How does a design contest work?
You write one brief, set a budget, and professional creatives from around the world submit custom concepts against it. You compare real work instead of portfolios, pick the one you want, and own it outright. Here is the full process, timelines and what you get.
The three steps of a contest
- Step 01
Write a creative brief and set your budget
Describe the project, the audience and the files you need, then choose a budget. That budget is the prize paid to the winning creative. Logo projects start at $99, all inclusive.
- Step 02
Review original entries as they arrive
Creatives from our global community submit custom concepts made specifically for your brief. You rate entries, leave feedback and request revisions while the contest runs.
- Step 03
Award the winner and take full rights
Pick the concept you want to own. The creative is paid the prize, and full commercial rights plus the source files transfer to you, so you can trademark, print and publish it.
How long does it take?
Most projects have a guaranteed 10 day submission window, and you can award a winner at any time while the contest is active. Adding the rush upgrade shortens the window to 48 hours.
| Standard contest | A guaranteed 10 day submission window, and you can award a winner at any time while it is active. Once it ends you can extend it for a small fee per extra day, free on Gold and Custom tiers and on Hatchwise Unlimited. |
|---|---|
| 48 Hour Rush add-on | An optional upgrade that returns entries in 48 hours instead of the standard 10 day run. |
| Hatchwise Unlimited | A subscription rather than a one off purchase, so you run projects back to back for the whole month at a flat rate, with a dedicated project manager and upgrades included. |
| Payouts to creatives | Issued on the 1st and the 14th of each month via PayPal, once a winning entry is awarded. |
What do I get when I award?
Awarding a winner is the moment the work becomes yours. You get full commercial rights to the design or name plus the source and production files, so you can trademark it, print it and publish it without any further licence. The creative is paid the contest prize, with payouts issued on the 1st and 14th of each month via PayPal.
What if I don't like any of the concepts?
Every contest is backed by our money back guarantee. If you do not receive at least the number of entries that come with the package you purchased, you can request a full refund within 14 days of your contest submission period ending, once the contest has run its full length with no winner awarded. You can also extend your contest for a small fee per extra day, free on Gold and Custom tiers and on Hatchwise Unlimited, if you want to see more entries.
Per project design, or ongoing design every month
Most businesses start with a single project, because a logo or a brand identity is a one time need. Teams that publish marketing graphics continuously tend to move to a monthly plan. Here is the honest difference between the two.
| Per projectDesign and naming contests | OngoingHatchwise Unlimited | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | One defined project: a logo, a brand identity, a name | A steady stream of graphic design work every month |
| How you get work | Dozens of original concepts from different creatives | One project at a time, back to back, as long as you subscribe |
| Cost | Per project. Logo projects start at $99, all inclusive | Flat monthly rate from $449, no contracts |
| Timeline | A guaranteed 10 day entry window, and you can award any time | Same entry window per project, run one after another |
| Choice of options | Compare many directions before you pick a winner | Every project runs the same way, with upgrades included |
| Support | Standard support, with free extensions on Gold and up | Dedicated project manager and phone support |
| Guarantee | Money back guarantee if the work is not right | 14 day money back guarantee, cancel any time |
How it works, answered
How does a design contest work?
You write one brief describing the design or naming work you need and set a budget, which becomes the prize for the winning creative. Professional creatives from around the world submit original concepts made for your brief. You review entries, request revisions, then award the one you want. Full commercial rights and source files transfer to you when you award a winner.
How long does it take?
A standard contest has a guaranteed 10 day submission window, during which entries arrive and you can request changes. You can award as soon as the right concept arrives, on any project, so a contest can finish sooner. Once a contest ends you can extend it for a small fee per extra day, and extensions are free on Gold and Custom tiers and on Hatchwise Unlimited. If you need work faster, the 48 Hour Rush add-on returns entries in 48 hours.
What do I get when I award?
You get full commercial rights to the winning entry plus the source and production files, so you can trademark, print and publish the work without any further licence. The winning creative is paid the contest prize, with payouts issued on the 1st and 14th of each month via PayPal.
What if I don't like any of the concepts?
Every contest is backed by our money back guarantee. If you do not receive at least the number of entries that come with your package, you can request a full refund within 14 days of your contest submission period ending, once the contest has run its full length with no winner awarded. You can also extend a contest for a small fee per extra day, free on Gold and Custom tiers and on Hatchwise Unlimited, to see more entries before deciding. Full terms are on the guarantee page.
Can I award a winner before a standard contest ends?
Yes. You can award a winner at any time while the contest is active, including before the 10 day window ends, and awarding simply ends the contest. The 10 day run is the guaranteed window for entries and the threshold for a money back guarantee request, not a limit on when you may award.
How many winning entries do I get per contest?
One completed entry per contest, from the creative you award. If you want other entries you did not award, the submitting creative may offer them to you afterward as an additional design; the rest remain the property of the creatives who submitted them.
Can I provide reference images with my brief?
Yes. When you fill out your brief, or at any point while your contest is live, you can attach reference images for creatives to use as a starting point.
What kind of design or naming work can I run as a contest?
Any graphic design or naming project: logos and brand identity, website and landing page design, business cards and stationery, brochures and banner ads, apparel graphics, packaging, icons, illustration and custom graphic design, plus company and product naming, taglines and slogans. Hatchwise does not cover video, copywriting, motion or web development.
Launch a contest in five minutes, see results in hours
Logo projects start at $99, all inclusive, and every contest is backed by our money back guarantee.