Since we’re just starting EasyCal, we needed a logo.
Neither of us are graphic designers, so we investigated our options: we could get a known quantity in an expensive graphic designer, go cheaper but probably less awesome, or use a creative services marketplace like 99Designs or CrowdSpring.
These marketplaces let you post a contest for a custom design (like a logo, website redesign, blog design, etc) and offer the winner some prize money. You pay the prize money and a listing fee to the marketplace website when you post the contest. If you don’t pick a winner, you get the prize money back, but the marketplace keeps the listing fee.
Since we’re building on blood, sweat, and tears, we wanted the best bang for our buck. We posted a contest on 99designs with a prize of $150, plus a $54 listing fee that went to 99designs itself, and waited in excitement for the designs to pour in.
We weren’t disappointed. Though the contest lasted seven days, the logo we chose was a revision of the very first logo that was submitted. We had 20+ logos to choose from. It was exciting to wake up every day, see the latest logos, and provide feedback for the designers to tweak their logos to our liking.
When the contest ended, we picked our favorite. Several things happen after that:
1. the winning designer sends us all the necessary files
2. the designer and purchaser both sign a transfer of copyright ownership
3. the funds get released to the winning designer
It was easy as pie, and such a great experience and we’ll definitely use them again when we need some good quality design work done on the cheap. We found that It’s a great option when you’re starting up a business and don’t have a lot of money.
Oh, and the winning logo? Here it is, let us know what you think! 
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This logo doesn’t tell me who you are or what you do. It looks like a calendar icon you would find in a FREE of charge online clip-art collection. Another example of “You get what you pay for”.
I hope you can handle the criticism. I wish you contacted me before doing it.
All the best,
Tom
i understand that working on spec is a contentious issue in the design community and the 99 designs model threatens designers business.
it’s still a great resource for customers who don’t have a lot of $ to spend. to boot, i’ve yet to have one of their designers try to win my business by talking badly about another designer’s work.
thanks for the comment.