Meet Tomi Vinsek aka Lugosi - just one of the designers who has helped make 99designs.com the #1 marketplace for crowdsourced logo design, web design, print design or any other design need!

Designer Profile

Tomi Vinsek - Zagreb, Croatia

99designs handle: Lugosi

Projects entered: 408

Projects won: 43

How did you get started in design?

In my childhood I participated in creative and technical workshops as member of National Society of Technical Culture in the field of Product Prototype and Modeling - this was the start of my creative work and production. Even as young boy, I loved to sketch imaginative things. I was a big fan of Flash Gordon :D, and I was always curious in how others see things in imaginative and creative ways. I believe imagination is extremely valuable in creative process. Back in the '80s when I was about 10, I got into computer graphics - first in a BASIC language environment on ZX Spectrum 48K computer, and later on Atari. About 10 years ago I started collaborating at a local magazine - this was my first experience with prepress process and magazine drafting. I was so inspired - I loved using Indesign, Photoshop and CorelDraw. I started working on logos, magazine ad's, brochures, wallpapers and CD covers, etc. for friends, online contests and local small businesses - this was the start of my freelance graphic design business. As my skill improved and my love for design grew higher each day- I decided to enroll into an Adobe Certification program at the local academy.

How do you get your design inspiration?

Inspiration is everywhere - comedy, drama, nature, people, animals, books, movies... everywhere. I mostly design at night. I love quiet atmosphere, coffee, low light...That’s how I got my nickname, Bela Lugosi was a famous Dracula actor in ‘30s. What led you to start using 99designs.com?

I joined this community back when the contests were still in the Sitepoint forums and I must admit -the 99designs team has made great progress the last few years. Well done guys! At first I just wanted to improve my design skills and compete but I have also met new people from design world. 99designs has helped me a lot - I'll never forget my first win here, wow, that was celebration! Over time, this community became more and more valuable, and with respect I can say that 99designs gave me the opportunity to define my future. I mean it, really! Two years ago I met Vjeko on 99designs.com - we found out that we live in the same town. We became online business partners and built our first web business and online portfolio. Today we own an award winning graphic design company here in Croatia - we are employed full time as Art Directors and Graphic Designers - we have built our own business with help of 99designs.com! What are three things designers can do to have success at 99designs?

1. Design with love - the best designs are the ones that you yourself can be proud of! It is definitely not good to enter too many contests at once. Enter one or two - make the best design you can and wait for feedback. After 6 days, if you have the opportunity - make it awesome. Put 100% effort into a design project and the client will notice. Contest holders do care! Don't think about money, think about the design, your portfolio, your own and the client's satisfaction. The prize will come for sure!

2. Define your style - it is precious and will separate you from others. Think about the thousands of products out there and what it would be like if they were all are the same? People love to choose! Just lead them. Every product has its own buyer - it's the same with design. Your design is your personality - combine that with the client's feedback equals success.

3. Presentation of final work is very important! It's good to show how the design will work in different applications and surfaces or in different versions. Sometimes presentation takes almost the same amount of time as designing the main concept - but it's worth it. Not all people are imaginative and they love to see how the design will work for them.

What do you love most about being a designer?

Freedom of creativity, expressing my personality - I love when my work is seen by many people all over the world. Design is timeless and recognizable. I love to see how other perceive different shapes and colors. Design does not live in the designers head, design lives in the viewers eyes - show it to the people.

It's no surprise that Todd and Lauren Sullivan wanted to tap into some design that was 'off the beaten path' when they founded Globetrooper.com - a site that helps adventurous travelers create trips and invite people from all over the world to join them. The team has run three design projects at 99designs.com so far and is always getting fantastic compliments on the results:

"We have been told by people that our site is the best looking site they've seen. Of course that's subjective, but the fact it's been said says something important about 99designs."

Logo Design by Overprint

Business card Design by Reklawdesign

Web Design by Pixelized

These are just some of the truly unique designs from the AMAZING community of designers that makes 99designs.com the #1 marketplace for crowdsourced logo design, web design & more!

Meet Kris Taft Miller aka KT Design, Inc. - just one of the designers who has helped make 99designs.com the #1 marketplace for crowdsourced logo design, web design, or any other design need!

Designer Profile

Kris Taft Miller - Durham, NC USA

99designs handle: KT Design, Inc.

Projects entered: 65

Projects won: 13

How did you get started in design?

I graduated with a degree in elementary education but took a summer internship with Disney Animation where I re-discovered how much I loved graphic design and learned on the job from the pros. From there I spent 8 years at the studio in Florida and later Los Angeles before relocating to North Carolina with my husband and starting my own company as a freelancer.

How do you get your inspiration for your web design?

I find I do a lot of designing in my head before I even get to the computer. When I am about to fall asleep especially, designs are running through my head. Once I get to the computer I work organically and just try lots of different things to see how they look. I love designing things that are out of the box, colorful and fun.

What led you to start using 99designs.com?

I stumbled on 99designs last year after returning from maternity leave and actually having a few spare moments to get caught up on the design world. I loved it immediately, the challenge and "game" of it all is a new element to work I already love doing. I also love the community of designers - getting inspired by those around you and their work.

What is the most important thing designers can do to have success at 99designs?

I would say to really listen to the client, just like any other design project. Make the extra effort to reach out to the clients - try to accommodate their specific needs and give them something unique.

What do you love most about being a designer?

