Creative Side Hustle: Earning Extra Income on 99designs

Are you a talented designer, illustrator, or creative professional looking for ways to turn your passion into profit? In today’s gig economy, finding flexible ways to earn extra income is more accessible than ever, and online platforms have opened up a world of opportunities.

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One such platform that consistently attracts attention is 99designs. It offers a unique space for creatives to connect with clients globally, potentially providing a steady stream of side income. But what exactly is it, how does it work, and can you realistically earn money there? Let’s dive deep into this creative side hustle.

What Exactly is 99designs by Vista?

99designs, now officially known as “99designs by Vista” after its acquisition by Vistaprint’s parent company Cimpress, is a global creative platform that connects businesses and individuals needing design work with a large community of freelance designers. Think of it as a marketplace specifically tailored for creative services.

Its primary model, and the one it’s most famous for, is the design contest. However, it also facilitates direct work between clients and designers through 1-to-1 Projects. Clients can browse designer profiles and hire them directly, or designers can be invited to work on specific projects outside the contest format.

How the Platform Functions: Contests vs. Direct Work

Design Contests: This is the signature offering. A client posts a design brief outlining their needs (e.g., a logo, website design, t-shirt graphic) and offers a specific prize amount. Designers from around the world can then submit their concepts based on the brief. The client provides feedback, potentially requests revisions, and ultimately chooses a winning design. The winner receives the prize money (minus platform fees).
1-to-1 Projects: Clients can browse designer portfolios and invite specific designers they like to work on a project directly. This operates more like traditional freelancing. Pricing, timelines, and deliverables are negotiated between the client and the designer. This often happens after a successful contest collaboration or when a client seeks out a designer with a specific style or expertise.

Who Thrives on the 99designs Platform?

Success on 99designs isn’t guaranteed for everyone. It favors creatives who possess a combination of skills and attributes:

- Strong Design Skills: This is non-negotiable. Whether it’s graphic design, logo creation, web design, illustration, packaging, or branding, your technical skills need to be sharp and aligned with current trends.
- Understanding of Briefs: The ability to accurately interpret a client’s requirements, vision, and target audience from a written brief is crucial, especially in contests.

* Good Communication: Responding professionally to feedback, asking clarifying questions, and managing client expectations are vital, particularly in 1-to-1 projects but also important during contest refinements.

Speed and Efficiency: Contests often have tight deadlines. Being able to generate quality concepts relatively quickly is an advantage.
Resilience: Especially in the contest model, you’ll often invest time and effort without winning. Being able to handle rejection and keep trying is key.
Portfolio Power: A compelling portfolio showcasing your best work is essential for attracting clients, both for contests and direct hires.

The platform caters to a wide range of creative fields, including:

Logo & identity design
Web & app design
Business & advertising (flyers, brochures, social media posts)
Clothing & merchandise (t-shirts, packaging)
Art & illustration
Book & magazine design

Getting Started: Crafting Your 99designs Profile

Your profile is your digital storefront on 99designs. Making it compelling is the first step towards earning income.

Sign Up: The initial sign-up process is straightforward.
Build Your Portfolio: This is the most critical part. Upload high-quality examples of your best work. Organize it logically. Show variety if you offer multiple services, but emphasize your strongest area. Ensure images are clear and well-presented.
Write a Professional Bio: Clearly state your expertise, experience, design philosophy, and what kind of projects you excel at. Make it personable but professional.
Identify Your Skills: Tag your profile with relevant design categories and skills so clients searching for specific services can find you.
Set Your Service Offerings (for 1-to-1): Define the types of direct projects you are available for.
Verification (Optional but Recommended): Completing identity verification steps can add trust and credibility to your profile.

Treat your profile like a living portfolio; update it regularly with your latest and greatest work, especially designs that won contests or received positive client feedback.

Navigating the Design Contest Arena

Design contests are the entry point for many designers on 99designs. While competitive, they offer opportunities to build your portfolio, gain experience, and potentially earn money.

Understanding the Contest Workflow

Browse Contests: Search for contests matching your skills and interests. Pay attention to the prize amount, deadline, industry, and design brief.
Read the Brief Carefully: Understand the client’s needs, target audience, desired style, and any mandatory elements.
Submit Your Design(s): Create and upload your concept(s) based on the brief. You can often submit multiple entries.
Receive Feedback & Ratings: Clients rate submissions (usually 1-5 stars) and provide feedback. Use this to refine your designs if allowed.
Final Round (Optional): Some contests have a final round where the client selects a few finalists for further revisions.
Winner Selection: The client chooses the winning design.
Handover & Payment: If you win, you’ll finalize the design files based on client feedback and platform standards, transfer ownership, and receive the prize money (less 99designs’ fees).

