Challenge Summary
Welcome to the TopCoder Logo Refinement Challenge.
This competition’s purpose is to refine and improve on the provided logo concept. We like the provided logo concept, but are looking to you to improve it. Remember...it’s important to create a visual link with this logo concept to our new parent company, Appirio.
At the end of this competition we are looking for ways to improve the existing logo concept. Your refinements of this concept should be unique, attractive and bold. We are looking for you to accomplish two things with this challenge.
1. Clean up the existing logo vector graphics to make them print ready
2. Expand/ Improve on the logo concept. Does this logo inspire you? How would you improve on it or make it different? Anything goes.
IMPORTANT: Your design is going to be featured on everything that represents TopCoder so this is a great opportunity to get your work recognized.
Please read the contest specification carefully and watch the forums for any questions or feedback.
Round 1
For Round 1, please submit the following for review (you may submit multiple logo variations):
- Logo refinements/mockups
- Building out a single color version
- Building out a black and white version
- Building out a stacked version (Placing the logo type below the brand mark)
- Building out a version that just says topcoder w/out the brand mark
- Explore pushing the design more/ any additional ideas or variations
- Reasons for color choice, font use and graphics
- Notes around your refinement ideas
- Use the existing color palette with your designs
- The logo must have a strong visual connection to the Appirio logo
- Use the source illustrator file provided as your starting point
Round 2
Final Deliverables
- Final logo designs
- Different variations of the logo
- Branding guidelines, colors, fonts etc.
- Notes around your branding strategy
- Any milestone updates
- Print ready vector graphics
Design Problem:
For this contest we need you to refine/ improve the new logo design for TopCoder. We really like what this logo can do for us in tying our brand back to Appirio. We think the logo mark is dynamic and interesting and can help us tell our brand story. Now’s your chance to help us improve it!
Take a look the refined logo mark originally created by Community member abedeverra. You’ll notice that a nice nod to the arc shape in the Appirio logo. We've taken a quick exploration of what the new mark would look like if we used the Appirio arc as the basis for the new logo shape. The result is a strong visual connection back to the Appirio brand with a similar size and shape arc as the logo's center and then the branches or "sub brands" of TopCoder become the colors branching off of that main arc and the cross over of all of these branches and expertise is represented in the color overlap of the arcs.
You’ll also notice that the new logo mark slightly resembles a cloud...which is important for helping explain Appirio’s services to it’s clients.
Please use the source files provided and look to improve on the logo concept in the following ways:
Typography
Explore typography and fonts. Does the new Topcoder logo look stronger if it has a similar or complimentary typeface to the existing Appirio logo? What does the word “topcoder” look like if it had more kerning and the letters were spaced out? Does it look good in a thin weight font, a bold font? We want to see some exploration here.
Logo mark
Explore the how to make the logo mark shape better. We like using the original Apprio arc shape as the basis for the new TopCoder logo...but how can we improve this? What happens when you overlap this arc shape? Do the overlapping arches become distorted and skewed? Is it more 3 Dimensional? What happens to the color when you overlap shapes? Are there some cool interactions between the shapes in the logo mark? Play with this concept and see what you come up with.
Color palette
The existing colors in the concept are nice, but you are free to change the colors to a palette that you feel works well with the Appiro brand. *Remember...these logos need have a similar feel and feel like they are part of the same brand family...but also be able to stand out on their own.
Size and hierarchy
How big should the logo mark be in relation to the typography? Where should the word “topcoder” be placed in relation to the logo mark? To the right of the logo mark as we are showing it? Below the logo mark? Overlaying the logo mark? We’re looking for you to explore options for this so please experiment with this aspect of the logo concept.
We've provided you with a sample exploration to demonstrate the thinking that we want you to explore with this challenge. The sample demonstrates only a small amount of the direction you can take with this challenge...please have fun with this and push your designs to improve on what we have provided you.
This logo must meet the requirements listed below.
Logo Requirements:
- You must show your logo on a white and black background (You MUST use the logo template provided)
- The logo must be shown in various forms on the template (black and white version, single color version, stacked version or having the logo type below the brand mark as opposed to the right of the brand mark, Type logo without brand mark version)
- 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. Please be aware of Studio font delivery requirements and policies.
- All colors and arrangements are open for your use
Branding: (reference link) Branding is about establishing memories and recall. Establishing a consistent look and feel to your deliverables will help you build a recognizable brand
Target Audience:
- TopCoder community
- Potential community members
- TopCoder customers
Judging Criteria:
- Requirements: Does your logo meet the requirements as stated in the description.
- Concept: Have you pushed the design of the provided logo mark?
ASK us questions in the forums!
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.
Submission File:
- Include all requested Contest Deliverables in JPG or PNG file format in RGB color mode at 72dpi.
- Use the attached template to layout your logo design, tag lines and brand names.
Source File:
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 in CMYK color mode. Your source files must meet these requirements:
1) The IA/EPS logo file with text intact (not outlined).
2) The IA/EPS logo file with text in outlined format.
Final Fixes:
As part of the final fixes phase you may be asked to modify your graphics (sizes or colors) or modify overall colors.
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.