Challenge Summary
Welcome back to another TCO14 Logo Design contest.
We still need a new logo for the 2014 TopCoder Open! We are looking to revise and improve our previous contest winners' designs, and are looking for a final logo for the TCO14 tournament.
This competition will be to take the winning submissions from "2014 TopCoder Open Logo Contest" and improve their designs, to fit better with the theme of the tournament. We are NOT looking for a mashup of the two logos, but for variations on these to convey the concept better.
The TCO14 logo will be used to brand the entire TopCoder Open tournament, on all media - both digital and print. This will include and is not limited to be the website, program, t-shirts, merchandise, banner ads, and so on.
At the end of this competition we are looking to see how how you use the designs from the past contests to create your own logo variations. We are also interested in any unique logos that you come up with, based on ideas you take from these two. We want this logo to represent the TCO14 - and look like it could not be used generically for any other entity - something that truly symbolizes an exciting competition.
Round 1
Submit your initial design for checkpoint review.
-- Use the provided template
-- You may submit multiple submissions!
Round 2
Submit your final design after incorporating checkpoint feedback.
-- Use the provided template
-- You may submit multiple submissions!
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, we would like you to redesign each logo using the original logo and feedback as a guide.
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. We would like to see variations on the winners of the previous logo competition - in terms of fonts, colors, and overall styling.
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.
Design Requirements:
- We have 2 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 create and brand the 2014 edition of the TopCoder Open.
This is a continuation/iteration contest based on results from the our previous logo contest.
Logo Feedback and updates:
- Use as a guide for your logo designs in this contest
- Each logo must say "2014 TopCoder Open" ot "TCO14"
- The current font used in both these logos (Gotham) is the same as the TCO13 logo's font - we would like to see variations in font choices.
Logo 1
Changes we would like to see:
-- The concept of origami is executed well, however not sure what origami has to do with the TCO? We really like the design of it, but some variations could be created which take away the full effect of the origami and appear a little more relevant to the TopCoder Open.
-- We like the font used, it fits well with the design - but would like to see variations in typography as it is too similar to the previous year's logo.
Logo 2
Changes we would like to see:
-- The symbol here looks cool, but could be related to a lot of other entities rather than immediately being associated with the TopCoder Open. We would also like to see variations in fonts and colors, as the current ones are not working.
Logo Requirements:
- Content: The logo must contain the text "2014 TopCoder Open" or "TCO14" - only ONE of these phrases.
- Use the attached template for your submission
- Stay away from gradients and drop shadows, as they will not be easily reproduced across all media
- You must identify your color theme in the submission.
- 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.
Fonts and Colors:
- Fonts: Fonts are open to the designer. We like clean typography, use the previous logos as reference but do not continue with the same fonts. Please be aware of Studio font delivery requirements and policies.
- Colors are open to the designer, but we only allow a maximum usage of 3 colors in your logo.
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? Use the previous logos' typography as reference, however do not continue with the same font choices.
- Concept: Does your logo present a new and interesting concept? Is it simple, yet memorable - and could not be confused with other graphic entities?
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.