I love the artistic element, the feeling of creating something from scratch. I love when my 2 year old comes in my office and asks me to show him what I 'made' today.

What tips would you give to clients running design projects on 99designs?

Be clear in your brief, give as many specifics as you can, including dimensions, file format, and as much detail as you can about what you are looking for. Designers will give you lots of options but they don't want to feel like they are going in circles and designing blindly.

Whether you are looking for a fantastic logo design, web design, T-shirt design or any other design - Giving designers good feedback is the key to getting great results at 99designs.com!

How to leave Feedback

1. General Comments - You can leave general comments/feedback that is applicable to all the designers in the main comment area at the bottom of the main project page 2. Individual Designer Feedback - To leave specific feedback for an individual designer:

Click the design you wish to leave feedback for

A page for that designer only will open

You can write comments directly into the comment field at the bottom

Thanking the designers for their submissions is always a good idea

3. Star Ratings - It is a good idea to use the star ratings as it gives the designers a better idea as to which direction you want the project to head. You can assign between 1 and 5 stars.

Here is an easy way to think about the stars:

1 star - Thanks but no thanks

2 stars - Not bad but needs significant work

3 stars - Solid effort, interested in seeing more

4 stars - Strong submission

5 stars - Perfect

You can SAVE A TON OF TIME by using the feedback tool - http://bit.ly/dmS9NZ

To ELIMINATE a design that is way off the mark or otherwise inappropriate:

Hover over the design Click the "X" that appears in the top corner

See more tips on setting up & running a great design project here: http://bit.ly/TFyJh

Breaking the Rules | Beforethecoffee A roundup of tips and resources for entrepreneurs & designers that 99designs.com recently shared via twitter @99designs.

