DesignCrowd Explained: Your A-to-Z Guide to Crowdsourced Design Contests

DesignCrowd operates as a major online creative hub, centered around a unique crowdsourced competition model. Clients submit detailed requests for design work along with a defined prize amount, and professional graphic artists from across the globe submit competing ideas to secure the win.

This approach is extremely attractive to businesses and individual entrepreneurs who prefer to review a vast selection of creative concepts—whether for a brand logo, website mock-up, or bespoke merchandise—before selecting the single best design that meets their needs.

How DesignCrowd Facilitates Creative Projects

The marketplace primarily structures creative tasks into two distinct formats: public Design Contests and private, direct engagements.

1. The Design Contest Process

• Client Submission: A project brief is created by the client, specifying all necessary design elements and locking in the financial reward for the winner.
• Global Entries: The platform, featuring over 800,000 registered designers, invites participation, leading to a high volume of tailored design submissions.
• Evaluation and Final Choice: The client reviews all submitted entries throughout the contest duration and ultimately designates the most successful concept as the winner.
• Reward and Rights: The victorious designer receives the announced cash prize, and the client simultaneously acquires the exclusive intellectual property rights for the finalized design assets.

2. Core Design Services

The platform boasts a comprehensive range of design needs, typically categorized as:

• Brand Identity & Logos: Development of unique logos and full corporate branding packages.
• Digital Design: Design for websites, mobile applications, and online advertising campaigns.
• Marketing Materials: Creation of brochures, flyers, business cards, and other essential print media.
• Product & Apparel: Graphic design for T-shirts, packaging labels, and various promotional products.

Platform Fees and Financial Deductions

Unlike some job sites, DesignCrowd applies service charges to both the clients who post projects and the designers who receive payments.

For Designers (Freelancers):

• Registration: Establishing a designer profile on the platform requires no upfront fees.
• Service Commission: Designers are subject to a 15% service fee (commission) deducted from their gross earnings, covering all prize money, supplementary participation payments, and any tips received.
• Payout Options: Designers typically access their earnings through standard withdrawal methods, including PayPal or Payoneer.

For Clients (Employers):

• Project Launch Fee: Clients must pay a mandatory, non-refundable posting fee to start a project (initial costs begin around $69 and vary by project complexity).
• Platform Usage Fee: An additional transaction fee, calculated at roughly 4% of the project's total value, may be levied.
• Satisfaction Guarantee: If the final submissions do not meet expectations, the client is generally entitled to a refund of the prize money (subject to deduction of the initial posting and certain administrative fees).

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Is DesignCrowd exclusively a contest-based platform?

Answer: While the core feature is the design contest, clients also have the capability to search designer portfolios and initiate direct, private contracts with specific freelancers.

2. What percentage does DesignCrowd charge designers?

Answer: DesignCrowd implements a fixed 15% commission rate, which is applied to the total amount paid to the designer, including contest winnings and any other payments.

3. How many different design options can clients expect?

Answer: Due to the crowdsourcing nature, clients usually receive dozens of distinct creative submissions from various designers, ensuring a broad range of concepts for final selection.

4. Can designers earn money without winning a contest?

Answer: Yes. Some contests include an optional feature called Participation Payments. This allows designers who submit high-quality work to receive a small payment even if their entry is not chosen as the primary winner.