Comments on: 99designs.com: a warning to freelancers. http://www.xemion.com/blog/99designscom-a-warning-to-freelancers-67.html Just another WordPress weblog Fri, 25 Jul 2008 08:04:52 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3 By: mikimoco http://www.xemion.com/blog/99designscom-a-warning-to-freelancers-67.html#comment-2992 mikimoco Mon, 30 Jun 2008 22:32:48 +0000 http://www.xemion.com/blog/99designscom-a-warning-to-freelancers-67.html#comment-2992 Has anyone else noticed how success for the freelance graphic design professional takes a good deal of creativity and imagination (not just in the artistic sense)? Speaking with some successful freelance designers, I began to realize that it required less selling and more social networking. Whereas this has not been my strength, I have begun to exercise this option and have blended it with some out-of-the-box and inordinate approaches. One that has begun to get results is to offer my design services to design companies who do what I do and are more prolific at selling to customers. I was imagining how they must have times that they go crazy with too much work and not enough time in their day or staff to handle the same. I offer to take either the design or the programming off their hands without dragging much from their profit margin or stealing their customers. I find that the larger design companies somehow find customers who pay them big bucks for websites, which allows me to ask them a reasonable price. This frees up their time and allows them to take on more clients at once. Has anyone else noticed how success for the freelance graphic design professional takes a good deal of creativity and imagination (not just in the artistic sense)? Speaking with some successful freelance designers, I began to realize that it required less selling and more social networking. Whereas this has not been my strength, I have begun to exercise this option and have blended it with some out-of-the-box and inordinate approaches. One that has begun to get results is to offer my design services to design companies who do what I do and are more prolific at selling to customers. I was imagining how they must have times that they go crazy with too much work and not enough time in their day or staff to handle the same. I offer to take either the design or the programming off their hands without dragging much from their profit margin or stealing their customers. I find that the larger design companies somehow find customers who pay them big bucks for websites, which allows me to ask them a reasonable price. This frees up their time and allows them to take on more clients at once.

]]> By: vikash http://www.xemion.com/blog/99designscom-a-warning-to-freelancers-67.html#comment-2912 vikash Sat, 21 Jun 2008 14:48:21 +0000 http://www.xemion.com/blog/99designscom-a-warning-to-freelancers-67.html#comment-2912 **** My personal views only **** The money they offer is really great, much-much more then any other freelance graphic design community, so money is not a problem. Think about a designer, who is having creative thinking, but doesn't know, what is the latest market trend and how to build-up his skills to become a successful designer (from creative thinker to designer). He needs some sources to become a designer, and there is nothing better for him then 99designs or any other similar website offering that much price money and competition. I myself improved my skills and many designers (in your word "so called" designers) have improved and they are in continuous process of improvement. I wish, there should be more sites like 99designs :) **** My personal views only ****
The money they offer is really great, much-much more then any other freelance graphic design community, so money is not a problem. Think about a designer, who is having creative thinking, but doesn’t know, what is the latest market trend and how to build-up his skills to become a successful designer (from creative thinker to designer). He needs some sources to become a designer, and there is nothing better for him then 99designs or any other similar website offering that much price money and competition. I myself improved my skills and many designers (in your word “so called” designers) have improved and they are in continuous process of improvement. I wish, there should be more sites like 99designs :)

]]> By: Micah http://www.xemion.com/blog/99designscom-a-warning-to-freelancers-67.html#comment-2903 Micah Fri, 20 Jun 2008 01:45:08 +0000 http://www.xemion.com/blog/99designscom-a-warning-to-freelancers-67.html#comment-2903 @ Travis: Yes, I am upset that my world-view is in danger, but it's not because my creative skills are weak. I believe in "you get what you pay for". I believe in client relations and understanding the company you're working for. I also believe a person should get fair wages for their work, and this chump change--which you may or may not get--will not pay the bills. @ Travis:

Yes, I am upset that my world-view is in danger, but it’s not because my creative skills are weak. I believe in “you get what you pay for”. I believe in client relations and understanding the company you’re working for. I also believe a person should get fair wages for their work, and this chump change–which you may or may not get–will not pay the bills.

]]> By: Travis http://www.xemion.com/blog/99designscom-a-warning-to-freelancers-67.html#comment-2901 Travis Fri, 20 Jun 2008 00:12:56 +0000 http://www.xemion.com/blog/99designscom-a-warning-to-freelancers-67.html#comment-2901 This reads like someone who is quite pissed that their precious world-view is in danger - perhaps your creative skills are not up to the requirements to keep you competitive in a global market. The internet obviously opened a vast market...play ball or change jobs. This reads like someone who is quite pissed that their precious world-view is in danger - perhaps your creative skills are not up to the requirements to keep you competitive in a global market. The internet obviously opened a vast market…play ball or change jobs.

]]> By: doT http://www.xemion.com/blog/99designscom-a-warning-to-freelancers-67.html#comment-2884 doT Tue, 17 Jun 2008 22:35:38 +0000 http://www.xemion.com/blog/99designscom-a-warning-to-freelancers-67.html#comment-2884 Tod - you are misinformed and ignorant of the facts... Tod - you are misinformed and ignorant of the facts…

]]> By: Tod http://www.xemion.com/blog/99designscom-a-warning-to-freelancers-67.html#comment-932 Tod Sat, 03 May 2008 04:19:48 +0000 http://www.xemion.com/blog/99designscom-a-warning-to-freelancers-67.html#comment-932 I think this is a very unfair review. There are designers out there in other countries that are willing to work for less. There are also designers out there that do not know how to code a website but are awesome at graphics. Some web development shops outsource their graphic work to these types of places and make contacts for further work at decent sub contract rates with full rights to ownership. There is a market for low cost awesome copyright free designs and 99designs (former sitepoint) beautifully fills that need. Most of the artists are great and are simply making extra money VERY QUICKLY. Your view only applies to real design shops that offer the hand holding, coding, programming, marketing and possibly brand development skills along with the concept. Even the coded designs do not make a website, there is a lot more work to do especially if there is a dynamic portion to the site. It is also a great training ground for up and coming designers to flex there artist muscles and get constructive criticism of their designs. I think this is a very unfair review. There are designers out there in other countries that are willing to work for less. There are also designers out there that do not know how to code a website but are awesome at graphics. Some web development shops outsource their graphic work to these types of places and make contacts for further work at decent sub contract rates with full rights to ownership. There is a market for low cost awesome copyright free designs and 99designs (former sitepoint) beautifully fills that need. Most of the artists are great and are simply making extra money VERY QUICKLY. Your view only applies to real design shops that offer the hand holding, coding, programming, marketing and possibly brand development skills along with the concept. Even the coded designs do not make a website, there is a lot more work to do especially if there is a dynamic portion to the site. It is also a great training ground for up and coming designers to flex there artist muscles and get constructive criticism of their designs.

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