Just today, I awarded winners for two logo contests for upcoming projects. Since I've now done 4 contests, I figured I'd share some tips I've gleaned from working with the service. Also, I should mention that I also investigated using crowdSPRING, but I decided to stick with 99. The only reason was that I have always had good luck with 99, and didn't have a compelling reason to change.
Tips For Running A Design Contest
- Design Contests are a Lot of Work: Keep this in mind, the process can be draining. Make sure you don't have too much going on, as you really need to invest in providing ratings and thoughtful feedback. This last time, I had 2 going at one time, and based on the schedule of my day job, I struggled to keep up with feedback.
- Be Aware of the Timezone Difference: 99 Designs boasts a global community of designers, which is great because there are some really talented folks who don't live near you. Just be prepared for some time lags on revisions, and that not everybody's first language is English.
- Provide Feedback Liberally : You may notice the health indicator for your contest. This is driven by how much feedback you give. My first contest did fall out of healthy status early on due to my lack of textual feedback. Typically, I think a good ratio is about 35% - 40% of entries to feedback. Often times, a designer will submit 3 of 4 designs at a time, and I'll roll all of my thoughts into one comment. I've had good luck with that approach.
- Don't Discount a Designer Based on One Design: I've had many first entries that I didn't like at all, but if you're honest (and respectful) and the designer has enough direction, they will often come back with something you'll love.
- Be Specific, but Don't Micromanage: Designers crave direction and feedback, and it's great to see your ideas incorporated as an entry progresses. That said, the reason I'm doing a contest is because I need their skill and expertise. Many designers will do whatever you tell them to because they're trying to win a prize. It's better to say "I'm looking for a typeface that's a bit more professional" is better than "Can you try using Comic Sans 8pt italic".
- Be Respectful of People's Time: I don't ask designers for more than 1 revision unless I feel like it's a legitimate winner, and just needs a few more tweaks. Also, as soon as I know a design isn't what I'm looking for...I eliminate it
- When to Guarantee the Prize: There are several options you have when setting up a contest - one is to guarantee the prize. I am very willing to do this, as it will attract more designers. However, I typically wait until I see 1 or 2 entries that I'm sure I will be happy with. For me, this usually takes about 3 to 4 days. I also go with a blind contests...I think designers prefer not to have their ideas leveraged in other designs.
Anyway, I'm a fan of crowdsourcing, but it's a bit of a process adjustment. Apart from being unpopular by content and design experts for devaluing their services, you're putting other types of constraints (e.g. timeline) on the project. That said, you'll never get the sheer volume of design hours for the money. For a small business owner/hobbyist, like myself, it's a great option. Have you tried it? What do you think?
