The Design Experiment- Contest is Over

Thanks for the update. I know this is a contentious issue, but I also believe there are different needs for different people, and we can't all afford (or necessarily even want) a branding house experience. I get paid well for my primary work, but I also know everyone can't afford my rate, and that's fair.

Hi Chris,

Thanks for the write-up.

Just wanted to let you know that you can click “award prize” on multiple designs, which makes it really easy to pay out the other two designers through our system without having to bother with Wire Transfers, Western Union Payments, PayPal, etc. This is also perfect for people who hold design contests for banner ads, landing pages, t-shirts, etc. and want to purchase the rights to multiple designs.

One other option that we have for logo designs, is our ready-made logo store which allows anyone to browse over 6000 designs (by keyword or category) and purchase them for $99: http://99designs.com/logo-design/store .

Cheers,
Matt Mickiewicz

P.S. You might get a laugh out of our video celebrating a Webby Award win:
http://blog.99designs.com/2010/05/20/thanks-for…

Quite cool 99 are on the blog. The web really is small. I was going to talk about business models but I will hold off. Think you did the right thing. Paul Cunninghams probably hit this on the head. The middleman aspect is perhaps disorientating. I have to say pitting lots of designers of each other is a little strange. I cannot resist taking about business models, thought I would keep all quite and just be diplomatic. I hate middlemen, to me it seems one could establish relationships with designers directly without 99.

I have one an Agency I used and although it was more expensive than that this business I value the direct relationship with the designers. I actually got to sit in on the design for the first logo. I kind of feel your point on the project not being the life changing type is relevant. I think the designers on Twitter will be happy with the outcome.

Looks like you got a good deal from people who were willing to play the 99 Designs game. The law of supply and demand and free enterprise at work.

About the design: I love it…but the running guy on the left is redundant and distract the eye. Suggest you ditch him.

You'll definitely see the logos. I'll be showing them off in living color very soon. I just want to clear the decks and pay the folks their money first, and then I'll have something to show you.

I think the process went fine, to be honest. I don't want to upset the designers, who already think it's evil and bad, but honestly, I had lots of great conversations with eager designers, who were clearly looking to do the job, and delivered what I requested.

And as it was mentioned, I now have 3 new designers to contact directly for follow-up projects, which is an added win. I'll be sharing who THEY are shortly, too. : )

Designing is my favourite hobby and I love to do it all the time. This has given rise of the discipline of active learning. My designer friends all did a great job of explaining why the contest model was not lovely. I finished up my experiment with using 99 Designs. It was quite interesting. This over-dissipation can be partially explained by strong endowment size effects.

Hello Chris,

I am currently reading your book “Social media 101″ and thought I'd use some leftover time to look you up on the net.

I don't think I have to explain to you why this post about your 99 Designs got my designer blood slightly cooking, you say so yourself your designer friends have explained this to you already.

For the others who read this I'd like to emphasize the following:

Design is not a necessary evil, or a cost post. It is a mean to get the attention of your clients, it is all about communication. Ask yourself this question: if I use a service like 99 Designs, or another low cost or competitive service, what am I communicating by this? Of course it is possible you will end up with a nice logo. But in order to get what you deserve I think it is essential that you as a client pick your own designer based on his previous work and style, and, maybe most important, TALK about the design in person. If possible over a good cup of coffee, but I myself have good experiences using Skype to do briefings with long distance clients.

Since this is a long comment already, maybe I should write about this on my own blog too. I'd like to know what you and other readers think of this topic. And more specific: why don't you pick a (local) designer? Is it just a cost thing? Or don't you take yourself and your business serious enough to “invest” in a good design (which doesn't have to be that expensive at all, if you see what it could give you in return)?

Well done Chris for paying the other two good designers as well. If every buyer was such an honest, stand up guy like you, world would be much better place :)

If your not happy with 99 Designs you can try Design Tourney http://www.designtourney.com/
It's still a contest model, however the designs on the home page look really great!

Eh. Sorry Chris, I get all of your arguments and you don't owe designers a living, but it just grates that the guy who can make $20k a day chooses to cheap out and go the design contest route. Disconnecting a logo from the brand also just grates on the marketer in me – if you aren't building a brand for something, I'm not sure you really need a logo…. and if you are, you just shortcircuited the process unless you yourself have done the brand analysis

Sure, you had conversations with eager designers… all of whom want the exposure so they don't need to grovel in contests hoping for $100.

If you are a blogger that does not include a lot of PHP, the thesis provide a multitude of features without having to change code. For advanced specialty has incredible customization options thanks to his thesis hooks.

P90X workout programe is designed to transform your body and makes you keep fit and strong. And P90X system, an advanced training technique, can accelerates the results process without feeling boring. The programe Beachbody dvd would provide you with the ultimate in at-home fitness.

99designs were great.