Strategies for Increasing Your Contest Win Rate

Be Selective: Don’t enter every contest. Focus on those where the brief resonates with you and aligns with your strengths. Check the client’s history and feedback style if available.
Quality Over Quantity: While multiple entries can showcase range, one or two truly thoughtful, well-executed designs are often better than many rushed ones.
Analyze the Brief Deeply: Go beyond the surface level. Who is the client’s customer? What problem is the design solving? What’s the brand personality?
Study the Competition (Strategically): Look at other submissions to gauge the direction but avoid copying. Find a unique angle that still meets the brief.
Communicate Professionally: If the client provides feedback, respond politely and constructively, even if you disagree. Explain your design choices clearly.
Iterate Intelligently: If revisions are requested, show that you’ve listened to the feedback while maintaining design integrity.
Present Mockups: Show your design in context (e.g., a logo on a business card, a website design on a screen) to help the client visualize the end result.

Beyond Contests: Securing 1-to-1 Projects

While contests are prominent, building relationships for direct work (1-to-1 Projects) can lead to more stable and potentially higher-paying opportunities. This often happens organically:

A client you impressed in a contest (even if you didn’t win) might invite you for future work.
Clients actively browse portfolios and may reach out directly if your style matches their needs.

To increase your chances of landing 1-to-1 projects:

Maintain a Stellar Portfolio: Keep it updated with high-quality, diverse work.
Get Positive Reviews: Excellent feedback from past contests or projects builds trust.
Be Responsive: Answer inquiries promptly and professionally.
Clearly Define Your Services: Make it easy for clients to understand what you offer directly.

Working directly often involves more negotiation regarding scope, revisions, and pricing, requiring good client management skills.

Managing Your Earnings and Finances

Earning money is great, but managing it effectively is crucial.

Payment Methods: 99designs typically facilitates payments through platforms like PayPal or Payoneer. Ensure your payout details are set up correctly.
Platform Fees: Be aware of 99designs’ fees. They charge clients an upfront platform fee and also take a percentage commission from designers, which varies based on your designer level and the client relationship (fees are generally lower for repeat clients). Factor these into your earnings expectations.
Taxes: As a freelancer earning income in the United States, you are responsible for reporting your earnings and paying self-employment taxes. Keep meticulous records of your income and expenses. Consider consulting a tax professional familiar with freelance taxes.
Pricing (for 1-to-1): Research industry standard rates when setting your prices for direct projects. Factor in complexity, usage rights, and your experience level.

Weighing the Pros and Cons of 99designs

Like any platform, 99designs has its advantages and disadvantages.

Aspect	Pros	Cons
Opportunity Access	Access to a global pool of clients and diverse projects you might not find otherwise.	High level of competition, especially in popular contest categories.
Contest Model	Great for building a portfolio quickly, gaining experience across industries, and potentially winning prize money.	Significant amount of speculative work (working without guaranteed payment unless you win). Can feel like a race to the bottom on pricing for some.
Skill Development	Exposure to varied briefs and feedback helps refine design skills and understanding of client needs.	Feedback quality varies greatly depending on the client; might not always be constructive.
Direct Work (1-to-1)	Potential for more stable client relationships, negotiated rates, and less speculative work.	Reliant on building a strong reputation and portfolio first; takes time to establish.
Platform & Payments	Structured process for project management, communication, and secure payment handling.	Platform fees and commissions reduce overall earnings. Designer levels can feel restrictive initially.

Tips for Long-Term Success and Maximizing Income

Turning 99designs into a meaningful side hustle requires a strategic approach:

Specialize: While versatility is good initially, specializing in a niche (e.g., minimalist logos, WordPress web design, packaging for food brands) can help you stand out and command higher rates.
Build Your Reputation: Focus on delivering exceptional work and excellent customer service to earn positive reviews and increase your designer level. Higher levels often get access to better opportunities and lower platform fees.
Cultivate Repeat Clients: Nurture relationships with clients you enjoy working with. Repeat business through 1-to-1 projects is often more profitable and predictable. Consider exploring resources on client relationship management for freelancers.
Improve Continuously: Stay updated on design trends, software skills, and best practices. The creative field evolves rapidly.
Manage Your Time Wisely: Balance contest participation with potential 1-to-1 work and your primary job or other commitments. Avoid burnout.
Understand Value: Don’t just compete on price. Emphasize the quality, creativity, and problem-solving skills you bring to the table.

Is 99designs the Right Creative Side Hustle for You?

Consider these questions before investing significant time:

Do you have strong, marketable design skills in one of the categories offered?
Are you comfortable with the competitive nature of design contests, especially early on?
Can you handle receiving subjective feedback and potential rejection without getting discouraged?
Do you have the time to dedicate to creating quality submissions or managing 1-to-1 projects?
Are you proficient in industry-standard design software?
Are you prepared to manage the financial aspects, including platform fees and self-employment taxes? Building a strong design portfolio is essential for showcasing your capabilities.
Are you looking primarily for portfolio pieces and experience, or is immediate, guaranteed income the priority? (If the latter, contests might be frustrating initially).

Answering these honestly will help determine if 99designs aligns with your goals and personality. For many creatives, it serves as an excellent launchpad or supplementary income stream.

Ultimately, 99designs presents a viable platform for designers and creatives to monetize their skills and engage in a fulfilling creative side hustle. Success requires talent, persistence, professionalism, and a strategic approach to navigating both contests and direct client work. It’s not a get-rich-quick scheme, but with dedication, it can certainly become a rewarding way to earn extra income doing what you love.