References:
- The TCO13 logo (http://community.topcoder.com/tco13/) and TCO08 logo (see in this list) are examples of strong logos. It is hard to imagine seeing these logos on a sign for a coffee shop or bakery. The font is a perfect fit for the design and the simple yet bold look of the design encompasses exactly what we were looking for to portray the TCO.
- The TCCC06 logo (http://community.topcoder.com/tc?module=Static&d1=tournaments&d2=tccc06&d3=about) is another good example. This logo looked amazing in all mediums. It stood out well on black backgrounds and shined on white. The look and feel really showed what the TCCC was all about.
Explore some logo design inspiration websites, look for simple images or typography that convey a sense of competition. A good logo should be; simple, distinctive, relevant, memorable, timeless, and versatile - and most importantly your own design. Use these references as inspiration only.
http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/80-creative-and-well-designed-logos/
http://logodesignerblog.com/top-best-10-logo-design-inspiration-galleries/
http://www.logobird.com/the-principles-of-good-logo-design/
Target Audience:
- TopCoder and Studio members
- TopCoder's Clients and Sponsors
- Potential Member
- Potential Client and Sponsors
Judging Criteria:
Feel free to explain how these criteria are met, or what your idea behind the design process is - as a text file/notes in your submission.
- Relevance: How does your logo "fit" within the tournament? As in, the tournament of as a whole: the competitions, the competitors, the prestige, the excitement, etc. This is very important.
- Quality: Does your logo look fresh, professional and clean? Is the composition/layout well done? Have you used typography in a meaningful way?
- Concept: Does your logo present a new and interesting concept? Is it simple, yet memorable?
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.
Contest Deliverables
Submission File:
All requested Contest Deliverables in JPG or PNG file format in RGB color mode at 72dpi.
Source Files:
All original VECTOR source files of the submitted design. Files should be created in Adobe Illustrator or Inkscape and saved as layered AI or EPS files.
Your source files must meet these requirements:
1) The AI/EPS logo file with text intact (not outlined).
2) The AI/EPS logo file with text in outlined format.
Final Fixes:
As part of the final fixes phase you may be asked to modify colors or fonts.
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.