Melbourne business 99designs, the world’s largest online design marketplace, today launched a localised Australian version of the site.
99designs.com.au lets businesses crowdsource their web, logo and other design needs by posting ‘contests’ on the site and then receiving an average 90 designs to choose from. 99designs is already the world’s largest connector of businesses and designers, hosting 60 percent of design contests globally. It has over 120,000 designers on its books, has held close to 100,000 contests to date, and pays out more than $1.1 million to designers every month. 99designs received a $35 million investment from Accel Partners, early investors in Facebook, in April.
Put simply, here’s how it works:
1.Customer posts a design project
2.Designers compete to produce the best design
3. Customer receives on average 90 submissions to choose from from multiple designers
4.Customer chooses a winning design
5. Incredible value (100s not 1000s of dollars)
6. You get “A Design You Love Or Your Money Back!”
Aussie designers were already using the global site but the local version will allow local business owners and designers to work in their own currency, with local customer service, accounts management and business tools.
Founder Mark Harbottle says local businesses have already used the site to hold more than 3,500 design contests just this year.
“We’re here to foster new relationships between businesses and designers and we’re thrilled to be able to launch a local version of the site.”
99designs promises businesses will benefit from a rapid turnaround, with designs received in days, as well as lower costs and a 100 percent money back guarantee. The Australian launch will also benefit designers, as more begin to rely on freelance work.
CEO Patrick Llewellyn said it gives designers a “true fair go.” He added: “We offer a great platform for designers to earn money, hone their skills and gain exposure. While they focus on what they do best, we help them with finding customers, invoicing, payments, contacts and workflow management. They work how and when they want, and by winning customers from around the world, they’re able to buffer themselves against local economic conditions.”
Outside the US, Australia is 99design’s largest and fastest growing market, with $3.6 million worth of contests posted to date.
