Design By Humans Alternatives: Exploring Similar Creative Marketplaces

Design By Humans Alternatives: The Ultimate Guide for Artists & Shoppers

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For years, Design By Humans was a cornerstone of the online creative community, a vibrant marketplace where independent artists could share their work on high-quality apparel and accessories. It was a place for creators to connect with fans and for shoppers to find unique, artist-driven designs. However, the landscape of print-on-demand has evolved, and many artists and fans are now asking, "what happened to design by humans?" and seeking the best alternatives.

Whether you’re an artist looking for a new platform to sell your work or a shopper searching for that perfect graphic tee, this guide is for you. We’ll explore the current state of design by humans, dive into the top alternative platforms, and help you find your new go-to marketplace for creative goods.

Table of Contents

A Quick Look Back: What Was Design By Humans?

Before we explore the alternatives, it’s important to understand the platform’s legacy. So, what is design by humans? It began as a community-centric t-shirt design competition and evolved into a major design by humans print on demand marketplace. The core idea was simple and powerful: feature incredible art designed by humans from around the globe on premium apparel.

Many users still ask, is design by humans good? Historically, it was praised for its curated designs and the reputable design by humans quality. Discussions on forums under topics like design by humans reddit often highlighted the solid print and material standards. The platform operated by allowing artists to upload their work, and when a customer made a purchase, the company would handle the printing, shipping, and customer service, paying the artist a royalty for each sale. This straightforward model, which answered the question of how does design by humans work, empowered thousands of creators. Key business details people often searched for, like who owns design by humans and where is design by humans located, pointed to its origins in California.

Why Are People Searching for a Design By Humans Alternative?

The online conversation has shifted in recent years, with many users in the original community asking, designby humans closed? The short answer is no, but it underwent a significant transformation. In 2019, Design By Humans was acquired by Spencer’s and Spirit Halloween. Following this change, some long-time artists and customers felt the site’s focus and community vibe shifted, prompting the search for a new home.

While you can still find designs by humans on their site, the change led many to question why did design by humans close in its original, community-curated form. This evolution is the primary driver behind the growing demand for platforms that offer a similar spirit of independent artistry and community engagement.

The Top Print-on-Demand (POD) Alternatives to Design By Humans

If you’re looking for a new marketplace, you’re in luck. There are numerous fantastic platforms, each with its own strengths. Here are some of the best redbubble alternatives and threadless alternatives available today.

1. Redbubble

When people ask, what is similar to redbubble, the answer is a vast ecosystem of artist marketplaces. Redbubble is arguably the most well-known platform and often considered the best redbubble alternative for those leaving other sites. It boasts a massive global audience and an enormous range of products, from apparel and stickers to home decor and phone cases. For artists, this means incredible reach. For shoppers, it means endless variety.

  • Pros: Huge customer base, extensive product catalog, non-exclusive rights, and a simple upload process. It’s one of the top print on demand websites like redbubble.
  • Cons: The marketplace is very saturated, making it harder for new artists to get discovered.
  • Best for: Artists wanting maximum exposure and shoppers looking for the widest possible selection of designs and products. It’s a leader among redbubble similar sites.

2. Threadless

As one of the original online art communities, Threadless is a classic choice. It started with a t-shirt design competition model, similar to early Design By Humans, and has a strong, dedicated following. It’s one of the most frequently mentioned sites like threadless.

  • Pros: Strong community focus, curated design challenges, and high-quality printing. They also offer an "Artist Shops" feature, giving creators a customizable storefront.
  • Cons: The curated nature can mean not every design gets featured, though Artist Shops bypass this.
  • Best for: Artists who enjoy a community feel and design competitions, and shoppers who value curated, award-winning art. If you’re seeking alternatives to threadless, you’ll find many options, but Threadless itself remains a top contender.

3. Society6

If you’re looking for sites like redbubble and society6, you’ve likely noticed that Society6 excels in home decor and lifestyle products. While they offer apparel, their strengths lie in art prints, furniture, rugs, and bedding. This makes it a fantastic design by humans alternative for artists whose work translates well to interior design.

  • Pros: Unmatched range of high-quality home goods, strong brand recognition in the decor space, and a visually appealing layout. Many consider it a top red bubble alternative.
  • Cons: Artist margins are generally lower on some products compared to other platforms.
  • Best for: Artists specializing in patterns, illustrations, and fine art, and shoppers looking to decorate their homes with unique pieces. There are many sites like society6 and redbubble, but this platform truly owns the art-for-your-home niche.

4. TeePublic

TeePublic, which is owned by Redbubble, has a similar operational model but a distinct feel. It’s known for its focus on t-shirts and pop culture-inspired designs. They frequently run sales, which can be a huge draw for customers looking for other websites like redbubble.