Entrepreneur

Five Tips For Making Ideas Happen - http://bit.ly/c7QDVe

6 Tips for Developing a Memorable Slogan - http://bit.ly/cIaopz

How to Find the Perfect Domain Name - http://bit.ly/9ZQIhC

33 Blogs To Make You Social Media And Marketing Guru - http://bit.ly/cnN0MD

35 Great Social Media Infographics - http://bit.ly/9WNvDI

The Art and Science of Understanding Users - http://bit.ly/aJxpLl

Important Elements to Consider at Developing SEO Strategy - http://bit.ly/dteoMS

Why Page Weight Could Wreck Your SEO Efforts - http://bit.ly/cfp6Ya

Tips to Improve E-commerce Shopping Cart Abandonment - http://bit.ly/cFnen0

10 Steps To A More Usable Ecommerce Website - http://bit.ly/aAV5JX

Gathering Variables for Split Testing  - http://bit.ly/d5jD0q

10 Tips to Make a Virtual Team Feel Close - http://bit.ly/aZeO6m

Web Design

Learn Web Design: Educational Resources for Beginners - http://bit.ly/bkdiDR

Web Design Trends for 2010 - http://bit.ly/9Jjq8m

How Educate Your Client On Web Development - http://bit.ly/aCGCyT

5 Principles for Effective Web Design - http://bit.ly/9x8cj2

Should Web Design be Timeless or Trendy? - http://bit.ly/9gW136

Everything You Always Wanted to Know About HTML5 - http://bit.ly/dgyS3P

Ultimate Collection of HTML5 and CSS3 Resources - http://bit.ly/cFaNIb

12 Elegant, Free & High Quality HTML5+CSS3 Templates - http://bit.ly/cwbxW3

Best User Interface Design Resources - http://bit.ly/broeQG

MockFlow: Online Wireframing - http://bit.ly/aCAFmV

Empathizing Color Psychology in Web Design - http://bit.ly/9pHvfO

5 Reasons Landing Pages are More Valuable than Homepages - http://bit.ly/bNKfwc

10 Steps To A More Usable Ecommerce Website - http://bit.ly/aAV5JX

Gathering Variables for Split Testing  - http://bit.ly/d5jD0q

Measuring your Success as a Webdesigner - http://bit.ly/cZT4EM

60 Web Design Photoshop Layout Tutorials From 2010 - http://bit.ly/9B8r5K

9 Causes of Web Page Obesity - http://bit.ly/dg22wW

How to Calibrate Color for the Web - http://bit.ly/bVu99b

Designing For A Hierarchy Of Needs - http://bit.ly/91R5Dp

Designing Without Gradients - http://bit.ly/asH2ww

Enhance The User Regristration Process - http://bit.ly/b0oSg8

Logo Design

7 Awesome Rules for Designing a Perfect Logo - http://bit.ly/9USmCb

Fundamentals Of Logo Design - http://bit.ly/bXurcI

Fundamentals Of Logo Design Part 2- http://bit.ly/agkds6

Fundamentals Of Logo Design Part 3 - http://bit.ly/9rrIaD

Logo Design Q&A - http://bit.ly/cxFROJ

Logo Identity Guideline Template - http://bit.ly/bLOwNE

2010 Logo Design Trends - http://bit.ly/d7j1CY

SEO

Important Elements to Consider at Developing SEO Strategy - http://bit.ly/dteoMS

130+ Free SEO Web Tools and Search Engine Optimization - http://bit.ly/9G1xxW

Why Page Weight Could Wreck Your SEO Efforts - http://bit.ly/cfp6Ya

9 Causes of Web Page Obesity - http://bit.ly/dg22wW

Freelance Designer Tips & Resources

The Designer Who Delivers - http://bit.ly/bG9vN2

What I Wish Someone Had Told Me About Freelancing - http://bit.ly/bdql24

How To Build Your Reputation And Authority As A Designer - http://bit.ly/cG4TmS

Freelance Contract Basics-Part 1 - http://bit.ly/bOFjb6

Freelance Contract Basics-Part 2 - http://bit.ly/aF3sjB

3 Simple Steps to Get Clients to Call You - http://bit.ly/aj6Tah

9 Ways Not To Get Hired - http://bit.ly/bI905Y

Templates And PSDs To Ease Daily Workflow - http://bit.ly/aloMT9

The Good, Bad And Ugly Of The Web Design Industry - http://bit.ly/9txZnP

Five Tips For Making Ideas Happen - http://bit.ly/c7QDVe

The Design Process - http://bit.ly/9sAO8S

Typography

Serif Fonts and Their Peculiarities - http://bit.ly/cRxpcJ

Periodic Table of Typefaces - http://bit.ly/axvzTc

So You Need a Typeface: Infographic - http://bit.ly/aTRi5B

Beginners Guide to OpenType - http://bit.ly/a5l9bQ

Infographic Design

How To Create Outstanding Modern Infographics - http://bit.ly/9nAgN4

Examples of the Infographic Trend - http://bit.ly/bs8nHT

35 Great Social Media Infographics - http://bit.ly/9WNvDI

14 Visually Stunning Animated Infographics - http://bit.ly/d5jrbK

Design Inspiration

74 Simply Stunning Line Art Logos For Inspiration - http://bit.ly/b2jCwu

50 Inspiring Logos you Have to See - http://bit.ly/ax5WPZ

30 Logo Designs with Creative Use of Negative Space - http://bit.ly/bsNceP

44 Awesome Business Card Designs that Will Inspire You - http://bit.ly/c2e2vy

25 Ultra Modern Websites Using HTML5 - http://bit.ly/al7BEd

Examples of the Infographic Trend - http://bit.ly/bs8nHT

35 Great Social Media Infographics - http://bit.ly/9WNvDI

14 Visually Stunning Animated Infographics - http://bit.ly/d5jrbK

30 Amazing Typographic Movie Poster Designs - http://bit.ly/caS8tY

30 Incredible Epic Movie Posters & Related Trends - http://bit.ly/a3NaqG

High Speed Photography : Frozen in Time - http://bit.ly/aiyXRy

40 Creative Guerrilla and Ambient Advertising Campaigns - http://bit.ly/9DveYj

Creative and Beautiful Package Designs - http://bit.ly/96WK7J

Miscellaneous Design Resources

The Ultimate Guide to Twitter Theme Design - http://bit.ly/9cJA7y

30 articles & tutorials to improve your icon design skills - http://bit.ly/cj1Hll

Getting Started with Banner Advertisements - http://bit.ly/d4Iva9

35 Print Design Tutorials - http://bit.ly/dwBQG6

Important Blog Design Elements - http://bit.ly/bepca0

How To Design A Better Blog? Break Down The Rules - http://bit.ly/9LFC7S

24 High Quality Adobe Photoshop Text Effect Tutorials - http://bit.ly/9UJ6mF

10 Fresh Adobe Illustrator Tutorials For Beginners - http://bit.ly/91nz3X

10 Beautiful Business Card Design Tutorials - http://bit.ly/dcy0ow

30 of the Best Websites for Online Photo Editing - http://bit.ly/cTt5EV

Designer Profile

Jude Fernando - Philippines

99designs handle: Fernando's design

Projects entered: 126

Projects won: 29

How did you get started in web design?

I got my start in design a long time ago, 1995 to be exact. It was not in web design, but in Architectural design. Yes, that was my foundation and my five years in architecture school developed my aesthetic sensibilities.

However, architectural practice in the real world didn't work out for me. It was not my cup of tea - I discovered that creativity in the world of cement and steel was limited by so many factors. I started looking into other creative outlets such as traditional art and sculpture. All this was until the day I discovered Photoshop...

I was so amazed by the capabilities of the software, that I started spending all my waking hours messing around with it. I tried my hand at some personal websites for friends and poster designs for local events. I realized that this was something I could get good at after much encouragement and appreciation from my friends, family and early clients. This was also the time when websites were not cool and pretty to look at and there was definitely no web2.0 and glossy, shiny interfaces! There was and is so much potential on the web!

How do you get your inspiration?

My initial inspiration is always the client. A good brief inspires me and gets me thinking about the possibilities. I also spend some time every single day just browsing the web, looking at great designs, seeing the work of other designers. The more you appreciate the work of others the more you grow in your own work. Most of my ideas come to me at night - when the world is asleep. A calm mind and quiet surroundings inspire a lot of thought. I never rush into a design.

What led you to start using

99designs.com? Unlike many here, I discovered 99designs quite late. I was randomly browsing through a popular web design forum when I came across a discussion about contests. The whole concept of crowdsourcing was new to me and I was curious enough about 99designs to give it a try. I was hooked immediately - each and every contest gave me a rush but I was also depressed when I didn't win. I am sure all of you designers here have felt the same. After 126 contests its still a rush and I have learned to deal with losing :) 99designs has been invaluable in providing me with a lot more opportunity than what I had before. Every contest is a learning experience and I have built relationships with more than a few regular clients though this site. I have improved a lot since I first started here - much of which is due to the concept of this site. Being able to compare ones work with the work of other designers gives you great insight into what you need to improve on. Without this constant interaction with other designers through the contest environment, I would still be stuck where I was a year ago.

