Global online graphic design marketplace 99designs has signed a deal with Adobe that will provide designers with access to millions of royalty-free stock images through Adobe Stock.
The Melbourne-based business has an annual revenue of $US60 million from its online platform where companies or individuals post graphic design assignments for designers to pitch on.
“Bringing Adobe Stock into the 99designs platform alleviates a major pain point for designers who no longer have to guide customers through complexities regarding usage restrictions, ownership rights, file transfers and other issues that can be involved in finding and buying photos from other outside vendors,” says 99designs CEO Patrick Llewellyn.
"Our vision at 99designs is to be the most trusted platform for designers to find and do work. That means finding ways to help freelance designers focus on design and taking care of the rest - from facilitating payment to file management and feedback to inputs like image sourcing and ownership. This collaboration is a great step in that direction."
The company recently relocated its headquarters back to Melbourne after more than six years in the US to make preparations to list on the Australian Securities Exchange, according to a report in The Australian Financial Review.
In April 2011, Silicon Valley heavyweight Accel Partners invested $US35 million in 99designs, before investing further in its Series B raise in 2015. It was this investment which drove the company to establish a US headquarters, with it now having 50 staff in Oakland, 50 staff in Melbourne and about 20 in Berlin.
The 10-year-old company describes itself as the world's largest online graphic design marketplace.
99designs began with a group of designers who were competing together to create the best designs. In 2008, that friendly competition grew into a design marketplace that has now become a world leader in online graphic design. 99designs provides designers around the world with an opportunity to access customers globally, to earn income and to build their portfolios.