“While there is some restriction in graphic design, there are also ways for personal expression to shine through.”

Why should personal expression shine through? A client who hires a designer to design a report conveying factual information and data is not interested in anyone’s personal expression. They are paying for clarity, organization, and communication of information. Different techniques and styles of aesthetics can be utilized to set a tone, enhance understanding, etc., but that type of design project has no place for personal expression.

By the way, “some restriction” is putting it mildly. Graphic design is ALL about parameters and how to creatively communicate the client’s message within them.

I tried some “contest” there….and i found out that there are just a very few real contests. Most of them are “contests” held by other designers who want a thousands ideas by “offering” let’s say 1000 bucks. In fact here is what happens, short ! They set a price of 1000, prepay it and “guarantee” it ! After they gather all the ideas, the Contest holders, make a fake account and bid on their own project and you got it, they win……..so they take back their money, and they get away with 1000 ideas for the fee of 99designs, which is about 36 dollars for a contest held ! So, the website, 99designs makes money, the contest holder steal the work of a few hundred people and then leave. All those “designers” are left with NOTHING. NO ONE WILL WIN ! And that’s why 99designs.com sucks big time. Is a place where freelancers are fooled big time, they lose their time, their ideas and dignity.
So if you are a designer or want to be one, stay away of places like 99designs.com cause you will never win anything there, you only will lose your time to make some folks richer for free.

-Si