Content ModerationVerified
Reviewed and published by trentmaziarz, May 11, 2026. Discovered and drafted by our automated research pipeline.
99designs uses a built-in declaration mechanism in its contest submission workflow that requires designers to disclose whether they used generative AI tools, and the platform enforces a categorical ban on AI-generated content in logo, illustration, and button/icon design contests. This is a platform-level policy control rather than an automated AI detection system.
Details
When submitting a contest entry, designers are prompted to declare whether generative AI was used and, if so, which tool. In categories where AI is banned (logo, illustration, button and icon design), no AI-assisted submissions are permitted under any circumstances. 99designs' own support documentation states that the platform has 'systems in place to catch designs that do not follow our guidelines,' though the exact technical nature of these systems — whether AI-assisted or manual — is not confirmed in publicly available sources. The disclosure requirement is a workflow enforcement mechanism embedded in the submission process.
Products affected
99designs Design Contests
Sources & Evidence
Community Report
Cite this record
Trace Foundation. (2026). 99designs: 99designs uses a built-in declaration mechanism in its contest submission workflow that requires designers to disclose whether they used generative AI tools, and the platform enforces a categorical ban on AI-generated content in logo, illustration, and button/icon design contests. This is a platform-level policy control rather than an automated AI detection system (data as of 2026-05-11) [Data set record]. AI Trace. https://www.aitrace.org/r/practice/57fd06ae-bea2-4fbb-bff4-0f2123f47ff7. Accessed October 5, 2026.
- Stable link
- https://www.aitrace.org/r/practice/57fd06ae-bea2-4fbb-bff4-0f2123f47ff7
- Data as of
- May 11, 2026
- Last verified
- Not recorded
Other practices by 99designs
Other99designs by Vista announced findings from a 2024 survey of over 10,000 freelance designers across 135 countries examining attitudes toward and adoption of generative AI tools in the design industry. The survey is a research and communications activity, not a deployed AI system.Creative Gen99designs offers clients the option to allow freelance designers to use third-party generative AI tools when submitting designs in eligible contest categories, with disclosure required from designers at submission. Clients choose whether to permit AI-assisted work when writing their contest brief, and generative AI is banned outright in certain categories such as logo, illustration, and button and icon design.
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