I haven’t had a job for years. To the point, I am a writer and there are so many freelance opportunities on the market it seems like eons since I was an actual employee. I’m not sure I could ever do it again. There are hundreds of opportunities for writers to get paid and I’m happy to say to my artistic friends there are venues on the Internet that require your special talents as well. The market for freelance design work is there if you are willing to tap it.
99 Designs is one of these. The demand for outsourced design work is at a premium. Businesses are looking for quality results at prices that don’t put them out of the market. If you are an out of work graphic designer, this is a chance to restore your personal finances. The San Francisco based company is run by Mark Harbottle (co-founder) and Matt Mickiewicz (investor), among others. They are both co-founders of the highly successful SitePoint, an online market for buying and selling websites, so you know the graphics site is backed by excellent leadership.
Here’s how it works for the business needing a design. The customer provides a clear outline of the design they need and chooses a design package. Next, they review design concepts and provide feedback to get exactly what they want. Finally they choose a favorite and receive the design along with the copyright to the original art work.
Here’s how it works for you, the designer. First you set up a free account with a username and password. Next, you peruse the list of design contests and choose one that inspires you. Then you create a design for the project and submit it to the client. You work with the client to tweak the design and until you have one that he or she loves. Then you get paid.
Ideas are requested for logo design, web design, business cards, icon design, WordPress themes, stationery design, brochure design, print design, t-shirt design and banner ads. The company also features a ready-to-go design store where customers can make an instant purchase.
Data from the About section on the company website proclaims at total of 94,742 designers have submitted 7,040,554 designs. Prize money awarded adds up to $17, 599, 674. When you do the math the average does work out to a big deal per designer, but like any other freelance competition, it takes persistence. And like other moonlighting opportunities, once you create a hit the first time with a client, they tend to hire you for ensuing jobs.
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