The Web Design Technical Committee supports and assists SkillsUSA chapters to prepare for and deliver a local, regional and state Web Design Contest in preparation for the SkillsUSA National Web Design Contest to be held in Kansas City in June of each year. The World Organization of Westmasters will be sponsoring the national SkillsUSA Web Design Contest, as well as providing technical resources and references. For further information or to volunteer your efforts or resources, please email Bill Cullifer
SkillsUSA Web Design Contest
The purpose of the SkillsUSA Web Design Contest is to evaluate each contestant’s preparation for employment and to recognize outstanding students for excellence and professionalism in the field of web design and webmastering. Each team invited to the Nationals in Kansas City, Missouri will consist of individuals that will fill the roles of Web Designer, Webmaster and Web Developer. The 2009 contest will entail each team meeting a series of challenges. These challenges will focus on areas such as layout, story board and design, Web site accessibility issues as outlined in the current Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (more information at http://www.w3.org/WAI/intro/). There will be emphasis on creative aspects, CSS and coding and client side scripting. All updates or changes to the National contest will be posted on the SkillsUSA Championship Contest Updates webpage at http://www.skillsusa.org/ http://www.skillsusa.org/
Frequently Asked Questions for 2009
SkillsUSA FAQ’s
Q. Will there be a need for Internet access? And if so, how will it be provided?
A. Internet access will not be provided during the contest. Contestants found logging into the Internet, texting or talking on cellphones during the contest will be disqualified.
Q. Do we need to make any web hosting arrangements or provide a web server?
A. No. Server-side functionality will not be provided or needed for this year’s contest. Each team’s web site will be evaluated as it displays and functions within a variety of browsers. Each team must deliver their entire web site project on CD or thumb drive for judging.
Q. Can we bring reference material for use during the contest?
A. No. Technical documentation such as HTML, CSS and Javascript reference material will be provided in hardcopy to all teams prior to the start of the contest. This is a change to what was done in previous years, so that all teams now have access to equal material.
Q. What reference material will be provided during the contest?
A. None. This contest is to test your skills. You will be provided an inital template.
Q. In the Scope of the Contest it is stated that “the web design project will be announced at the beginning of each year”. What is the theme of the web site? And how should we document?
A. The WOW Web Design Technical Commitee has refined the contest to a series of challenges. For example, contestants my receive a page layout in tables and will aksed to modify using fluid design techniques, Web standards and best practices.
Q. Are students allowed to bring stock photos or will necessary photos be furnished?
A. No. All graphics and artwork be provided to the teams on thumb drives the day of the contest.
Q.In both regional and state, we were allowed to bring a printer, is this true for Nationals?
A. Not this year.
Q. We set a certain level of security on our file sharing – will you need access to our shares?
A. No.
Q. In previous years, all contestants were to e-mail to WOW a URL of a work sample (a web site created by the team as a whole) as well as individual resumes? Is this still a requirement?
A. Each contestant must bring an individual resume to the Nationals, which will become part of each team’s portfolio that will be consolidated and evaluated as part of the Professionalism scoring. The requirement for a team-constructed web site as a work sample has been suspended this year .
Q. What are the requirements for the work resume format. Should it be traditional paper resume or designer’s e-portfolio. Please, specify the formats.
A. SkillsUSA only specifies a one-page resume.
Q. Written Evaluation section: I understood the template for the written evaluation will be provided. How do we obtain it? Would you please describe what is meant by the “template”?
A. The Written Evaluation is a multiple-choice quiz. An example quiz is provided in the downloadable zip file on the State Contest page at: /skillsusa/
Q. Are contestants restricted to using only HTML, XHTML, CSS, or can Frontpage/Expression and Dreamweaver software be used?
A. Teams may use whatever tools they want, provided that they bring proof of software license.
Q. My team is concerned and wants to be sure that each team starts from complete scratch on their website.
A. The WOW Web Design Technical Commitee has refined the contest to a series of Web design, Web development and Web business challenges. For example, contestants my receive a page layout in tables and will aksed to modify using fluid design techniques, Web standards and best practices.
Q. Are contestants required to supply their own web hosting / webserver?
A. No.
Q. Do we need to bring a web server with us to the conference?
A. No.
Q. Will SkillsUSA verify that there is no content already on each team’s web host account?
A. SkillsUSA will verify this to the greatest extent possible.
Q. Do the students need to be working on a non-profit site before the contest in late June, or will they have have to start a site from scratch during the National contest?
A. Each team must develop a web site “from scratch” during the contest. Any team found to be using previously developed content for the contest will be disqualified.
Q. Will participants be able to do any work in Illustrator or Photoshop?
A. Teams may use whatever authoring tools they want, provided that they bring proof of software license.
Q. We are confused about the use of a story board. What do we have to put on the story board?
A. In industry, story boards are typically used as “low tech” methods during initial web site design to capture ideas about site navigation, look and feel, page hierarchy, etc. for customer feedback, usability considerations, etc.
Q. Can laptops be used instead of desktop computers?
A. Considering work space limitations, laptops are preferable. Each team may have up to 2 computers in their station.
Q Can we bring a test laptop (e.g.: a PowerBook or a Linux laptop.)?
A. Each team may have up to 2 computers in their station. Power strips are also required.
Q. What is the time allowed to produce the challenges? (Limitations on who can work when?)
A. The contest will be 6 or 7 hours, the exact schedule will be provided during the orientation meeting at Nationals.
Q. I know it is outlined in the PDF, but for clarification, are contestants required to bring their own computers?
A. That is correct, contestants are to bring their own computers, preferably laptops. A maximum of 2 computers per team will be allowed.
For further information or to volunteer your efforts or resources, please email Bill Cullifer
