Ask HN: Where to find contract designers?
With Sortfolio dying any day now, what other sites do you recommend to find contract designers?
I'm already aware of Dribbble and Forrst.
I'm already aware of Dribbble and Forrst.
Remember that there are many kinds of design, so it's helpful to think about what core value you're looking for. Do you want something that's based on an existing corporate identity, or is this something built from scratch? Will you supply excellent copy, or will the designer have to write it (or bring in a writer)? Is this more about "how it works" or making some existing functionality pretty? These are just a few questions to think about; the more "thinking" work you do in advance, the better the results. (If you find a designer who can help you think through all these topics in detail, then you'll really be cooking with gas.)
Next, determine if you want to actually pay; or if you want to pay some pitifully small amount. For the latter, post your design spec on Craigslist. For the former, locate your local chapter of the AIGA and start networking.
You could choose the one you like best, and approach the designer for additional work.
I'm looking for great designers like those who advertise on Sortfolio, not just a "cheap" one, which seems to be whom 99designs is targeting.