TCO21 UI DESIGN CHAMPIONSHIP Round 1: Topcoder Communication Center

Welcome to the TCO21 UI Design Championship!

Showcasing your concepts and skills in this challenge will determine your placement in the next round.

Analyze the design problem and provide a design concept and visual solution on how the application might look and work.

At Topcoder, we are always pushing you to think about the user, the human experience, and being bold in your design decisions. Take some risks and have fun designing!

This is it! 60 minutes to rapidly design a user interface (UI) that conveys your thoughts and solves the design problem!

THIS CHALLENGE IS ONLY FOR THE TCO21 UI DESIGN FINALISTS. Do not submit if you are not a finalist.

ALL TOPCODER DESIGN RULES APPLY. Entries must be your original work and must not infringe on the copyright or licenses of others. All standard Topcoder Terms, Topcoder Policies apply to this challenge. Your design must be created by you and original to you. You can be inspired by design research, but copying and submitting someone else's designs is against Topcoder policies and will not be tolerated.

RESPECT OTHER DESIGNERS. If you have any doubts, ask!
Challenge Details
The goal of this challenge is to design the look and feel of a Desktop Application experience.

Problem: Topcoder Communication Center
Topcoder is looking to keep all communication on the platform to allow for better synchronization between members and customers. For this Rapid Challenge, we are looking for a single communication module that can be triggered/opened/viewed by clicking the bell icon at the top of member experience at topcoder.com.

The Topcoder Communication Center would serve as a hub for all Notifications, Recommendations, Forum Activity, Job Requests, and messages/chat (think Slack-style). We are open to what you might want to see here.

Design Challenge:
We are looking for the main “communication center” page experience.
Note: This page would be heavily used due to the chat

• Chat = Think of an internal Topcoder specific “slack-style” real-time chat.
• Notifications = based on projects, challenges, tasks, gigs.
• Recommendations = what do to next at Topcoder. Based on data we know about you: skills, interests, Topcoder track, incomplete/complete Skill Builders, learning items.
• Forum Activity = activity in public forums, a discussion I’m watching, challenge-related discussions. Respond directly from the Communication Center.

Note: You have 60 minutes, so make the most of it.

Important Note

• During the UI Design Tournament we are expecting each 60-minute challenge to have a fresh and original designs.
• Do not carry over design assets from one round to the next round (do not re-use the same design to tackle a different problem.)
• Exception 1: We state in the challenge you can build on the previous challenge.
• Exception 2: The design problem is related to the Topcoder website

Design & Branding Guidelines

• Design for your idea and what you think the best UX could be.
• Font usage is up to the designer.
• Color Palette is up to the designer.
• Don't overthink it!

Submission Format Requirements

• Desktop Application
• MarvelApp: 1125px x 2436px
• Challenge 1 Marvelapp project is called “TCO Challenge1”.

Target Audience

• You! Topcoder members

Identifying information

• DO NOT use your NAME or TOPCODER HANDLE/USERNAME in your submission
• We are only sharing the submission number during the judging process (XXXXX vs. XXXXX) to the judge.

Judging Criteria
The TCO judges will evaluate your design on the following criteria:

• Originality in your concept.
• Does the UX make sense?
• Good clean UI design

Submission & Source Files

• Submission File: Submit JPG/PNG for your submission files.
• Submit your Source file (does not need to be organized)
• Upload your design to MarvelApp for review.

Marvel

• Topcoder will assign each competitor a MarvelApp before the competition. Make sure to upload your design for judging. 
• Round 1 Marvelapp project is called “TCO21 Challenge1” so make sure to upload your designs to that project.