What are three things designers can do to have success at 99designs?

1. Understand the brief. This is the the most important aspect of any contest, yet is more often than not the most overlooked. I don't mean just read the brief, but actually understand what the contest holder wants. Read it carefully, take the time, don't rush things.
2. Think like the client. Put yourself in the clients position and think about what you would want if you were the client. What would be most important to you? Sometimes I even think about where the client lives and the acceptable current design practices in that country or that city. For example Scandinavia has a minimalist, functional and ultra modern design language, whereas Miami beach is about being eclectic, colorful and a little over the top.
3. Offer something unique with your entry. Everyone likes to be surprised and clients remember unique designs. If two designs follow the brief to the letter and both designs have excellent technique, it's likely the design that offers something unique or something extra will win. Remember, think like the client. Every client wants their website to standout from the crowd.

What do you love most about being a designer?

Creative freedom is what I love the most. Each new project is a creative outlet and a challenge in itself. Each project brings something different. Not having to do the same thing every day for years is what I love most about being a designer.

Getting custom marketing collateral designed fast can be a challenge particularly for small businesses and startups. I recently spoke with Nisha Baxi of Dyyno - who shared how she used 99designs.com to design everything from brochures and datasheets to business cards and flyers.

Business Card Design by niichan

What brought you to 99designs.com?

Dyyno is a new online video sharing platform that distributes HD video to an unlimited number of viewers for free. It’s a really cool technology and now that we are pushing it out to the public – we needed the marketing material to back it up. We had been working with some local designers, but they were really expensive, they did not always do what we wanted them to do, we did not have very many designs to choose from, and ultimately their style is pretty much the same every time. While its nice to have one designer create a consistent look across all the collateral it’s also really good to have multiple options.

Datasheet Design by Arteche Gaston

What marketing collateral have you had designed at 99designs?

The first design project we ran was for a datasheet – we had over 90 submissions and we were really excited. I worked closely with five designers who were great about making changes while we were zeroing in on the final design. The designer that we ended up choosing has been awesome – even now he makes little tweaks to the design as need be. We also have run projects to design a brochure, a flyer, a second datasheet, a quick start guide and our business cards - The experience that has just been tremendous. I’m not sure if 99designs has a screening process for the designers but if you do - it’s a good one. Every designer that we picked has been excellent with a great work ethic – they are just really, really helpful. Because of 99designs we now have 6 great pieces of marketing collateral where before we had 3 terrible pieces. We have been to 5 conferences since I joined Dyyno, and I now feel more confident being next to companies that are much more established than us with quality of the marketing collateral we have gotten through 99designs.

Flyer Design by Arteche Gaston

Do you have any tips for running successful design projects?

The most important thing is to stay active and give the designers feedback. The first project that I did – I had no idea what I was doing. I wasn’t giving nearly enough feedback. Now, I try to engage in the project in such a way that respects both my time and the time the designers put into it. For example, I eliminate the designs that are way off base right away. It may sound harsh, but it lets the designers know that they don’t need to waste any more time on it. The more respect you show the designers – the more likely they will be to help you and participate.

Brochure Design by phoebetsui

We are proud to announce that 99designs.com has been selected as a finalist for the 2010 SXSW Web Awards in the community category! The SXSW Web Awards uncover the best new websites and celebrates those who are building tomorrow's online trends. The winners in each category will be revealed at the SXSW Web Awards Ceremony on Sunday evening, March 14 at the Hilton Austin Downtown. Wish us luck!

Don't look now - but 99designs.com is breaking records left, right and center!

In January 99designs set new records for:

• The most design projects held in a single month - 2,195
• The highest total of money available to designers in a single month - Over $678,000!

At the time I am writing this there are:

• A record number of open design projects - 617
• With a new record of over $213,000 up for grabs at a single time!

What does this mean for you?

Designers - There is more opportunity for you at 99designs.com than ever before!

Our designers tell us that 50% of the projects they win lead to direct follow on work - that makes 99designs an incredibly powerful tool for building lasting client relationships.

Find your opportunity!

Small Business Owners - If you need logo design, web design, or any other custom graphic design - joint the tens of thousands who discovered the best way to find the right graphic designer.

Check out 99designs.com today!

Cheers,

The 99designs Team

Logo Design by ndo

We recently received the following email from a gentleman who had just run a logo design project for his brand new startup. Here is what he had to say about 99designs.com:

"Nothing to ask. Just a few quick words. I just started my first own company after spending many years working for bigger corporations. One of my former employers brought me in contact with 99designs when we crowdsourced some design work. Back then I was happy with the value we got out of it. Now I have my own startup and am amazed. With a very limited budget I couldn't spend much but wanted to get a good logo done never the less. A symbolic act if you will. Good design keeps you going on the long nights when you build a company. I created a contest with $150 in prize money and told the designers straight up what this was all about. That they were designing for a small startup and that I wished I could offer them more money. Instead I offered them 100% verbal feedback as quickly as I could possibly give it. To my delight, the community of 99designs designers jumped on the offer. 3.5 days into the contest we are approaching 120 submissions. 3 of them beat my expectations by a wide margin. I would consider them designs worthy to stand for multi-billion dollar corporations and marketing campaigns. It is very rare that startups get to play in the same league as the big guys. Thanks to your site, startups like mine get professional and amazing design work done at a rate we can afford. Thank you. That's really all I wanted to say."

