Challenge Summary
We have developed an initial set of badges and established the badge categories that we will use to recognize current and future member achievements. Now we need a pair of documents that will help us ensure consistent styling and brand identity as we proceed to develop further badges. The UI kit is a layered, editable Photoshop file that displays and labels graphical assets in an arrangement that is attractive as well as easy to use. The branding guidelines consist of detailed textual descriptions together with graphical illustrations of our design direction.
UI kit
Attached to this specification is a UI kit that was previously developed for TopCoder Direct. We are providing this example to help you understand what type of document we're looking for, but you should not follow the layout of this particular UI kit. You must design a layout that is tailored to our badges and badge categories. The UI kit must be a single Photoshop file arranged into layers that will make it easy for other designers to create new elements or make changes to existing elements. In addition to being precise and useful, the UI kit must be laid out in a manner that is pleasing to the eye.
In the top portion of the UI kit, please display the badge shapes that are supplied in the attached file. You must rearrange these shapes so that they are displayed across the top of the UI kit. Add the category name above each shape and the category definition below it, as follows.
- Beginner: First-time achievements and accomplishments made by new members/clients.
- Progress: Next-level and tiered achievements and accomplishments that show progression and/or trending
- Special: Achievements that show mastery and denote special tournament placements or rare accomplishments.
- Skill: Achievements acknowledging specific skills, member positions, or roles.
- Community: Special recognition for unique accomplishments within the TC and Studio communities.
- Client: Unique client-named awards for one-time events/promotions or rare client-related achievements.
Please note that there are two Community badges, one for TC (software) and one for Studio. Please show these two badges together, perhaps enclosed by a light border to indicate that they are related. Bear in mind that all badge shapes must be kept layered and fully editable so that anyone can make a new badge with this file.
Further down in the UI kit, please arrange all the existing badges, both large and small, in the most effective way possible. Do not let the existing arrangement dictate the layout of the UI kit. Remember that the purpose of this file is to facilitate the future development of badges. We would like to see the current badges grouped by category and arranged closer together than the badge shapes. You should leave room for expansion because we will be adding more badges to this UI kit as we continue to broaden the range of possible achievements.
Branding guidelines
The branding guidelines will consist of a document that explains the characteristics that all badges must adhere to. It should break out the badge elements (border, background, and icon) and it should list the fonts used. It should also explain the types of colors used within the icons (gold, silver, green, red, and so on). We will allow more colors in new icons, but they will need to match/complement the existing colors, which is why we show them here.
The attached Word file contains required wording for the branding guidelines. Instructions for the graphical portions that you must supply are shown between brackets in red.
The document in which you deliver the branding guidelines can be either a Word file or a Photoshop file (elements need not be layered as in the UI kit). Ultimately we will turn the branding guidelines into a PDF file. You may also submit in PDF format, but we will need the Word or Photoshop source too.
Submission
You must submit two distinct items:
1. UI kit: a layered .psd file satisfying all requirements stated above.
2. Branding guidelines: a .doc, .psd, or .pdf file as described in the provided document.
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.