Free Logo Design Contests: 99designs

We live in a society where aesthetic appeal and design rules all. This is the first rule of marketing; it must be visually appealing. This is the first thing people see when they step into a store. This is one thing companies can't get wrong.
That's the principle, which 99designs, a host of hundreds of user-created design contests, runs on. Finally, you can put your $80.00 Adobe Photoshop to work at something productive.
99designs is the premier website for corporations, ranging from small businesses to multi-national institutions, to launch their design contests. Companies all across the globe are looking for web page designs, logo designs, icon designs, clothing designs, stationary designs, ad designs and other graphic works. You can have a little fun helping them by making such designs and earning thousands of dollars doing it.
And this isn't some scam either; 99designs offers legitimate contests that can earn you cash. The one thing you have to keep in mind though is that you'd better be good. That's your job but the site will take care of pretty much everything else for you.
To begin with, you can easily find a contest that's just right for you, sorting them by the date created, how much time is left to make a design, the number of entries and of course the amoutn of prize money. In addition, there is a search bar where you can filter contests by end date, prize amount and prize guarantee. To supplement, the competitions are all neatly categorized into various areas of design so it'll be hard not to find something you can do.
Moreover, if you're ever confused about something, 99designs maintains a comprehensive help section that covers pretty much everything you need to know about the site.

Naturally, with the design contests that you can enter, you can also launch your own contests. A nice new logo or web design can really put a spark into any company and paying a few hundred dollars for a professional-looking design is definitely worth it. If you don't believe me, check out some of the designs for other contests and you'll see what 99designs users are made of.
The process is quick and easy and within about a week, an average of 35 designs will be in for your judging. Merely, choose a contest type (e.g. t-shirt, logo, print etc.), write a description of what you want, decide on a prize and you'll be off and running.
With all these useful features, you're sure to find something you like at 99designs.

A Creative Community: Redbubble

As the internet expands, so does the demand for sharing of ideas. This is one of the things that is hard to find on the web but I have found an amazing site that allows users to share artwork, photography, clothing designs, calendar designs and even writing pieces.
Redbubble has created an innovative page that showcases the inner creativity of anybody and everybody who joins. Each of the compositions have a touch that conveys great sentiment and as you view others' things, you will really begin to pick up this concept.
But that isn't the only incentive, for art pieces, if people absolutely love one of your works, they can purchase it in the form of a greeting card, or wall art. But if you're looking for even more, enter one of the numerous contests that will award you with either Redbubble credits to spend on art and clothing or pure cash.
And of course a community isn't a community if it doesn't have groups to join or a very useful commenting system that lets people give you suggestions and complements regarding any of your pieces.
So if any of this interests you, (if it doesn't you might want to see your doctor) pay a visit to Redbubble.