PROVIDER Β· Design contest marketplace
99designs
Founded in 2008 in Melbourne and acquired by Vista in 2021, 99designs runs design contests where clients receive dozens of concepts and pay only the winner, fitting direction-exploration work such as logos and packaging.
4.2pts
Pros
Cons
Product Information
Detailed Notes
Overview
99designs was founded in 2008 in Melbourne and acquired by Vista (Cimpress) in 2021, the most representative design contest platform in the Freelance Marketplaces space. Clients post a brief and budget, multiple designers submit concepts, and the client picks one to pay while the others go unpaid.
Its value is side-by-side comparison. One brief surfaces a dozen different approaches, making direction easier to judge than sequential quotes, which gives it a clear efficiency edge for logos, packaging, and simple landing pages where exploration matters.
The costs are explicit. Only the winner is paid, which keeps some senior designers away, revision depth and communication trail a one-to-one commission, and deepening the chosen direction usually moves to a one-to-one project billed separately.
Core Strengths
- Operating since 2008, a single contest typically returns dozens of directions for side-by-side judgement
- Briefs post at fixed budget tiers with transparent pricing, easier to control than sequential quotes
- Coverage spans logos, packaging, brand guides, websites, and social assets
- Built-in IP transfer and file handover, so the chosen design arrives with usable source files
Product Ecosystem
Contests versus one-to-one
Contests explore directions while one-to-one work deepens a chosen direction. Most clients run a contest to pick the direction and then commission a full identity one-to-one.
IP and file handover
The platform handles IP transfer and delivery for the winner. Note that non-winning concepts cannot be used, and assembling pieces from several submissions risks infringement.
Drawbacks
- Only the winner is paid, so some senior designers stay away and average polish can trail a commission
- Shallow brief interaction during contests makes complex identity systems hard to complete
- Deep revisions after selection usually move to a separately billed one-to-one project
- Many similar directions can arrive, so screening still requires the client's own judgement
Use Cases
- Exploring logo and packaging directions (β β β β β ) - Most efficient when you need many directions at once
- Small-budget brand starts (β β β β β) - Fixed tiers control cost and delivery includes source files and IP
- Complex identity systems and websites (β β β ) - Use contests for direction then commission, since a contest alone rarely completes it
- Needing a long-term design partner (β β ) - Contest mechanics do not support ongoing collaboration
Pricing
| Plan | Price | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| Contest | Fixed budget tiers | Transparent pricing, winner paid |
| One-to-one project | Quoted per project | Deepen after a contest or commission directly |
| IP and handover | Included | IP transfer and source files for the winner |
Contests price at fixed tiers and one-to-one work bills separately. Budget both stages together, since a contest alone rarely delivers a complete visual identity system.
FAQ
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Can I use a non-winning concept? No. IP for losing entries stays with the designer, and using or combining them infringes. Buy additional concepts or commission extra work instead.
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How long does a contest take? Typically one to two weeks depending on tier and complexity. Specify mandatory elements, three reference styles, and deal-breakers in the brief to raise the hit rate.
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How does it compare with hiring a designer directly? Contests win when exploring directions on a limited budget, while direct commissions win when a design system exists and deep execution is needed. They suit different stages rather than replacing each other.