99designs.com Needs Your Help! Please nominate 99designs for a shorty award in the small business category.

The Shorty Awards honor the best people and organizations on Twitter. These unique awards are for the Twitter community, by the Twitter community. Online voting is public and democratic, culminating in an awards ceremony that recognizes the winners in 27 official categories.

Nominate 99designs Here

***Remember to give a reason or your vote won't count!

Designer Profile

Marija Rakic - Novi Sad, Serbia
99designs handle: IfThenElse
Projects entered: 85
Projects won: 23

How did you get started in design?
Some of my friends were building websites and I started to learn html/css as an option to provide some extra cash. I was student of Faculty of Technical Sciences, University in Novi Sad, and I saw myself working as hardware programmer – I was more geek than artist so having a creative job never crossed my mind :) . At first I was all over the place: flash, html, css, illustrator, Maya, php ... Coding and programming was very interesting and easy for me but I found myself enjoying the design process the most. I’ve started paying more attention to it and spending more and more time working in Photoshop. It took 5 years, and 3 PC's but now, what started as additional income has become my full-time job.

How do you get your inspiration?
Inspiration is everywhere. It can be my desktop wallpaper, a TV commercial, a tea cup… The main thing is not to force it, sometimes it takes days to come up with a wireframe and general idea - and in some cases a design brief is so interesting that you immediately get inspired. CSS galleries are always a good resource for inspiration and as a way to follow design trends. You can learn a lot just by watching and analyzing other websites. Never stop learning, read as much as you can on design process and trends. Even when not inspired by the theme of the site you are working on (your 10th commercial site this month) it is important to develop a skill and to be able to produce quality work.

What led you to start using 99designs.com?
Sitepoint.com was one my favorite websites, and at the time the design contests were part of the Sitepont marketplace. ... back in 2006. I spent some time just following the contests and then eventually decided to give it a go. 99designs has helped me develop my design skills - I’ve learned a lot through the contests and watching how different concepts are created based on the same brief. This is an excellent learning environment. The majority of my regular clients found me on 99designs, so it is good place to find clients. This doesn’t mean you have to win a particular contest to get work, very often people will hire you based on your designs. So don’t be discouraged when another design wins. Keep in mind, that even if you loose, quality work will be noticed, and in time you will obtain clients and a steady workflow. On the other hand, even when I have work, it is too much fun to participate in the contests :). Measuring your work against others and trying to guess what the CH will like is very exciting. This will always bring me back to 99designs.

What are the three most important things that designers can do to have success at 99designs.com?
1) Have respect for contest holder and his decisions. When entering a contest, keep in mind that the contest holder is spending time and money, and can conduct the contest any way they choose. Treat the contest holder as a client - not as a buddy. Be aware of when the contest ends and try to submit designs in a timely fashion ( you probably wouldn’t go to your boss or client 2 days before deadline and say: ”Please, please extend!”:)) 2) Choose projects based on how they interest you, not by the prize money. I understand that high prize contests can be very tempting but you will do a much better job, and probably have more success if you only enter the contests that are appealing to you. 3) Keep your integrity. If you are asked to use other people design elements – respectfully decline. In my experience – this usually results in a win ;). Your opinion matters, don’t be afraid to suggest something different to a contest holder or propose a different solution for revision request. Treat any kind of feedback as constructive criticism.

What do you love most about being a designer?
First of all, I am a web designer and developer - so for me - the perfect blend of technology and creative work is the part that I love the most. I love the variety of work - you can work on a website for children one day and do a corporate and clean style the next. Every project is different. Also, working with different people from different parts of the world can be very interesting.

We're giving away $1000 to use at 99designs.com!

That's right! 99designs.com, the #1 Marketplace for crowdsourced graphic design, is giving away one lucky winner $1000 to be used on 99designs.com to run a design project of their choice: logo design, web design, marketing materials, product labels or any other graphic design needed.

The community of over 54,000 graphic designers at 99designs will then compete to create the perfect design for your project.

It is absolutely free to enter:

To enter via twitter -http://bit.ly/8mGq3G

To enter via Facebook - http://bit.ly/5V7OYg

Here is an excerpt of the recent interview Chris McConnell of Freelancereview.net did with 99designs.com co-founder Mark Harbottle. You can read the whole interview here.

Freelance Review: How did 99designs get started?

Mark Harbottle: 99designs was originally started by designers in the SitePoint forums who were playing 'photoshop tennis' - practicing their skills by making up projects and then competing to see who could create the best design. Then a smart entrepreneur came along and suggested that rather than making up the projects why not design his logo and he would pay the winner a cash prize. It was an instant hit -more and more projects got posted each day and more designers joined in on the action. We finally built a platform around it and spun it out into 99designs.com.

FR: 99designs has been featured in Good Morning America, Fast Company and the New York Times among other publications. Why do you think 99designs has generated so much interest?

