Would I use 99Designs again? Absolutely!
One of the items we needed before launching TutorTree, was a new logo. This logo would help drive the overall site branding experience, so we needed to get it designed well and also early in the process since so much of the branding was dependant on it.
My core skills center around technology and marketing and although I cannot design worth salt, I am very good a knowing how something should be designed and look. I have project managed multiple outsourced logo and site design projects before, but these were all with specific design shops and/or designers. This would be my first experiment using 99designs.
Having been a technology consultant and working closely with designers, I was torn by the spec work type model that 99designs uses. (Some designers think it is pure heresy). For those unfamiliar with the concept: Basically you submit a contest and multiple designers submit designs for you to review. Only the designer that submits the winning design (chosen by you) will get paid. And if you do not guarantee your contest, it is possible that no designer will get paid if you do not choose a winner.
Since TutorTree is working from a very strict budget I really did not have many options to get a nice logo designed, which is why we I went ahead with using 99designs.
My specific 99Designs Logo Design Experience:
Here are my high level pros, cons and tips for using 99designs to design your logo:
Pros
- Inexpensive (relatively)
- Large design variety
- Easy to use system
- Only pay if your are happy with the final product
- Quick (You can have you logo in 7-10 days)
- Their polling system is helping to solicit feedback
Cons
- Only communication to designers is via email
- Sometimes communications can get, “lost in translation.”
- You can get a huge amount of designs back. Going over each one can make your head spin.
- Once the contest ends you cannot have the designer make changes
- It promotes spec work
Tips
- I would create a custom prize package and set a price that you feel comfortable paying
- The higher your prize, the more designs you will get
- Invite designers to your contest. Look through the 99designs blog for featured designers. Also look at recent winning contests to find specific designers that you like. (this one is a must).
- Respond and give feedback as soon as possible. This is the only way the designers can works towards designing the best logo for you.
- Remember that 99Designs takes a cut of all the money. The amount you are offering is not what the designer actually gets so set your prize $$ accordingly.
- Make your design a “blind design.” More designers tend to submit designs if they know another designer will not copy their idea.
Here is the official new logo (drum roll please……)
We wanted a logo that incorporated a tree due to our name. We also wanted it to show growth and overall have a positive vibe.
The colors are muted but provide nice contrast. I like the way the figure in the tree is reaching toward the sky and soaring towards their true potential.
And here was the one of the runners-up:
Thank you for reading. I hope my 99Designs Logo Design Experience will help you with your design.
Please check back soon for the official TutorTree launch!
