THE RIGHT DOCUMENT FOR THE JOB
When to use a graphic design contract
Use it for logos, brand systems, packaging, print pieces, presentations, advertisements, or campaign graphics commissioned from a designer.
BEFORE YOU START
What to have ready
- Client and designer contacts, project purpose, audience, channels, and key dates
- Deliverables, dimensions, formats, concept rounds, revision rounds, and exclusions
- Fee, deposit, milestone payments, expenses, rush work, and final-payment trigger
- Client approvals, supplied materials, fonts, stock assets, and accessibility requirements
- Use or license rights, portfolio permission, source-file delivery, cancellation, and archiving
Turn the brief into scope
Name each deliverable and its intended channel, size, format, copy responsibility, and deadline. Define what counts as a revision and what becomes new scope, such as a new concept, audience, language, or production format.
Track approvals and assets
Set one client decision-maker and a response window for each milestone. Identify who supplies final copy, logos, product claims, translations, and accessible versions. Record stock, font, and third-party licenses rather than assuming the client can use everything everywhere.
Separate rights from payment
State when the client receives the agreed license or rights and whether editable source files are included. Portfolio use should be separately considered. Commercial branding, claims, and intellectual-property terms can need local professional review.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Promising unlimited revisions without defining a decision or fee boundary
- Delivering final artwork before approved copy, dimensions, or third-party licenses are settled
- Assuming payment alone transfers every source file, font, stock image, or usage right
A FEW THINGS WORTH KNOWING
Graphic Design Contract questions, answered
How many concepts and revisions should be included?
Choose a number that matches the fee and project stage, then define what a round includes. Additional concepts or major direction changes should require written scope and price approval.
Who owns the working files?
Do not leave this implied. State whether the client receives editable files, a final-use license, or both, and identify any third-party components that remain restricted.
What if the client changes the copy late?
Pause the affected production, estimate schedule and layout impact, and approve a written change before doing substantial rework.
A draft is the beginning—not the final review.
Check names, figures, dates, and every obligation before you use or sign your document. For legal, employment, property, or financial matters, consult a qualified local professional when needed. This is an AI drafting tool, not an official government form or a guarantee of legal validity.