99designs vs Theepa Studio
99designs alternative: a contest of many designers, or one team that owns your brand.
Short answer
On 99designs you run a contest: designers submit entries, you rate and shortlist them over two rounds, pick a winner and receive the copyright. At Theepa Studio one senior team works on your brand from a strategy brief to a full identity system, with a fixed date and a full refund if you don't like the first concepts. Contests give breadth; a studio gives depth and a system.
By Bilal Haider, founder of Theepa Studio. Facts about 99designs come from the dated sources at the end of this page; check their site for current details.
What is 99designs?
99designs is a design marketplace. In a logo contest you write a brief, designers from its community submit entries, you give feedback across rounds, choose a winner and sign a copyright transfer. Package tiers determine which designer levels can enter.
99designs vs Theepa Studio
| 99designs | Theepa Studio | |
|---|---|---|
| Model | Contest: many designers, one winner | One studio team from brief to handoff |
| Who manages the process | You, unless you buy a managed tier | The studio |
| Strategy | Depends on your brief | Included |
| Output | The winning logo and files | Identity system, guidelines and templates |
| Website, deck and product UI | Separate projects | Designed together |
| Ownership | Copyright transferred to you | Full ownership on final payment |
| Guarantee | Money-back guarantee per its terms | Full refund on first concepts |
When 99designs is the better choice
- You want to see many different styles quickly
- You have a clear brief and time to manage feedback
- You only need the logo
When Theepa Studio is the better choice
- You want one accountable team and a fixed date
- You need strategy, not just options
- You want the brand, website and deck to match
99designs alternative: questions
Is a design contest a good way to get a logo?
It's a good way to see many directions fast. It's weaker when you need a system that has been thought through across website, product and decks.
Who owns the design from a contest?
On 99designs the copyright is transferred to you after you choose a winner. At Theepa Studio you own everything on final payment.
Can I bring a contest logo to Theepa Studio?
Yes. We can build the full identity system around it, or advise in a brand audit whether it's worth keeping.
Sources
Tell us what you're building.
A 30-minute call. We look at your brand and site together, and you leave with a plan and a fixed price, whether or not you hire us.