From competition winner to permanent ban — without reliable proof
I am writing this review with reluctance, but also with concern for other designers considering this platform.
After winning a design competition on DesignOnClick, my account was permanently suspended based on an allegation that my work was AI-generated. This conclusion was reached solely through automated AI-detection tools, despite the fact that I provided a photograph of the original hand-drawn pencil sketch that clearly matches the final design.
No generative AI was used. Nevertheless, the platform dismissed physical evidence and labeled my explanation as “deception,” without offering a transparent review process or meaningful human reconsideration.
The consequences of this decision go beyond reputation. Due to the immediate suspension, I lost access to my account and files, making it impossible to deliver source files to a client for another competition I had won, and preventing me from receiving payment for completed and accepted work.
AI-detection tools are widely documented to produce false positives, particularly with illustrations and photographs of drawings. Relying on such tools as definitive proof, while ignoring process-based evidence, creates a serious risk for professional designers using this platform.
This experience raises important questions about due process, transparency, and financial security for creatives. I would strongly encourage designers to consider these risks carefully before participating in competitions where outcomes and payments can be revoked without reliable verification.