[alanfalcon]

For a designer, it's generally a lousy deal. The upside for the iOS apps or a startup is a lot better than the $300 for winning a 99Designs contest. Yes, you can build a relationship with the contest holder, but you're starting in the basement and it's unlikely you'll make any actual money from that relationship.

That said, it can be good practice for those who need it (and the quality of available designs typically reflects this).

[mikx]

I've watched my friends work hard in basement for months when they were forming a band. All they got from that work was the chance to play for tips at a local bar.

There are a lot of designers who are passionate and have amazing potential, but no access any markets.

It can take months to build an app and startups can take a lifetime to build into a company.

The upside to all spec work is pretty bleak everywhere, but we do it out of passion and our audacity.

If it is too lousy of a deal, then 99design wouldn't even exist or be viable. There would be no startups, everyone would work at major established companies and Android and iOS would be terribly boring devices with only apps made by the platform manufacturers.