Topcoder Social Media Graphic Design Challenge

Welcome to "TC Social Media Graphic Design Challenge".  In this challenge, we need your help in designing new social media graphic assets for all Topcoder social media including Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Youtube, LinkedIn, Tiktok, etc. At the end of this challenge, we are looking for fresh, new and enticing social media designs showcasing and evolving the Topcoder branding to the next level.

Read the challenge specification carefully and watch the forums for any questions or feedback concerning this challenge. Let us know if you have any questions in the challenge forum!

Round 1

Submit your initial/concept designs for checkpoint review:
01) Profile image design
02) Header Banners

Round 2

Submit your improved designs based on the checkpoint feedback:
01) Profile image design
02) Header Banners

CHALLENGE OBJECTIVES

• Create new design header and profile logo to freshen up all Topcoder social media accounts
• Come up with an eye-catching, attractive way of presenting Topcoder to social media users
• Design should consider the Topcoder brand but we want it to be evolve to the next level

TARGET AUDIENCE

• Topcoder Community including members and customers
• People who are interested in freelance work
• Social Media Users

DESIGN GOALS & PRINCIPLES

• The designs have to be visually appealing and engaging. Make sure the design is clean cut, professional, and simple.
• The Topcoder brand should be taken into account but we really open to evolve the design to the next level, introduce new elements outside the blob elements but still support the brand
• Leverage Topcoder photos as much as possible. We are encouraging the use of photography as it gives more authenticity. Make sure the photos show the diversity and many different cultures within our community

SOCIAL MEDIA DESIGN REQUIREMENTS

00) Topcoder Social Media Accounts Links

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/topcoder (Member focused content)
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/topcoder (Member focused content)
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/topcoder/ (Member and customer focused content)
• LinkedIn Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/98817/ (Member content)
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/Topcoder (Member and customer focused content)
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TopcoderOfficial (Member and customer focused content)
• Tiktok: Soon -no post right now (Member focused content)

01) Profile image design

• Use the Topcoder logo/icon without modifications, and come up with a background / layout that would make it more attractive, eye catching and fun
• Please create the profile image design in the following sizes:
  • Facebook profile photo size: 170px x 170px
  • Instagram profile photo size: 320px x 320px
  • LinkedIn profile photo size: 400px x 400px
  • LinkedIn event and group photo size: 300px x 300px
  • Twitter profile photo size: 400px x 400px
  • Youtube: 800px x 800px
  • Tiktok: 200px x 200px
• Feel free to create design variation for the profile image/photos, and we are also open to see different designs for each social media (it’s not needed to be the same in every social media - you can adjust or create it based on the target audience mood/feel)
• Please feel free to showcase and put your design into a sample mockup of the targeted platform to see how it will look in real life. If you need marvel app for the showcase, let us know in the forum

02) Header Banners

• Use the Topcoder logo/icon without modifications somewhere in the banner, and come up with a background / layout that would make it more attractive, eye catching and fun
• Avoid using the purple color again, use or find other ideas for the color pallette
• We actually don't need any content on the header other than our logo, but if you have any ideas that you think will be suitable and perfect in those social media,  we are interested to see it.
• We'll need the banners to be created in every size for those social media accounts
• We need to create header page in the following sizes:
  • Facebook Page: 820px x 312px
  • Facebook Event cover photos (for generic event purpose): 1200px x 628px
  • LinkedIn Page: 1584px x 396px
  • LinkedIn Event cover photo (for generic event purpose): 1776px x 444px (4:1 ratio)
  • LinkedIn Group cover photo: 1776px x 444px
  • Twitter: 1500px x 500px
  • Youtube: 2048px x 1152px
• Feel free to create design variation for the cover/background/banners image, and we are also open to see different designs for each social media (it’s not need to be the same in every social media - you can adjust or create it based on the target audience mood/feel)
• Please feel free to put your design into a sample mockup of the targeted platform to see how it will look in real life. If you need marvel app for the showcase, let us know in the forum

CHALLENGE FORUM

• If you have any doubts or questions regarding challenge requirements, please ask in our challenge forum: https://apps.topcoder.com/forums/?module=ThreadList&forumID=841016&mc=4

BRANDING GUIDELINES

• Use the Topcoder GUI Kit as reference, we want you to stay within the boundaries but still push it a little bit more, we don’t want the design to be so heavy on brand with the blobs and such, let's evolve the design and make them fun  
• Fonts: you may only use fonts that are specified in the Topcoder GUI Kit (Barlow, Barlow Condensed and Roboto)
• Colors: use available colors in the Topcoder GUI Kit
• Photos: you may only use photos from Topcoder’s Flickr albums
• Please find other documentations in challenge forum: 
  • Icons: you may only use icons from the Streamline icons
  • Topcoder Logo (IMPORTANT!! Use complete topcoder logo, the Hat + Text)
  • Sample Topcoder style design (you need to IMPROVE and EVOLVE it!) from different project - use this as a reference only, the sample provided in this project is for different purpose!

EXPLORATION SCORE

• Creativity: Impactful - the solution is different or unique from what is already out there and can be implemented.
• Exploration: Flexible - follow the provided screen requirements section and propose improvements or different paths that positively impact the user goals.
• Aesthetics: Hi-fidelity design - provide a top-notch finished-looking visual artifact

FINAL DELIVERABLES

• You have to submit a single zip file that includes the following 3 items:
• Source.zip, All original source files either in Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe XD, Sketch or Figma.
• Submission.zip, all your graphic design creations exported as JPGs/PNGs
• Declaration.txt, A text file that contains all the notes about font usage, photo and icon declarations and your Marvel project URL 

FINAL FIXES

• As part of the final fixes phase, you may be asked to modify your files, add or remove screens or combine details to create a final presentation.