Challenge Summary
Welcome to the [FAST] Topcoder Gig Work Interview Infographic Design Challenge.
With the growing number of gig opportunities offered on Topcoder we would like to help our members to get prepared for an interview if they get selected by our clients.
CHALLENGE OBJECTIVES
- To create a resource shown on Thrive for our members that help them succeed during the client interviews.
- To create a single image based on the requirements.
- To apply Topcoder branding to the infographic.
- The final design will go live on Monday, so the winner should be available for quick final fixes after the selection.
PROJECT OVERVIEW
We are happy to be able to provide more and more gig opportunities for our members. Since this is a new way for them to engage with our clients, we would like to help them get prepared for the steps they have to take until landing a gig job.
One of these steps is an interview with a representative of the client for which we gathered a list of areas and questions that a member should think over and prepare for in order to be able to confidently take part in the process.
AUDIENCE
Topcoder members of any track who applied for a gig work and would like to make sure that they can succeed in the client interview once they get selected.
PERSONA
Name: starck181995
Occupation: Topcoder Design Competitor
Goals:
- Would like to get selected for a gig that provides him with continuous work.
- Would like to be prepared for the selection process.
Frustrations:
- He doesn’t have much experience with job interviews.
- He hasn’t worked for a client directly as a designer.
Wants:
- Wants help in preparing for his interview to make sure he gets the job.
USER STORY
Starck181995 has been a member of the design track for more than two years now and he became quite successful during that period. He works a lot, submits to most of the challenges to be able to learn more and qualify for TCO as well. However, when he learned about the gig work opportunities offered by Topcoder he thought that he gained a lot of experience so far, so he would be happy to land one of the gig jobs that provides him a fixed income and at the same time lets him have more free time. He browsed through the opportunities and applied for one of the jobs. After a week he got an email with happy news that he has been selected by the client and will have the opportunity to go on an interview with them. Being young and inexperienced, stack181995 is confused about the interview and would like to get help with the preparation. In the email he has been provided with a link to an infographic which includes everything that he needs to get him going and by the time of the interview he is confident that he can show his best to the client and get the job he wanted.
DESIGN GOALS & PRINCIPLES
- We would like to make sure that members using this infographic become confident and well prepared.
- Modern and engaging style that fits Topcoder’s branding.
- Using iconography is allowed and encouraged.
- A balanced layout that can fit the large number of questions in a convenient way.
- To start you out on your research check out the following career related infographics.
- Check out some infographics used so far by Topcoder.
EXPLORATION SCORE
Creativity: 7
1: barely new ideas
10: a utopic product with features not proven to be able to be fully implemented
Aesthetics: 10
1: low-fidelity design, wireframe or plain sketch
10: top-notch finished looking visual design
Exploration: 7
1: strictly follow an existing reference or production guideline
10: open to alternative workflows/features not listed here that would help the overall application
Branding: 10
1: don’t care at all about the branding just functionality
10: without a properly branded product there is no success
CONTENT
We are providing the content (areas and the questions) you have to use when creating the infographic. Please make sure to include them exactly as they are below. NOTE: the areas below do not necessarily have to be in the same order. Please include the Topcoder logo as well on your design.
1. Title: Questions to Ask to Get the Gig
2. Expectations
- What is the length of the contract or project? What is my obligation if more time is required?
- What is the structure of the timeline?
- What is the culture or work environment?
- What is the protocol for (routine) feedback? What do project ‘check-ins’ look like?
- What does a group meeting look like? What is my expected level of preparation/participation?
- How many team members are on the project?
- How would you handle a freelancer not meeting your expectations?
- What other expectations do you have regarding time off, project management, or my experience?
3. Fit & Projects
- How directly applicable will your technical skills be to your role within the company or project?
- What are the company strengths (technically and innovatively)?
- What are some of the other projects your team, and if applicable, the company at large is working on?
- How much creative freedom do I have over the expected outcome?
- What is your role or contribution to the project, if any or none at all?
4. Money & Obligations
- Would you be able to perform well if you were really excited about working with a particular person, but not thrilled about the project?
- What is the payment schedule? How would I deal with late payments?
5. Fit & Placement
- What external factors will affect the extension of my contract or the termination? What type of growth are you experiencing? What are the long-term projections in terms of portfolio expansion or client acquisition?
- Is my skill set a good match for the project/company?
6. Culture
- Are the projects independent assignments or is it more of a collaborative structure?
- How many (large) projects are completed per fiscal year? [For yourself, as a freelancer, maybe it’s important to set a goal]
- What is the schedule like? Is it a full 40 hours a week, does the time of day matter?
- How often are employees/freelancers expected to be contactable by their supervisor? [Email, Slack, Online around the clock?]
- Is written communication preferred over phone calls? Is English preferred and do I have to be able to speak it well?
BRANDING GUIDELINES
- You can find the Topcoder branding guidelines and the GUI Kit source here.
- The look and feel should follow the Topcoder website and TCO sites look and feel (e.g. blobs and waves can be used to match the style).
- Please select your iconography from the Streamline 3.0 Icon Set
FORM FACTOR
- Width: 1070px maximum
- Height: we are flexible concerning the height
FINAL DELIVERABLES
- All original source files
- Create files in Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe XD or Sketch.
- Marvel Prototype -
- Upload your screens to Marvel App.
- Send your marvel app request to pere.viktoria@gmail.com
- Include your Marvel app URL as a text file in your final submission. Label it “MarvelApp URL”.
FINAL FIXES
We are planning to go live with the infographic on Monday so the winner has to be available for quick final fixes.
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.