MH: I guess there are a number of reasons but the chief one being a unique model that provides a real value to both the client and the designer. On the client side – design is often very intimidating and very risky for the average small business owner. 99designs helps reduce that uncertainty by allowing them to connect with a number of designers all at once and really see exactly what they will get. On the designer side – It's all about creating opportunity and building client relationships. First, 99designs exposes designers to a ton of projects that they would not normally have been exposed to -it could be a book cover for a New York Times best selling author or a logo for a small cafe owner half way across the world. Second, it allows designers to save time marketing themselves and focus on what they do best – designing. A designer may be extremely talented but a terrible salesperson – 99designs enables designers to stop knocking doors and writing proposals and start designing. The best part is, once a designer wins a project, - they now have a qualified relationship with that client that often leads to additional follow on work. And for the designer who is just starting out, its a great way to build your portfolio and work on real projects for real clients and potentially earn some real cash.

Tyson Quick, COO of Mesiab Labs, the software and web application company responsible for retweet.com among other things, is an experienced project holder at 99designs.com. He has used 99designs to source custom graphic design work on everything from logos to landing pages. I recently got a chance to catch up with Tyson and he shared a bit of his experiences including some tips on how he gets great results each and every time.

Why 99designs.com?

We first found it through a friend of mine. He was launching a software application company and had used 99designs several times - so I checked it it out and was immediately impressed. We had a designer in-house that we were paying about $4,000 a month and we got 10x the results for a fraction of the cost. That was a clear indicator that this is a great way to get design work done.

Logo Design

What design projects have you run at 99designs.com?

All kinds - We have run logo design projects for retweet, and for a new company we are launching in 2010 - affiliate alliance. We have also run projects for banner ad design and landing page design. The landing page projects have been great because we actually awarded multiple winners so we could do split testing.

Landing Page Design

Prior to 99designs you had all your design work done in-house?

Yup we have an in-house designer, but we have so many projects he couldn't do them all himself. And it's really hard to find a designer - even when you do – you might get a design you like or there might be something that's not right with it. 99designs makes this much easier - you have multiple options that you develop with the designers over the course of a week. When you start you may not know exactly what you are looking for, but by the end of the week – you've got something you are pretty confident in. I don't know of any other place where you can get that kind of results. We have built contacts with multiple designers that we have gone back to outside of 99designs for work on smaller projects- like tweaking an existing landing page and things like that. I think that's what makes the service so attractive to designers. They are going to have build a portfolio anyway – why not do it on 99designs and whether you win or not you have pieces to add to your portfolio.

Banner Ad Design

Do you have any tips on how you get such great results?

Definitely - getting a landing page built is more complex than running a project for a logo. One thing that I have noticed about the process for doing a lander is that its extremely helpful to provide the designers existing resources to work off of – like a basic wireframe or something – rather than just throwing the project out there. Also, feedback is so important. We have noticed huge difference in the outcome when we give detailed feedback to the designers. And because of that, we now have a good reputation on the site so every project we post generates a lot of interest from the design community - so we tend to get twice as many submissions as similar projects at the same price point.

Web Design

Design Highlights

Here's just a small handful of the designs submitted this month showcasing the AWESOME talent that makes 99designs.com the world's best resource for crowdsourced graphic design.

Which one is your favorite?

In no particular order...

1. Teesub t-shirt design by killer_meowmeow
2. Goldfish logo design by DLogan22
3. Yola web page design by kpp0209
4. All Agents logo design by PavkeNS
5. Louis I and Co logo design by TaoLab
6. Drop the Suggestion Box! logo design by RESP45
7. Yola web page design by kpp0209
8. TalkPlate logo design by theommand
9. 2K Usability Group logo design by RedLogo

Diane Murphy - Milwaukee, WI
99designs handle: Neptune
Projects entered: 301
Projects won: 49

How did you get started in design? I graduated from Carroll University with a BA in Fine Art way back in the 80's when there were no computers in the graphic art industry. I've had many different creative jobs over the years- photographer, painter, art director, and finally, mural artist. Then 12 years ago, a friend of mine gave me a copy of Illustrator and Photoshop, and I was hooked right away. I could not believe these amazing tools were out there. I ditched my ladders and paint brushes and taught myself how to use the software with books and on-line tutorials. How do you get your inspiration? I would have to say I'm inspired by the incredibly creative work I see from fellow artists, by current cultural trends, and by imagination. I imagine a logo design project as simply a problem to solve in the most original way possible. The process to me is a continuous stream of trial and error- a quest to find the perfect solution. The right logo is out there, waiting to be revealed. What led you to start using 99designs.com? A friend of mine sent me the link a little over a year ago, knowing that I loved designing logos. I thought I'd died and gone to heaven. I think it does help build clientele- I've had many contest holders contact me for further work. I have met many designers on the site that have helped me with technical issues, inspired me, and at times, made me laugh out loud. What are the three most important things that designers can do to have success at 99designs.com? 1) Before starting any design work for a contest, read the entire brief, any links from the contest holder, and any comments available in the discussion. This may seem like an obvious step to some, but when I first started participating in these contests, I would get halfway through the brief, get a scathingly brilliant idea, design it, then find out later it wasn't even close. Had I read all the info I would have saved myself a lot of time. 2) Don't get discouraged. It's been my experience that most of the time spent designing for contests I didn't win does not go to waste. The lessons learned and the experience gained proves to be quite valuable. Also, those rejected designs go on to inspire me and help save design time in future contests. 3) If you are new, I think it's better initially to stay away from those big prize contests with hundreds of submissions. There are just too many designs for the CH to review and give proper feedback. I think it's better to forget about the prize amount, and enter the smaller contests that are giving good feedback. What do you love most about being a designer? I like that my very left-sided brain works differently than those who think more with the right side. It makes me feel like I have a secret weapon.

