Vizdepot Visualization Contests
10 September 2004
From Steven Papke and Vizdepot.com
The VVC (short for Vizdepot Visualization Contests) will be organized into a series of six monthly contests. Each month the type of contest alternates focus between the Charrette and the Challenge.
Conceptually speaking, the Charrette is an opportunity for users to focus on a concept or idea that they may have never considered or used before. While the Challenge, on the other hand, is a chance to actively use and apply that knowledge.
The Charrette does not seek solely to find the best rendering. This format is intended to enhance each users skills by engaging the software's functionality as well as develop the users abilities inherent by their participation and posting WIPs in the forums. During the first week of the month, a task will be presented in the form of a model and text explanation, and the goal is to find new methods to achieve it. In the end, the users will be able to vote that which they feel is the most successful at the given task. Users are encouraged to post their work in the forums and share their techniques in how they work.
The Challenge is intended to be a competition like format with a twist. Its goal is simple: to find the best rendering. Basically users will assimilate their information in a collaborative methodology. Over the course of the first week, users will suggest buildings by architects and include photos, vote, and present research for all users to gain from. Then for the following 2 weeks, user's can post work in progress imagery, question's and comments in the forums for support. Accuracy, in terms of measurement, is not critical; whereas proportion is. At the end of the 2 weeks, the users can post their final work and vote on the images, gauging them against the photos for their similarities in lighting, materiality and overall ambience.
So, it follows, that both a format and schedule were also developed.
September
Charrette 1: Lighting studies
October
Challenge 1: Exterior Model
November
Charrette 2: Material studies
January - (skip December, holidays, AU, etc.)
Challenge 2: Interior Model
February
Charrette 3: Modeling Studies
March
Challenge 3: Match Photo
A progression of the users skills will be tested, ultimately the final Challenge being the most difficult.