If you launch a tech company, your skillset is likely in tech. If you launch a retail company, your skillset is likely in retail. If you launch a service company, your skillset is likely in the service that you offer. You get the drift.
What your skillset likely isn’t in though, is design. And when it comes to any design elements of your company, you may feel way out of your element.
There’s good news though: you don’t have to navigate the design world alone. There are companies to help with all your design needs and these companies will take the design stress away so you can focus on where your business needs you the most.
Many of these businesses have decided to go down a crowdsourcing design route to provide their customers with the greatest number of quality options. Two of these many platforms are ZillionDesigns and Hatchwise and below, you’ll find a comprehensive overview of what each company offers, that way you don’t have to spend your time conducting an extensive Google search.
When Hatchwise started in 2008 it started as a business with a mission to fill a void that was missing in the design service world. They’ve kept to that mission and since 2008, they have created over one million designs! What has kept Hatchwise growing is that they are constantly evolving to respond to the needs of their customers. That means that if you need a logo, web, graphic, product, or business card design, or if you need naming or different design service, Hatchwise has you covered. They partner with thousands of talented creatives across not only the country but also the world, to ensure that when you launch a design contest, you’re able to review multiple options that meet your vision before you select your final, chosen design.
While ZillionDesigns got a later start than Hatchwise, they have still been able to provide designs for over 100,000 customers. ZillionDesigns aims to be a platform that can help low-budget businesses, who are just starting, have access to the design resources that they need to launch their brand, at an affordable price. They are also a crowdsourcing platform that lets you work with as many designers as you want, at the same time, and just like Hatchwise, once you start the project, you’ll see designs from all over the world for you to choose from. While they are most known for logo design, they do offer other design services which you can choose to either bundle with other contests or purchase as a separate contest.
Lights, camera, action!
1. How it Works
How a crowdsourcing platform works is that once you start a contest, you’ll receive multiple designs that you can choose a final design from. What is appealing about this format is that you can get different perspectives from creatives all over the world!
Once you set a price and start a contest, you’ll begin seeing designs come through and at the end of your contest duration (which you set!), you’ll award a winner.
As a new business, you likely want to spend your money on things besides a design team. That’s why many businesses that opt for this format, find that it is the perfect solution for their design needs, at an affordable price-point!
Hatchwise has a simple four-step process outlined below.
Step 1) Select the contest type that you want to run. You’ll notice that pricing will vary based on your selection, but Hatchwise wants its service to be affordable no matter what. That’s why their logo design contests always start at the low price point of $89.
Step 2) Set your price by selecting any upgrades you want to add on and by determining how much you want to spend on your designs. While Hatchwise does offer a wide array of upgrades, none of them are required. Some of them may help to ensure that you get the quickest design results in the shortest amount of time though!
Step 3) Wait. This is your time to kick your feet up and relax as you wait for your designs to come in. As they start to be submitted, you’ll notice that you’ll see multiple unique and creative designs submitted for your review. Since Hatchwise promotes ongoing feedback with the designers be sure to tell your designer if you like what you see, or if you want to suggest an improvement!
Step 4) Choose your winner once the contest concludes. Once you do this, you’ll receive your final artwork files for you to use within hours!
As soon as you start your contest, you’ll notice that you’ll begin to receive designs within 24 hours, no matter the contest length that you set. While it can be tempting to fall in love with some of the first designs that you see, most of Hatchwise’s contests run for 10 days to ensure that designers can give you the absolute best designs possible (but if you need a design faster, there is always an option for a 48-hour rush contest)!
As a new ZillionDesigns client, you’ll notice that the process is like Hatchwise.
Step 1) You’ll first select the type of logo design contest you want to run.
Step 2) Set your prize amount.
Step 3) Fill out the creative brief.
Step 4) Begin interreacting with designers
Step 5) Finalize your winning design and receive the final files.
ZillionDesigns packages are priced on the design need that you have, and most of their contests run for 7-10 days (although you’ll start to receive designs in 24 hours). Unlike Hatchwise, their logo design contests start at $199. ZillionDesign’s process is user-friendly though so all it takes is a few clicks to get you the designs that you want.
