It might be an enviable problem to have, but it's a problem nonetheless: What do you do if your design contest comes back with more than one design you absolutely love?

With more than 490,000 talented designers on call, this is not an unusual conundrum among DesignCrowd clients, giving us cause to put together a few tips on how to make a choice when there are no bad options.

Making a correct call on something as important as a company logo or web design should not be done on a whim, so make sure you consider doing any or all of the below before making the final decision, to avoid future regrets.

Ask yourself some important questions

You may aesthetically love several designs, but consider each very carefully against the following questions:

• Does this design represent your company's unique values and vision?
• How does this design stack up against the competition – is it so similar it won't differentiate, or so different it might not read as part of the market?
• Will this design appeal to your target demographic?
• Will this design work in different contexts, such as online or offline, scaled to a small device screen or a billboard campaign, on a coffee cup or a t-shirt, in color or black and white?

Make a table listing all the functions your design will fulfil, and then evaluate all your top choices against these. Often enough, you'll suddenly see a clear front runner emerge.

Let your customers choose

Since you're already crowdsourcing your design, why not crowdsource your decision as well? This option is particularly great if you're an established business with a passionate customer base, or are designing something fun like a t-shirt or new product packaging.

Letting your customers choose can make them feel a closer association with your business. The selection process can even be combined with a clever marketing campaign or a competition with prizes for those who participate.

Of course, this option is less attractive if you're looking for a logo or other marketing collateral for a company that thus far only lives inside your head or your garage. But never fear, there's always the next option for you...

Consult someone you trust

It's just logical. If you can't make up your mind, you ask someone else for input.

Of course, who you ask really matters here. First instinct usually tells us to go to someone very close, like a spouse, parent or close friend. And they're great options in many ways – they'll know you very well and will be able to tell you which design they see representing your personality and values best.

But try to think beyond your personal bubble here. There are two people whose input would be particularly valuable: a business mentor, or an expert designer.

Someone who has achieved success in your industry will be able to look at your designs from an insider's perspective, and tell you what they believe will work best to achieve your goals or reach your audiences. A designer will be able to tell you which designs stand out from a technical standpoint and what's on trend, which can often be valuable insights into how effective your choice will be.

Flip a coin

In the immortal words of Arnold "the brain" Rothstein: "Flip a coin. When it's in the air, you'll know which side you're hoping for."

Okay, so the quote actually is from Michael Stuhlbarg playing Rothstein in Boardwalk Empire, but the point still stands. With all things being equal in the areas of suitability for your needs, and seeking feedback from others is either not possible or has yielded mixed results, it's time to go with your gut. Putting yourself on the spot through something like a coin flip can often reveal a hidden preference you couldn't identify without the external pressure.

Having too many favorite designs is certainly better than having none at all, but it can still throw a spanner in the works when trying to make good decisions.

Using some of these tips might help you come to a final choice a little easier. If not, rejoice that there are no bad decisions left to be made, and give someone else the final call!

Want More?

You'll make a lot of design choices along your way to a successful business. Let us help you with some of them!

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Written by Jane Murray on Tuesday, December 8, 2015

Jane Murray is a freelance copywriter based in Sydney. Apart from writing up a storm for the DesignCrowd blog on anything from logo design to Michael Jackson's shoes, she enjoys reading literary science fiction and hanging out with most animals except wasps. Get in touch via LinkedIn.