It’s been a while since we connected with one of 99designs by Vista’s most prolific (and dare we say legendary) logo designers, artsigma. Much has changed since we spoke seven years ago, but there are a few things that remain the same. For example, artsigma still works exclusively for 99designs. He has some impressive statistics.
artsigma is the handle of Brazil-based creative Eduardo Lessa Venancio, and he’s been designing on the platform for over a decade. In that time he’s completed nearly 350 1-to-1 projects with 97 repeat clients and won 587 contests. That’s a lot of branding! It also means that he’s had a lot of experience winning contests, and has been able to get follow-on jobs: a perfect situation for a freelance creative.
In this long overdue update, we dive into Eduardo’s endless creativity, his advice for getting the client and his tips for staying inspired.
Hey, Eduardo! You’ve been with 99designs for 10 years! How does it feel to be 10 years old?
It hasn’t always been easy, but my achievements have shown me that I can improve each day. 2022 was very good to me and I’ve been able to focus exclusively on 1-to-1 projects these days.
I will say since I started working on 99designs, I’ve gotten better at seeing the projects that fit my profile and filtering them to better manage my time. I’ve won many projects working on 99designs, and these achievements are helping my wife and I make our dreams come true.
You’ve been designing for over 15 years and you always seem to keep up with what’s fresh. How do you ensure that your work is unique?
In all the years that I’ve been working with logos, I’ve seen a lot of similar designs in contests. I take note of them and try to make my designs unique.
What’s your best tip for participating in design contests?
Focusing on the contest brief instead of relying on highly-rated entries from other designers is a great way to get a client’s attention.
It’s worth focusing on projects that match your skills. Take risks, and don’t give up on your ideas.
It’s also worth focusing on projects that match your skills or that you can relate to in order to deliver your best work to clients. Take risks, and don’t give up on your ideas. You should continue to participate and improve your skills as a designer if you enjoy it and believe in yourself. My favorite project was a logo I created in a contest Uncommon Education. Even though I didn’t win the contest, I liked it a lot!
Where do you go for inspiration when you’re stuck?
Due to the time I dedicate to projects, I don’t have time to read many [design] books. I’ve found things like Instagram and Behance helpful for inspiration.
I like Guilherme Vissotto‘s visual identity projects, they inspire me a lot! A designer that’s simple and to the point is George Bokhua. And James Martin’s ReelsAlthough short, they have a great deal of content that is relevant for designers.
In the beginning, I tried to create logos with abstract elements, animals and letters to appeal to different industries. However I’ve moved away from these. The designs were of high quality, and customers were seeking a price that was lower than mine.
I believe most customers want a new, custom logo for their company, so it’s hard to sell ready-made logos to them. I think that there are certain customers who want to pay lower prices for these logos.
What’s one thing that motivates you right now?
My wife is my inspiration and motivation to continue. She inspires me daily. We want to visit and travel so many places. Today, 99designs allows us to travel and work on projects at the same time.
It’s an honor to be part of this story and to be able to help so many customers around the world.
In the 10 years I’ve worked on the platform I never imagined achieving so much! It’s an honor to be part of this story and to be able to help so many customers around the world. You are amazing for making me feel better each day.