  • Pros: Simple for artists to use, strong focus on apparel, and frequent sitewide sales that drive traffic. It’s one of the best platforms like redbubble.
  • Cons: Fixed royalty rates are lower than what you can set on Redbubble, especially during sales.
  • Best for: Artists with a knack for timely, pop-culture, or humorous designs. It’s an excellent alternative redbubble for those focused on apparel.

5. Zazzle

If you’re looking for any site like designbyhumans but with a heavy emphasis on customization, Zazzle is your answer. It not only allows artists to sell their designs on products but also lets customers personalize those products with names, dates, and photos.

  • Pros: Massive product variety, powerful customization tools for customers, and flexible royalty settings for artists.
  • Cons: The interface can be complex for both artists and shoppers due to the high degree of customization.
  • Best for: Graphic designers, illustrators, and artists who create customizable templates for items like invitations, business cards, and personalized gifts.

Searching for the perfect platform can be a journey, and community feedback is invaluable. You’ll find extensive discussions comparing these options in threads like redbubble alternatives reddit and design by humans alternative reddit. These conversations often provide the best insights into which of the many similar sites to redbubble will be the right fit for you. Whether you’re looking for sites similar to threadless or the very best redbubble alternatives, these five are the perfect place to start.

Beyond Marketplaces: Pinterest Alternatives for Artists

For many creators, a marketplace is just one part of the equation. Building a brand and a following is equally important. This is where discovery platforms come in. While Pinterest is popular, many are seeking pinterest alternatives for artists that are more portfolio-focused.

  • Behance: Owned by Adobe, Behance is a professional online portfolio site where creatives can showcase their work to a global audience and find job opportunities. It’s one of the premier sites like pinterest for art.
  • Dribbble: Primarily for graphic designers, Dribbble is a community for showcasing user-made artwork. It operates as a self-promotion and networking platform for digital designers. You’ll often see it recommended in pinterest alternatives for artists reddit threads.
  • ArtStation: The go-to platform for game, film, and entertainment artists. It’s a dedicated space to host portfolios, find work, and connect with peers. It’s a top choice among apps like pinterest for art for professional concept artists and illustrators.
  • Instagram: While mainstream, it remains one of the most powerful visual platforms for artists to share their work, connect with fans directly, and drive traffic to their shops.

Exploring pinterest alternatives for art can help you build a community around your brand, which is a crucial step for success on any of the redbubble alternatives for artists we’ve discussed. There are many apps similar to redbubble for selling, but these platforms are for showing.

How to Score Deals on Artist-Designed Merch

For shoppers, part of the fun is finding a great deal. If you’re still a fan of the original designedbyhumans site, you might be looking for a design by humans coupon or active design by humans promo codes. The best way to find a design by humans discount code is to check their website directly, especially around holidays, and sign up for their newsletter.

This strategy applies to the alternatives as well. Most platforms offer discounts for first-time buyers or have mailing lists that announce sales. If you’re searching for design by humans deals or a specific design by humans coupon code, applying the same search tactics to Redbubble, TeePublic, and others will often yield great results. Keep an eye out for Black Friday, seasonal sales, and back-to-school promotions to maximize your design by humans savings on unique design by humans shirts and design by humans t shirts. Don’t forget to check for design by humans coupons before you complete any purchase.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened to Design By Humans?
Design By Humans was acquired by Spencer’s and Spirit Halloween in 2019. While the website is still active, this acquisition led to significant changes in its operations and community focus, prompting many of its original artists and customers to seek out alternative platforms.

Is Design By Humans legit?
Yes, Design By Humans is a legitimate company that has been operating for many years. It has a long history of paying its artists and delivering products to customers. User discussions on forums like is design by humans legit reddit and questions about whether is designbyhumans com legit generally affirm its legitimacy, though some opinions on its current direction vary.

What is the best Redbubble alternative?
The best alternative depends on your needs. For a similar massive marketplace, TeePublic is a strong contender. For a focus on home decor and art prints, Society6 is unparalleled. For a more community-driven and curated experience, Threadless is an excellent choice. Many consider these the what are alternatives to redbubble that are worth exploring.

How is the Design By Humans shirt quality?
Historically, design by humans shirt quality was considered one of its main strengths, with the platform often praised for using premium fabrics and durable prints. While individual experiences may vary, its reputation for quality was a key part of its brand identity for many years.

Are there any sites like Threadless and Redbubble?
Absolutely. The print-on-demand market is full of great options. TeePublic, Society6, Zazzle, and INPRNT are all popular platforms that allow independent artists to sell their work on a variety of products, each offering a unique product focus and community environment.