99designs.com: a warning to freelancers.
Kevin Potts recently did a review/critique of wundersite www.99designs.com - which appears to be a simplified spin of other such sites like Elance and what Kevin calls it’s “malignant brethren”. The site, which uses less than ideal techniques to get designers to connect with businesses, requires spec work and encourages horribly low prices. In his article, Kevin removes the usual sales pitch and business jargon and brings out the underlying truth:
Hmm. Yes, by all means, we want to avoid the time and consideration professional designers offer and go right to the lowest common denominator of grade-school dropouts whose portfolio’s crown jewel is a logo for their dad’s wholesale llama manure clearing house. We definitely do not want any in-depth communication. We do not want any understanding of the company, the brand, or the direction and aspirations of the organization.
In a nutshell, this is what you’re asking for if you work with these guys:
- You’re doing the work whether you like it or not. Payment is irrelevant. You only get that if you actually “win” the “contest”.
- Even if you do win, you don’t win much. (They seem to encourage low prices, as stated on their how it works page.)
- You lose your copyright privileges and you apparently can’t even take a public stand if your designs are stolen. Read their copyright page for more on that.
- You’re also asking for a royal slap in the face from folks like me and other real designers.
Freelancers: if you really care about your work and the design industry, do NOT use 99designs or others like it to gain clients. You’re hurting yourself and the rest of us too.
Business owners: if you really want someone who will take the time to get to know your company and present an informed and well-rounded design, might I suggest someone from the Xemion Web Designer Directory?
Here’s Kevin’s article (warning: contains some strong language)
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Filed under Business, Clients, Design, Freelancing, Marketing, Misc, Xemion.
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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.
Comment by Tod — May 2, 2008 @ 11:19pm
Tod - you are misinformed and ignorant of the facts…
Comment by doT — Jun 17, 2008 @ 5:35pm
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.
Comment by Travis — Jun 19, 2008 @ 7:12pm
@ 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.
Comment by Micah — Jun 19, 2008 @ 8:45pm
**** 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
Comment by vikash — Jun 21, 2008 @ 9:48am
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.
Comment by mikimoco — Jun 30, 2008 @ 5:32pm