Challenge Summary
Welcome to the 2017 Topcoder Open Logo Design Challenge! The 2017 Topcoder Open (TCO17) logo is a very important part of the event. 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 and never been used 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 TCO17 logo will be used on all the event promotional material, the t-shirt, website, etc. The prestigious Topcoder Open brings together the best of the best from countries all over the world, with various backgrounds, cultures, and skill sets.
The logo needs to draw a distinct connection between the Topcoder brand/color scheme.
Learn more about TCO here
CHECKPOINT PRIZES
Topcoder tshirts will be given away as checkpoint prizes instead of monetary prize. Rules is if you won a checkpoint placement, you need to submit in the final round to get the tshirt.
- Logo in Color on white background
- Logo in Color on black background
- Logo in grayscale
Please explain your design with notes that will help us understand the meaning/purpose of your logo.
- Logo in Color on white background
- Logo in Color on black background
- Logo in grayscale
Please explain your design with notes that will help us understand the meaning/purpose of your logo.
Challenge
The TCO17 logo is featured on every piece of the tournament and events. From the t-shirts, the website, marketings, and much more. This logo must encompass what the tournament means; not literally but figuratively. The TCO17 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
Stay away from ideas that have been used in past tournaments, here is a complete list of previous logos:
- 2001 to 2012 [https://community.topcoder.com/tc?module=Static&d1=tournaments&d2=home]
- TCO13 [https://community.topcoder.com/tco13/overview/win-tco-trips/]
- TCO14 [https://community.topcoder.com/tco14/]
- TCO15 [http://tco15.topcoder.com/]
- TCO16 [http://tco16.topcoder.com/]
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 a world-wide 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 event website, the printed program, apparel and large format event graphics.
TCO17 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 and not just a random design that could relate to any business.
- The logo may say only ONE of these phrases NOT both: TCO17 or 2017 Topcoder Open.
- Make sure the logo looks completely different from the previous year's logo (see links above).
- Do not use any track names, event place, or icons, but something more overall representative.
- Stay away from gradients, as they will not be able to be easily reproduced across all media.
- Logo must be recognizable when printed on a Black & White background.
- 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.
- Provide an outlined version of your logo.
- 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.
- Identify the colors theme in your submission.
- We need you to create the logo in All Color and Black & White versions. You can use the attached template (Template.zip or Template-with-stacked-horizontal-option.zip)
- Optionally, provide a version of your logo in stacked and horizontal position.
Fonts
- Fonts are open to the designer, just be aware of Studio font policy.
Colors
- Use the Topcoder brand colors
- Use the primary colors.
- Secondary colors may be use to support or compliment your main color of choice.
References
- The TCO16, TCO13, and TCO08 logo (see above links) 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 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 inspirations only.
http://www.pinterest.com/inspirationfeed/logo-designs/
https://dribbble.com/search?q=competition+logo
https://dribbble.com/search?q=event+logo
http://justcreative.com/2016/05/23/2016-logo-design-trends-inspiration/
Target Audience
- Topcoder members
- Topcoder's Clients and Sponsors
- Potential Members
- Potential Clients 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?
Submission Deliverables
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:
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, Inkscape, or similar programs 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.
This logo must be unique for a Topcoder tournament, and not something you can find at any everyday business or event. The TCO17 logo will be used on all the event promotional material, the t-shirt, website, etc. The prestigious Topcoder Open brings together the best of the best from countries all over the world, with various backgrounds, cultures, and skill sets.
The logo needs to draw a distinct connection between the Topcoder brand/color scheme.
Learn more about TCO here
CHECKPOINT PRIZES
Topcoder tshirts will be given away as checkpoint prizes instead of monetary prize. Rules is if you won a checkpoint placement, you need to submit in the final round to get the tshirt.
Round 1
Your initial design solution for checkpoint review:- Logo in Color on white background
- Logo in Color on black background
- 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 solution after incorporating the checkpoint feedback:- Logo in Color on white background
- Logo in Color on black background
- Logo in grayscale
Please explain your design with notes that will help us understand the meaning/purpose of your logo.
Challenge
The TCO17 logo is featured on every piece of the tournament and events. From the t-shirts, the website, marketings, and much more. This logo must encompass what the tournament means; not literally but figuratively. The TCO17 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
Stay away from ideas that have been used in past tournaments, here is a complete list of previous logos:
- 2001 to 2012 [https://community.topcoder.com/tc?module=Static&d1=tournaments&d2=home]
- TCO13 [https://community.topcoder.com/tco13/overview/win-tco-trips/]
- TCO14 [https://community.topcoder.com/tco14/]
- TCO15 [http://tco15.topcoder.com/]
- TCO16 [http://tco16.topcoder.com/]
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 a world-wide 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 event website, the printed program, apparel and large format event graphics.
TCO17 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 and not just a random design that could relate to any business.
- The logo may say only ONE of these phrases NOT both: TCO17 or 2017 Topcoder Open.
- Make sure the logo looks completely different from the previous year's logo (see links above).
- Do not use any track names, event place, or icons, but something more overall representative.
- Stay away from gradients, as they will not be able to be easily reproduced across all media.
- Logo must be recognizable when printed on a Black & White background.
- 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.
- Provide an outlined version of your logo.
- 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.
- Identify the colors theme in your submission.
- We need you to create the logo in All Color and Black & White versions. You can use the attached template (Template.zip or Template-with-stacked-horizontal-option.zip)
- Optionally, provide a version of your logo in stacked and horizontal position.
Fonts
- Fonts are open to the designer, just be aware of Studio font policy.
Colors
- Use the Topcoder brand colors
- Use the primary colors.
- Secondary colors may be use to support or compliment your main color of choice.
References
- The TCO16, TCO13, and TCO08 logo (see above links) 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 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 inspirations only.
http://www.pinterest.com/inspirationfeed/logo-designs/
https://dribbble.com/search?q=competition+logo
https://dribbble.com/search?q=event+logo
http://justcreative.com/2016/05/23/2016-logo-design-trends-inspiration/
Target Audience
- Topcoder members
- Topcoder's Clients and Sponsors
- Potential Members
- Potential Clients 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?
Submission Deliverables
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:
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, Inkscape, or similar programs 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.