Challenge Summary
Welcome to the “Topcoder Mascot Design Challenge”! In this challenge we are looking to create a mascot and a theme for our brand new Discord server for the Topcoder community.
Here’s your chance to show us your creativity through a fun and lovely fictional figure or mascot (as popularly known) and a theme for our Discord server.
Prizes
- First place: $800
- Second place: $400
- Third place: $150
- 5 x Checkpoint prize each $50
Round 1
Submit your initial designs for checkpoint feedback.
- 01 Name and Mascot Design
- 02A Name of the Theme
- 02B Name and Colors for the User Roles
- 03 Sticker with Mascot for any one emotion (See below)
As part of your checkpoint submission, upload your designs into MarvelApp prototype so we can provide direct feedback on your designs. Please include the MarvelApp Prototype URL in your notes.txt. Make sure all pages have the correct flow. Use the proper file numbers, (1, 2, 3, etc.)
Round 2
Submit your final designs for final round.
- 01 Name and Mascot Design
- 02A Name of the Theme
- 02B Name and Colors for the User Roles
- 03 Sticker with Mascot for any one emotion (See below)
As part of your final submission, you must replace your checkpoint submission with the final submission into MarvelApp prototype so we can provide direct feedback on your designs. Please include the MarvelApp Prototype URL in your notes.txt. Make sure all pages have the correct flow. Use the proper file numbers, (1, 2, 3, etc.)
Background Overview
The goal of this challenge is to design a mascot and theme for Discord that reflects the same energy, values and emotions as the Topcoder community. The mascot could be any original imagination of a fictional figure that you can create — there are just no limits here. Just that they should work together based on one theme idea. For example: Star Wars could be one interesting theme.
Your design must embody the spirit of the Topcoder Community. If you are new to our community, please use https://www.topcoder.com/community as the starting point to acquaint yourself.
We have opened up a brand new Discord channel with a lot of cool ideas, and of course, this mascot — which we rely on you to design as part of this challenge.
Discord currently has a Topcoder bot and levels or roles that are associated with your engagement on Discord.
It’s important that we update the bot and the level names/colors to better reflect the mascot and overall theme for Discord.
You can also share “stickers” on Discord and we’d like to see one sticker design using the new mascot.
Challenge Objectives
- Name and Mascot Design
- Theme and colors for user roles
- User Role 1: All Discord members who have verified themselves
- User Role 2: Discord Members who reach Level 10
- User Role 3: Discord Members who reach Level 25
- User Role 4: Discord Members who reach Level 50
- One sticker with the mascot
The name of Topcoder Bot, User roles, and their mascot design, Theme should all work together based on a theme idea. For example: Topcoder Yoda and the roles that go with it (could be Youngling, Padawan, Jedi Knight, Jedi Master).
Project Description
From this challenge, we want to establish an idea for name and design for Topcoder mascot, theme and colors for 4 user levels, and one sticker with the mascot. The design should NOT be boring or serious looking, but relevant to Topcoder and based on the theme you will propose. For example: Star Wars could be one idea for a theme.
Required Size for Mascot and sticker design
- 1x: 160px x 160px (Discord renders at this size on Desktop app)
- 2x: 320px x 320px (This is the exact size to submit stickers on Discord)
All artworks should be created as vector so it can be upscaled without losing any resolution. And output files saved as PNG with transparency option turned ON.
Requirement for the Theme
- Please note that we have mentioned Star Wars as an example. We would like you to propose interesting ideas to become themes, and the corresponding user roles, and their designs for mascots - does not have to be Star Wars.
Further reference: Tips for Sticker Creators FAQ - Discord https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/4402687377815
Personality traits for Mascot
The mascot, its appearance, style and tone should ideally capture the following personality traits or characteristics.
- Global
- Together
- Fun
- Energetic
- Modern
- Helpful
Content for Stickers
Please pick any one emotion that you’d like to design sticker for —
- Love
- Confused
- Excited
- Wow
- Sad
- Coffee
- Good morning
Note: Sticker should incorporate the proposed mascot.
Design Directions
In addition, please use the following guidelines —
- The designs should look good against light and dark backgrounds.
- Research about the best practices used for clean and modern looking stickers on messaging platforms like Discord, Messages, FB Messenger, Whatsapp, etc.
- Selected inspiration that you can begin from —
Target Audience
- Topcoder community
Branding Guidelines
- For this challenge you can treat Topcoder marketing website and style guidelines as a starting point, but feel free to improve based on it to design something fun and engaging. Please have FUN and don’t feel tied down to the guidelines.
Design Assets
- Reference images
- Presentation Template: Use this template to place all your design to share with us
Judging Criteria
- How much does mascot and theme capture Topcoder personality as brand and community?
- How fun and creative is your design?
- Cleanliness and legibility
Font and Stock Artworks
- You are not allowed to use photos, icons or stock artworks.
- Fonts: Mascot design should not contain any text.
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.