How to Get Custom Graphic Design Through 99designs: Process, Pricing, and Options

99designs is a crowdsourcing marketplace where you post a design project and either run a contest (many designers submit concepts, you pick a winner) or hire one designer directly for a 1-to-1 project. It fits businesses that need a logo, website, packaging, or other graphic design work but don't have an in-house designer or an agency relationship. The trade-off is that you're managing the process yourself: writing the brief, giving feedback, and choosing among submissions.

How the two main models work

Design contest

You write a brief, set a prize amount, and designers submit concepts. You rate and comment on submissions, and at the end you pick a winner who gets the prize. The platform's own description frames this as the core model: "start a design contest" or "hire a talented designer."

Best for: logos and other projects where you want to see multiple directions before committing.

1-to-1 project

You browse designer profiles and work with one designer directly. Useful when you already know the style you want or the project is too specific for a broad contest.

Studio

99designs also lists a Studio offering at 99designs.com/pro/studio, aimed at ongoing or higher-touch design needs. Treat it as a subscription-style or managed option rather than a one-off contest — check the current terms on that page before assuming what's included.

What you need to prepare before starting

The quality of your brief drives the quality of what you get back. Before you post:

• What it's for — logo, website, packaging, social assets, print collateral.
• Where it will appear — web, print, signage, app icon. This affects file requirements.
• Style direction — reference brands or designs you like, and ones you don't.
• Must-haves and hard nos — required text, colors to avoid, legal or trademark constraints.
• Deliverable formats — ask for vector (AI, EPS, SVG) plus PNG/JPG exports if you'll need to resize later.

How to run the process well

1. Post the brief with your prize or budget and timeline.
2. Give structured feedback early. Designers respond to specific notes ("the mark is too detailed to read at small sizes") far better than "I don't like it."
3. Use ratings to narrow the field so designers can see what's resonating.
4. Shortlist and request revisions from your favorites before finalizing.
5. Select the winner and confirm the handover of final files.

The most common pitfall is a vague brief followed by vague feedback — that produces generic submissions and wastes the contest window.

Ownership and files

On contest-based platforms, ownership of the winning design typically transfers to you once you select and pay the winner, while non-winning submissions remain with their designers. Confirm the exact terms on the project page, since they can vary by project type. Ask for source files, not just exports — without vector source files, you can't cleanly resize a logo for a billboard or embroider it on a shirt.

Pricing and timelines

99designs publishes pricing at 99designs.com/pricing, and lists a Pro tier at 99designs.com/pro. Costs vary by package and project type, so check the live pricing page rather than relying on a figure quoted elsewhere. As a rule of thumb for planning:

Timelines depend on the package and how quickly you give feedback — slow feedback is the biggest cause of delays.

Choosing between 99designs and alternatives

Pick 99designs-style crowdsourcing when you want volume of ideas at a predictable cost and are willing to manage the process. Choose a single freelance designer when you want a long-term relationship and consistent style. Choose an agency when you need strategy, brand systems, and account management alongside the design work. If your need is a one-off asset with a tight deadline, a contest with a short window and a clear brief is usually the fastest path.