2. What You Get
Whatever contest format you run, as soon as you select the winner, you’ll receive the final artwork files that you can easily download. With these files, you’ll gain the rights to the design and you’ll be able to edit them down the road as your business evolves!
No matter what your business needs, Hatchwise aims to make sure that you’re able to find the creative solution that you are looking for. With their simple approach and community of thousands of trusted creative designers, users find the process to be easy, affordable, and user-friendly. Hatchwise also has a client-focused approach so as a client you’ll always receive the attention and care that you’re looking for. If you ever need a decision faster, you can also pay an additional cost to receive designs in just 48 hours!
What sets Hatchwise apart is that when you sign up, no matter the package you select, you’ll have access to a dedicated, personalized support staff contact who is always ready to step in and answer any questions at no extra cost. Beyond this, you’ll never find any hidden fees. The number of design concept entries you receive is dependent on the package you select, but you’ll often receive dozens of designs regardless. As a client, you can feel confident knowing that every design will be a high-quality, one-of-a-kind submission that is a direct response to your brief. During the duration of your contest, the designers will work with you to tailor their designs even further by making edits to their design or by providing you with a new submission!
ZillionDesigns has a package approach when it comes to their contests, so what you get is based on the package you select. This does come at an extra cost because the more that you want, the more it will cost you. For instance, if you put a higher prize amount, you’ll receive more designs. For their lowest logo design package ($199) you’ll begin to receive designs in 24 hours, but on average you’ll typically only receive about 30 design drafts. At the end of your contest, you’ll select a winner and receive your final files. If you want to expedite a contest you have the option to only run it for 3-6 days but at an extra cost.
3. What It Costs
ZillionDesigns prices start at $199 for their cheapest logo design contest. If you want to add on other services, that will increase the price. For instance, if you want a logo design, stationery design, and web design that will start at $974. Then when you arrive at the payment page, you’ll see that ZillionDesigns charges a 20% listing and prize handling fee. This fee can add up fast! While they do offer a money-back guarantee, this guarantee does not include that 20% charge or any upgrades you opt-in for. And if you receive 30 or more designs, they will retain an additional $50. That will all be money you won’t get back.
On the contrary, Hatchwise contests start at $89, and even at that affordable price point, you are guaranteed to have a minimum of 30 designs submitted to your contest from at least 5 creatives from around the world! Unlike ZillionDesigns, this doesn’t come at an extra cost.
Hatchwise also offers a money-back guarantee, but with fewer terms. If you don’t receive your guaranteed number of entries and don’t choose a winner, you can submit for a full refund for your payment, with no questions asked! This applies to all their contests and since they have no hidden costs, you won’t have to worry about them keeping 20%, or more, of your payment.
Hatchwise | ZillionDesigns | |
|---|---|---|
Lowest priced logo package: | $89 | $199 |
Minimum number of entries | 30+ | 50+ |
Minimum number of creatives: | 5+ | 20+ |
Money Back Guarantee: | Yes | Yes |
The Final Verdict
If you Google “crowdsourcing design platforms,” you’ll see numerous results, two of which being ZillionDesigns and Hatchwise. But with these two, it seems like Hatchwise is the better option.
While ZillionDesign caters to new businesses, Hatchwise has better prices, a quicker “rush” turnaround time if ever needed, more design offerings, and no hidden fees. Both have a similar scope of projects and partner with creative talent from all over the world but with ZillionDesigns, you have to spend more, to get more. This isn’t realistic for many businesses just starting! And the more that you do spend, the higher the processing fee will be that you won’t get back if you don’t like the designs!
ZillionDesigns is a newer platform and what is appealing with them is that you can bundle different design services together for a contest and set rate. But with Hatchwise, you’re getting more than just a design. With Hatchwise you’ll get a design team, free support, and all the resources that you need. If that’s what you’re in search of, then Hatchwise is right for you.
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30+ Custom Logo Designs | 70+ Custom Logo Designs | 130+ Custom Logo Designs | Unlimited Custom Logo Designs |
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