Graphic Design Agreement: Definition, Terms, Example
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Quick Facts — Graphic Design Agreement Lawyers
- Avg cost to review a Graphic Design Agreement: $400.00
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What is a Graphic Design Agreement?
A graphic design agreement is a legal document designed to safeguard the interests of both parties involved. A contract defines the relationship between business owners and freelancers regarding project scope, deadlines, compensation, rights, and responsibilities.
A graphic design agreement also specifies what the designer needs to know what they are getting into before they agree on anything else or sign any paperwork. The best contracts clearly define deadlines, compensation, and payment schedule.
Common Sections in Graphic Design Agreements
Below is a list of common sections included in Graphic Design Agreements. These sections are linked to the below sample agreement for you to explore.
Graphic Design Agreement Sample
Exhibit 10.3
GRAPHIC DESIGN AGREEMENT
Client: Ei Gi Ci, GmbH
Primary Contact: Tomas Klimsen, CEO
Project: Brand Design, Promo Design
Delivery date: April 15, 2016
Designer: Spelt Group Corp.
Contract Price: $4,000 (Four thousand dollars)
This agreement is an offer by Designer to Client made on December 1, 2015 for Designer to provide creative Work as requested by Client.
1. Work
Client requests Designer to create brand design for the client (Logo Design, Business Card Design, Corporate Stationery Design, Company Brochure Design) and Promo Design (Posters, Advertising Materials, Banners, Promo Cards). Work includes only the final, deliverable art, and not any preliminary Work or sketches.
2. Delivery of the Work
Designer shall complete the Work by April 15, 2016 (“Delivery Date”). This Agreement can be prolonged on bilateral agreement.
3. Payment
In consideration of the Work to be performed by Designer, Client shall prepay to Designer 50% of the contract price ($2,000) not later then January 31, 2016. The Client shall pay the last 50% of the contract price ($2,000) not later then 10 days after Delivery Date (April 15, 2016). The Project pricing includes Designer’s fee only. Any and all outside costs including, but not limited to, equipment rental, photographer’s costs and fees, photography and/or artwork licenses, prototype production costs, talent fees, photobank’s pictures will be billed to Client. Every additioanal work shall be paid on an hourly basis - $50 for an hour.
4. Grant of Rights
Designer agrees to the perpetual license of the right to display and transmit Work to Client, excluding the right to authorship credit, modification, and resell, which is retained by Designer. Designer agrees that Work is produced with the intent it be unique and will not seek to resell or publish Work, except as noted below.
5. Designer’s Right to Authorship Credit
Designer may use Work in Designer’s portfolio (including, but not limited to, any website that displays Designer’s Works). Client does not have to display Designer’s name together with Work, unless being described with any editorial usage, but Client may not seek to mislead others that Work was created by anyone other than Designer.
6. Cancellation
The fee for Work is refundable pending only upon Designer’s breach of agreement. In the event of cancellation of this assignment, ownership of all copyrights and the original artwork shall be retained by the Designer, and a cancellation fee for work completed, shall be paid by the Client. If the project is on an hourly basis the and project is canceled by Client, Client agrees to pay no less than 100% of the hours already billed for the project at the time of cancellation plus a flat fee of 50% the remaining hours that were expected to be completed on the project, whichever is greater. If the project has a firm quote, Client agrees to pay a flat fee 15% of the total quote.
7. Limitation of Liability
Client agrees that Designer will not be liable for any incidental or consequential damages that arise from Designer’s performance of this commission (including, but not limited to, failure to perform in a timely manner, regardless of whether the failure was intentional or negligent.)
8. Dispute Settled by Arbitration, and Governing Law
Any dispute under or about this Agreement must be submitted to and resolved by arbitration. Parties will bear their own costs. Any court may enforce the arbitration award. This Agreement will be governed by the laws of Nevada, in the country of the United States of America.
9. Acceptance of terms
The action of the sending and receipt of this agreement via electronic method will hold both parties in acceptance of these terms. Designer as sender and Client as recipient will acknowledge acceptance of these terms either through an e-mail noting acceptance or acceptance is acknowledged at the beginning of any work on said project. Electronic signatures shall be considered legal and binding.
