99designs provides both businesses and individuals with a community of professional freelance designers from all over the globe to complete a variety of designs. With 90+ design categories, a variety of budget options, and the ability to work with one designer or review multiple submissions, 99designs is a flexible and efficient design platform. There is even a particular service for agencies that provides personalized designer matching and access to premium tools.
Design Categories
- Logo
- Branding
- Packaging
- Website
- Mobile app
- Print advertising materials
- Illustrations
- Clothing and merchandise
- Book/magazine covers
How it Works
To complete a project through 99designs, first create a brief to let designers know what you need done. All projects are welcome, from small to large, simple to complex. Your brief will include details such as a background on your organization, the industry category, your visual preferences, specific content needed for the project and any images you might want to use. 99designs will also ask you to choose what designs you like out of a few, your preferred style – such as modern, classic, playful, mature, etc. – and your preferred color palette.
This is so designers can get to know you and your business and create a design custom to you. When your brief is complete, 99designs can help you find the right designer by suggesting portfolios for you to review, or you can open your brief to all designers as a contest and choose your favorite design from submissions. Whichever route you take, you can work with your designer to make changes and finalize your design. Once you’re satisfied with the design, 99designs will release payment, and you will gain legal ownership of the design.
Ease of Use
Using 99designs’ online platform is simple. The process of creating a brief and working with designers is very straightforward. You can create a brief within minutes by answering a few short questions. Meeting deadlines should be no issue, as you can allot a specific amount of time for a project. Communicate with designers quickly and efficiently through 99designs’ chat feature. If you are having a hard time choosing which design you like out of multiple submissions, 99designs allows you to conduct a poll among coworkers, clients, family and friends to help you pick the best one. Overall, 99desgins’ website is easy to navigate, and users have reported a fun and exciting experience with the design process.
Customer Support
99designs’ customer support team is available via phone, or you can submit an online help request through their website which someone will respond to as soon as possible. Users have reported that 99designs’ customer support team is very helpful. Additionally, 99designs’ website offers a page of frequently asked questions where you can search for your question, a Resource Center with how-tos and other advice, and a blog called “The Creative Edge” with both business and design tips, trends and inspiration.
Sample Pricing
LOGO
- Bronze – $299
- Silver – $499
- Gold– $899
- Platinum – $1,299
WEBSITE
- Bronze – $599
- Silver – $899
- Gold – $1,599
- Platinum – $2,499
POSTER
- Bronze – $199
- Silver – $299
- Gold – $599
- Platinum – $999
The Pro plan for agencies requires an additional one-time membership fee of $500. All packages include full legal copyright ownership of the design. The price for working with a designer one-on-one varies depending on the project.
Pros
- 99designs’ design community consists of graphic artists from all over the world, giving you the ability to complete a project 24/7.
- 99designs offers free design consultation with a human, not a robot or computer.
- 99designs has a 100% money back guarantee. If you aren’t completely satisfied with your design, 99designs will refund you your money within 60 days of payment.
- 99designs gives you the ability to negotiate prices with designers when choosing to work one-on-one.
- All designers are evaluated for quality of work.
Cons
- 99designs charges additional fees to access certain tools such as making contests private, expediting contests or starting invite-only contests, unless you are on the Pro plan for agencies.
- You get what you pay for. Users have reported much better experiences with the top tier plans. For example, Gold and Platinum plans give you access to mid- and top-level graphic designers, and the Platinum plan gives you your own project manager and prioritized support. This can be a big turnoff for startups and small businesses that cannot afford top tier plans.
- Language barriers could be an issue when working with a designer who is not from your area.
- Many users report feeling guilty saying no to designers’ submissions, since they ultimately worked for no pay.