99Designs.com - Crowdsourcing Design

Are a you a designer? Do you need a design? For designers and potential clients alike, there’s a new startup designed precisely for you. It’s called 99Designs, and it was, appropriately enough, designed by designers for designers. 99Designs connects designers with clients and lets clients choose amongst the best design for their company. Designers compete against each other, and the winning design gets a cash prize. Any designer can join in the competition it’s free—simply register. Designers can message other designers and get feedback from clients. There’s also forums for designer discussion. So far over one million dollars in cash prizes have been handed out, and there are over eleven thousand designers registered.

“99designs is a disruptive startup which connects passionate designers from around the globe with savvy clients who need design projects completed in a timely fashion without the usual risk or cost associated with professional design.”

99Designs is a clever concept. It takes the idea of crowdsourcing to design and combines it Web 2.0 innovations. This promotes competition, growth, and gets the client plenty of selection.

Is the compensation for a winning design enough? Will designers appreciate this winner takes all approach? Are the clients satisfied with the end result?