99designs

99designs is a cool idea - put your graphic design project up for bid, get a bunch of submissions, give submitters feedback, and then choose the winner. The pros are: you get to set your price upfront and you get to choose from a number of ideas/designs. This can work well for an isolated project - there are some talented designers. Where 99designs runs into trouble is if complicated branding is needed or if the project is closely tied to other design projects that need to be coordinated.

So net net, I would use 99designs for a one-off logo or other simple design projects - you can get a great deal for your money (by California standards). However, if you have the budget and want something more complicated, it's most likely worth paying a traditional designer. And I have to add: good designers are under-valued assets.

As a client you may get cut price designs, you may even get something wonderful you didn't expect, also you may receive lazy and sub standard artwork. From the designers point of view it is a system of exploitation. Please don't use this site for your design needs. Talk to designers and research your freelancers, pay them fairly for the job they do. If this is the future of our industry we are staring into black.

I just signed up and followed blind contest for logo,
I got 2 and 3-star ratings on my submitted designs.
Suddenly I got an email that my account was suspended forever?
I don't understand?
So, whether all new accounts are always suspended?

I used 99designs to facilitate the design of a new company logo. I signed up for the gold service and got well over 100 designs submitted. All of the designers were very easy to work with and it was so tough to even get down to the final 5. Finally chose the winner on the last day and couldn't be more pleased.

The initial process was great, and I got over 50 design ideas for my new logo, several of which were really interesting and exciting. However, the later phases of the process were confusing and frustrating. One design in particular was "the one", but then the artist and the logo were withdrawn, so that was out the door. In the end, I settled on a logo that I like, but don't love. As an idea generation process, I think 99designs could be a great option to get input and creative ideas from designers from around the world, but getting to a final design that you really want may not be possible.

99designs has a good sales pitch, but can't deliver on it. Wasted 600USD on trying to get a design. We got about 10 terrible (read very basic/could have done it myself) designs and about 2 that were workable. Decided on one and spent significant time and energy getting the design and the required specs correct. Then the designer was "suspended" from the platform so I was unable to get the final designs or artwork. Terrible experience and a terrible waste of money.

I stumbled upon 99designs in 2012 and it was a game changer for me as a designer, It was the most friendliest and most professional crowd sourcing platform i ever encountered and believe me, i have first hand experience in most of the other such websites. I instantly felt i belong there and i'm glad that i was given the chance to shine by 99designs and help a lot of businesses to achieve their goal.

Poor pool of designers. I spent $300 and nearly 2 months & received some of the worse designs known to man. I upped it to $500 and the results were even worse. I recommend using a professional agency that can cater to your taste and style. The designers here are not worth the money and most importantly the time!

My funds were distributed to all the designers without even being allowed to use one. I had expressed my concerns that designs were not useable. Expensive especially since I got nothing out of it. They locked all the designs as I was not able to chose a "winner". None were good enough to be useable at a company level.

Made the mistake of doing a one on one with designer. Who initially provided a great design (low res images). I requested the high res design, and the files in Illustrator, and $900 later I am STILL without my designs and 3 months behind schedule. The designer won't respond with even the font used so that I can have the design (that I already paid for!) recreated. Beware beware beware is all I can say about this.
POST NOTE: I followed up with the police in the city this artist came from (in Denmark) to file a fraud report - she is already known to police! I reported same to 99designs.com, and still waiting to see if they will pull her from their system - she has obviously done this before.

I needed help and happened upon 99 Designs and boy did I get lots of options for launching a new company, 77 design options from a number of designers. I love competition and I think it is great to see people challenged to be creative, strategic and committed to the customer experience from around the globe. The designers were polite, responsive and willing to try other options to please the customer and that reflect upon the company. Who what have thought that my design came from thousands of miles away! Its important to be engaged in the process and challenge the designs. Those that are motivated will work for you and the value was great.

We recently used 99designs.com for a new logo for our business. We loved the concept of a contest with multiple designers working on creating the best logo for us and the entire process was efficient and seamless and ended with great success and a logo we love!

This was my first time using a service like 99designs and it was such an enjoyable experience. The support I received from them was punctual, they were approachable, and demonstrated they care about the client. Walking with me throughout the whole process took off unnecessary stress and allowed me to focus on finding an AHMAZING design! I will be coming back.

The quality of designers was superb and the contest accessing several designers proved an exciting and productive process. I had 14 unique designs which was sufficient. The instruction for the overall process was a bit limp in spots, but the designer helped me through the stages... hence, the 4 stars, not 5.

They suspend accounts for more than a year without any explanation and they took the money from that account and never activate that account again. It was the worst experience ever in my designer career.

Wanting to write and deciding to publish is a daunting experience for any new author. When it came time to choose a cover I realised this might be a show stopper, being on a tight budget. I opened a competition and in came 99 designs! When you have this picture in your head and then you see it in colour in front of you down right to the smallest detail, it is a relief. Thank you 99 designs.

First time using 99designs and was nervous and skeptical. Paid the fee and a flood of designs came in each awesome and according to what I wanted. I paid for 30 designs (approx) and received over 60! The final design for my book cover was MORE than I thought I wanted. Definitely using them again. Dont be scared. If you do a contest and you don't find a design you like, you get a refund.

Mediocre work provided by logo designers. Highly unprofessional and rude 99Designs staff. They lure you with the promise of a full refund but they don't consider you wasted 4 or 5 days for NOTHING! Stay away. I started two project on this platform and both of them fail miserably. I have been in the business of web dev for 19 years. This 99Designs site rates among the lowest I have see in the industry. Case in point: When they cancel an order, if you try to go back to the page a message display read "NOTHING TO SEE HERE"... (keep moving I guess.). I find this message as arrogant as the support staffer who hanged up on me. BUYER BEWARE!

They recommend you the "guaranteed" add-on which apparently gets you more designers, but it only gets you more slackers which want a lottery ticket for the prize without putting in any effort.

You're way better off to look for a local designer and work with them on a design. It will cost you even less and you'll end with what you want and not the $#*! those so-called designers on that page will produce in their 5 minutes of contribution.

You have no control over their "designers" efforts and can't do anything about it. Not a place to look for quality.

You'll end up with $#*!.

Just joined this company as a designer. My first two designs were rated 5 stars by the client then after the contest I was told I was suspended for poor design quality. Such BS. Don't waste your time as a designer or a client.

The level of work does not always correspond to the promised standards. Often, designers make work of frankly garbage quality and you can't hide it. But at the same time, the selection criteria are simply unrealistic. Register and work IMPOSSIBLE! Don't waste your time!

This was the third design contest I have run. I am always pleased with the number of artists who wish to compete for a guaranteed prize. Since I can't draw the illustrations I need, myself, this is the next best thing!

Whether you are a beginner level designer or a professional designer, 99designs offers you the ability to challenge yourself by competing in design contests. There is no better proving grounds to test your skills and find out how good you really are. If you find success, you'll develop a portfolio, meet great clients, and get follow up work. It's more than just contests though. 1-1 projects offers the ability to work one on one with clients and get paid. 99designs brings the clients and they find you on 99designs. If your a designer - get ahead of the crowd and join. If you are client and want to get professional work done, go to 99designs.com.