Graphic Design Agreement

What is a Graphic Design Agreement?

A graphic design agreement is a legally binding contract between a client and a graphic designer that outlines terms and conditions for the provision of design services. The document template focuses on defining the following key components:

• details of the parties;
• scope of design services;
• description of final deliverables;
• division of intellectual property rights;
• termination and confidentiality clauses.

A well-drafted graphic design contract agreement is an essential tool for freelance designers, design agencies, and businesses hiring creative professionals. It helps to establish clear rules for cooperation and prevents misunderstanding between the parties.

A graphic design agreement contract sample is commonly used for the following projects:

• design of a logo or brand strategies for startups or businesses;
• design of marketing printable materials (e.g., flyers, brochures);
• UI/UX design for software, etc.

A graphic design agreement is a special type of services contract. Under a services agreement, a client hires a service provider to provide certain services, while the client has to pay for the services rendered.

The parties involved in a graphic design agreement are the service provider or designer and the client. The designer is usually a design agency, freelancer, or independent contractor who has the necessary skills and qualifications to provide services. The client could be a person or a business that needs graphic design services.

How to Draft a Graphic Design Agreement Template?

A well-drafted contract should be clear, specific, and legally sound. Below we prepared a checkbox of the most essential clauses every graphic design agreement template should include:

Details of the Parties

The text of a graphic design agreement should include detailed information about the client and the designer. Parties have to indicate their full names, addresses, and contact details like email and phone number.

Both parties to this agreement should sign it. Without either party’s signature, a template cannot become a legally valid contract.

Scope of design services

Every graphic design agreement template should outline the exact list of services the designer has to provide. The parties have to consider the following:

• type of work to be done—logo design, brand identity, print materials, etc.;
• format in which work should be delivered to the client—e.g., PDF, vector;
• platform used for the design—Canva, Figma, Adobe;
• number of free revisions.

Division of Intellectual Property Rights

In the course of provision of design services, parties create intellectual property rights (the “IP rights”). Therefore, a solid graphic design contract agreement shall define who will be the owner of those rights.

As a common rule, all the IP rights for work performed under a graphic design agreement should belong to the client. This arrangement is also known as a work-for-hire. According to that model, a client becomes a sole and exclusive owner of all IP rights upon making the full payment.

It is also possible that the parties may agree to transfer the IP rights to the designer instead. In that case, a graphic design contract agreement should grant the client a free unlimited license to use such a design.

Payment Terms

Every graphic design agreement sample should contain a detailed description of payment terms. In other words, a contract should clarify when, in which amount, and how the payments are made between the parties. Let’s break down the payment terms as follows:

• How much? The graphic design template can include a fee per project, hourly rate, daily rate, weekly rate, or even an annual rate.
• When? The contract should define when the designer sends their invoice, as well as when the client shall pay for the services.
• How? A good template should also list all the acceptable payment methods the client can use to make a payment (e.g., bank transfer, cash).

Some parties wish to include additional financial leverages inside a graphic design agreement sample. Amongst them are the late fees. A late fee is a fixed percentage from a due amount that applies to a client for not making payments on time. The amount of a late fee is not defined by federal or state laws. Therefore, it is up to the parties to set up their own late fee rate, which usually varies between 1% and 3% of the due sum.

Termination

Termination of a graphic designer contract agreement largely depends on how the services are provided—for an indefinite period of time or until a specific deadline.

If the designer provides services on an ongoing basis, then the contract can be terminated anytime. To terminate the contract, one party shall deliver a prior written termination notice to another party. The notice period can vary from a few days to several weeks. Usually the notice period depends on the duration of existing relations between the parties and the complexity of a project.

If the designer provides services for a specific period of time, the termination of a contract prior to the deadline is possible in certain circumstances. Those circumstances may include a material breach of a contract, failure to make a payment, or inability to follow the schedule.

How to customize a graphic design agreement template at FasterDraft?

In order to personalize a graphic design agreement template for your particular situation, follow a few easy steps below:

1. Press the button “Create Document.”
2. Answer simple questions in the questionnaire.
3. Select a document’s format—graphic design contract PDF or Word.
4. Make a payment.
5. Download a customized document.