A roundup of tips and resources for designers, entrepreneurs and startups that 99designs.com shared via twitter @99designs in the month of November.

Startup & Entrepreneurs

10 Essential Online Tools for Your Startup - http://bit.ly/7RiAOU

Design Tips for Startups - http://bit.ly/4xtN0L

A Guide to Creating Email Newsletters - http://bit.ly/QPTqL

Redesign: When To Relaunch The Site and Best Practices - http://bit.ly/451GGW

How to Improve User Experience - http://bit.ly/4b6wd0

24 Things To Do When Launching a New Blog - http://bit.ly/1hxMHk

Tips to Bridge the Gaps between Clients and Designers - http://bit.ly/2O1CHr

How to improve Your Website Copy - http://bit.ly/4da71R

Logo Design Tips: What to Avoid - http://bit.ly/MtbCc

21 Resources for Getting Design Feedback - http://bit.ly/6tfbe7

Design Trends: Testimonials - http://bit.ly/78FkIU

Logo Design

How To Create An Iconic Logo Design - http://bit.ly/2XI8HK

Logo Design Tips: What to Avoid - http://bit.ly/MtbCc

30 Creative Logo Designs For Your Inspiration - http://bit.ly/42QdtS

50 Clever, Creative Logos - http://bit.ly/41pgYT

Web Design

Web Design Trends for 2010 - http://bit.ly/2SGhQY

6 Ways To Take Your Webdesign From Good To Great - http://bit.ly/1pjinP

How to create your best website layouts ever - http://bit.ly/2IXeRn

Coding a Web Design for Speed and Quality - http://bit.ly/14vlyK

40 Beautiful uses of Typography in Web Design - http://bit.ly/3QQETg

Typography is the Backbone of Good Web Design - http://bit.ly/1Bui65

How to Improve User Experience - http://bit.ly/4b6wd0

Advantages and Disadvantages of Grid Design - http://bit.ly/5iSp8f

Website Maintenance Tips for Front-End Developers - http://bit.ly/1x3Yyh

40 Great Examples of Websites With Large Backgrounds - http://bit.ly/2QCksj

WordPress Design

Wordpress Website Design Process for IT-IS Ltd - http://bit.ly/Lnu55

Custom Wordpress blog design checklist and walkthrough - http://bit.ly/3CFkUx

Advanced Power Tips For WordPress Template Developers - http://bit.ly/4AocvR

Typography

Typography: Concordant, Contrasting & Conflicting - http://bit.ly/1SvXTB

40 Beautiful uses of Typography in Web Design - http://bit.ly/3QQETg

Typography is the Backbone of Good Web Design - http://bit.ly/1Bui65

Pimp My Text: Bling Bling With Photoshop - http://bit.ly/8cwTRK

Design Tools & Resources

50 Essential Web Apps for Freelancers - http://bit.ly/4oS8wD

30 PDF Documents Every Designer Should Download - http://bit.ly/498JbC

The Best Free Fonts of 2009 - http://bit.ly/c6tAE

The Ultimate Resource Package for Designers - http://bit.ly/1LKoTR

55 Unconventional And Original Free Fonts - http://bit.ly/1C1LD6

21 Resources for Getting Design Feedback - http://bit.ly/6tfbe7

6 Useful Coding Solutions For Designers And Developers - http://bit.ly/8wfBk9

Photoshop Tools & Tips

Photoshop Tip: Locking Transparent Pixels - http://bit.ly/1TrJXx

Manipulate Images With The Photoshop Clone Stamp Tool - http://bit.ly/1pFztF

Design Slick Print Ready Business Card Using Photoshop - http://bit.ly/sCFdk

Awesome Character Design Tutorials Using Photoshop - http://bit.ly/C8UMd

24 Photoshop Actions to Help You Achieve a Retro Look - http://bit.ly/2PxO9v

25 Outstanding Lighting Effect Tutorials for Photoshop - http://bit.ly/1bBqdP

General Design Tips

8 Layout Solutions To Improve Your Designs - http://bit.ly/4CKqT1

How to Use Color Effectively in Your Designs - http://bit.ly/5THtP5

Designer's Guide to Passive Income - http://bit.ly/6AuGrL

8 Ways Freelance Designers Can Earn Passive Income - http://bit.ly/4wZfsP

Tips to Bridge the Gaps between Clients and Designers - http://bit.ly/2O1CHr

Five Practical Tips for Retaining Your Best Clients - http://bit.ly/5Ck1GP

Understanding your Brain for Better Design - http://bit.ly/1SYFyr

Elements Of Design: Shape - http://bit.ly/2MWiyd

Principles Of Good Design: Balance - http://bit.ly/5VyhbS

A Speedy Way To Write HTML/CSS Code - http://bit.ly/8buV7t

Best Collection of CSS Rounded Corners Tutorials - http://bit.ly/2qiW7B

A Guide to Creating Email Newsletters - http://bit.ly/QPTqL

Design Trends

Web Design Trends for 2010 - http://bit.ly/2SGhQY

Design Trends: Testimonials - http://bit.ly/78FkIU

How the Web is Changing Graphic Design - http://bit.ly/5O6Yk5

Color: The Next Limited Resource? - http://bit.ly/2sAEnj

"@PeterWiggins actually i just got my complete stationery designed via 99designs a few weeks ago. very positive experience!" - via @martinr_vienna

"@Robelen try 99designs.com - fellow tweeps put me onto it, fabulous approach to commissioning design work. I got a top outcome, low price." – via @darrenwhitelaw

"Website designs coming in fast and furious. 99designs, what a site !! Check out http://c.99d.me/32575" - via @ShaneHartigan

"@digijoe we've had great results using 99designs." – via @DEvansMatthews

"Checking out http://99designs.com/ - "connects designers with clients who need design projects completed in a timely fashion" - very cool." – via @lisalynn75

"@delic8genius not bad but have you considered 99designs.com for your logo design? Very awesome!" - via @scottglew

"Two damn good designs left for the @Calzessa design contest at @99Designs Very hard to select the winner!" – via @matsing

"99designs is very cheap compared to a design firm. I had a firm point me there because of a tight budget, awesome result" – via @WesBrownSQL

"Must say - I ended up very happy with @99designs - once again." – via @snickn

"@99designs - Love the site, keep up the good work." – via @That1design

"Day 7 - Logo Design Contests via @99designs - FINAL: 495 Entries*; 36+ Designers; 19+ Countries Whew! It's... http://tumblr.com/xyf48jhpz" - via @robertodow

One of the things I most enjoy is connecting with the people who use 99designs on a regular basis and hearing all about their experiences. A while back I was able to meet up with a prolific member of our design community who resides right here in the city I call home - San Francisco, California.

Designer Profile

Brian Tom - San Francisco, California
99designs handle: hoshimo
Projects entered: 500+
Projects won: 74

How did you get into design? Well I failed chemistry so I went into design. I got an Associate in Arts degree at City College of San Francisco and since then I've really just been looking for work and things like that. 99designs started out just as a hobby for me and it became really enjoyable so that's how I got into it. I randomly found 99designs online. I entered a few contests and I honestly didn't think I would win anything. After about my 20th contest…I won and it was actually a lot of fun so I started doing more.


Tell me about your experience with the design community at 99designs so far?

So far it's been great. There have been a lot of supportive designers from all over the world. They give you tips and they help you…you know…you toss back and forth design tips and feedback. It's the feedback really that is most important to me just because I work at home as a freelance designer so I don't have too many people around me saying “oh you know Brian… this is not so good or Brian this looks great” It helps a lot.


What have you learned as a result of participating in the 99designs community?

I focus mainly on logo designs at 99designs, so I'm learning a lot of different things about how to minimize your design yet having it speak boldly, or learning how to use typography effectively in a logo. Things like that have really helped me a lot especially when it comes to working with some of the more experienced designers on the site. One of the biggest things I'm continuing to learn is how to effectively blend the mission of a company with the style that they are looking for and coming up with a simple graphic element that tells a story that is unique. I think designers who are successful in this really pull away from the rest of the crowd.


Do you have any tips for other designers in the community?
From my own personal experience on 99designs I tend to design stuff before I look at the other submissions. When I do look at the submissions it can hinder or box up my creativity. It is important for designers to respect and value their own personal creativity. Then before submitting, I check out the other designs to make sure I'm not too close to anyone else's. Read the brief and design according to it. I've seen contests where it's titled "Logo for Dog Tag Shop" and you see submissions for a pet store when in reality it's a store for custom military-style Dog Tags. Additionally, I see a lot of generic submission that has nothing special or unique to that particular company. Reading the brief allows a design that has more depth and meaning to it.

Has using 99designs lead to additional work to help you build your business?
Oh yeah…that's half the fun! I think at least half the design contests I win results in the contest holder coming back to me and asking about getting business cards or website graphics and things like that.
If they love the work that you do and they love your style then it makes sense that they would go back to you for additional work and even refer you to their friends. All of my closest client relationships and the bulk of my freelance work has come from the results I've had in past 99designs contests.

What about a tip for contest holders?
If you utilize the star ratings and give lots and lots of feedback, you will receive 10x more submissions that are closer to what you're looking for. Write a clear brief and provide links to examples that you love to help give us a better idea on where to start. Tell us a story that is unique to your business. Don't be afraid to eliminate designs, and probably most importantly, when choosing a design, don't do it yourself. Get as many friends, coworkers, business partners and even close clients as you can, to help you decide and give you suggestions. Having more eyes on the project can really help identify which design resonates the best.

I recently spoke with Valerie Johnson, founder of Big Feet Pajama Company, to discuss why she has returned to 99designs.com time and time again when she needs custom graphic design work done. Over the past year, Valerie has used 99designs.com for custom logo design, web design and a host of other design needs for her business.

What brought you to 99designs?

In this economic climate we don't have the need for a full time in-house designer, and designers are looking to find projects to work on to make some extra money...So your site is great on both sides. Through 99designs we have created a new logo, a whole new web site, some print collateral...in fact I'll be running a new project in a month or so for a four page brochure that I'll use at some upcoming trade shows.

Logo Design

What do you love most about getting design work done at 99designs.com?

When you hire one designer, either in-house or on a project basis, you only get their design aesthetic and are really stuck with their concept or vision. With the help of 99designs – you get ideas from so many different people. So what you may have had in your head as far as the concept, you might scrap once you see someone else's vision. That's what I really like - is having so many different options to choose from. In fact the designers who have won my projects have been from all over - some from Bulgaria, the United States, Indonesia... so its really been interesting.

Web Design

Here's some of the other design work Valerie has had done at 99designs

Postcard Design

Button Design for Website