Client: /s/ Tomas Klimsen, CEO , on December 1, 2015
Designer: /s/ Elena Petrova, President , on December 1, 2015
Reference:
Security Exchange Commission - Edgar Database, EX-10.3 2 serviceagreement_egc.htm, Viewed December 13, 2021, View Source on SEC.
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Donya G.
Donya G.
I am a Contracts and Mergers & Acquisitions Attorney with more than 25 years of diverse legal and business experience. My practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions, commercial contracts, contract dispute resolution, and a broad range of business-related legal matters. I have extensive experience managing and closing transactions across a variety of industries, including SaaS, IT, eCommerce, franchises, agencies, and food services. I take a practical, business-oriented approach to transactions, helping clients efficiently navigate complex deals from initial structuring and negotiation through execution and closing. My combined legal, litigation, financial, and business experience allows me to deliver strategic, efficient, and practical solutions tailored to my clients’ objectives, whether in deal negotiations, contract structuring, dispute resolution, or complex business transactions
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Sara S.
With over eleven years of intellectual property experience, I’m happy to work on your contract problem. I am very diligent and enjoy meeting tight deadlines. Drafting memoranda, business transactional documents, termination notices, demand letters, licenses and letter agreements are all in my wheelhouse! Working in a variety of fields, from construction to pharmaceutical, I enjoy resolving any disputes that come across my desk. I will prioritize your project, big or small. Please be ready and prepared with all relevant documentation so we can get started as soon as you click HIRE! Hourly rate projects will be billed hourly in accordance with the timesheet. Flat rate projects will be billed in segments. Choosing an hourly or flat rate is up to you. Absolutely no refunds.
"Sara was responsive and knowledgeable about prenup specifics. Thank you so much!"
Jeremiah C.
Jeremiah C.
Creative, results driven business & technology executive with 27 years of experience (17+ as a business/corporate lawyer). A problem solver with a passion for business, technology, and law. I bring a thorough understanding of the intersection of the law and business needs to any endeavor, having founded multiple startups myself with successful exits. I provide professional business and legal consulting. Throughout my career I've represented a number large corporations (including some of the top Fortune 500 companies) but the vast majority of my clients these days are startups and small businesses. Having represented hundreds of successful crowdfunded startups, I'm one of the most well known attorneys for startups seeking CF funds. I hold a Juris Doctor degree with a focus on Business/Corporate Law, a Master of Business Administration degree in Entrepreneurship, A Master of Education degree and dual Bachelor of Science degrees. I look forward to working with any parties that have a need for my skill sets.
"I really enjoyed working with Jeremiah. He answered all my questions and did a great job on the contract work I needed."
Daehoon P.
Daehoon P.
Corporate, M&A & Securities Lawyer | Managing Attorney, DP Counsel PLLC Practice Areas: Business Formation | Commercial Contracts | Contract Drafting & Review | Mergers & Acquisitions | Venture Capital | Securities Offerings | Franchise Law | Employment & Equity Compensation | Intellectual Property | Cross-Border Transactions About/Bio: I represent companies, investors, and fund sponsors in corporate transactions, commercial contracting, and private securities matters, from entity formation and early-stage financings to acquisitions, exits, and ongoing strategic counsel. As Managing Attorney of DP Counsel PLLC, I help clients structure transactions clearly, allocate risk thoughtfully, and move deals forward with documentation that is practical, enforceable, and aligned with business objectives. My practice includes both day-to-day commercial matters and more complex transactional work, including venture financings, private offerings, M&A deals, fund-related documents, and cross-border structuring. What I Do: Corporate & Commercial • Entity formation and structuring for corporations, LLCs, and limited partnerships • Operating agreements, shareholder agreements, and governance documents • Commercial contract drafting, review, and negotiation • Vendor, distribution, manufacturing, SaaS, and licensing agreements • Employment, consulting, confidentiality, and equity compensation agreements • Outside general counsel support for growing companies Securities & Private Capital • Private offerings under Regulation D and Regulation S • Private placement memoranda, subscription agreements, and investor documents • SAFE, convertible note, and priced equity financings • Venture capital and private fund formation matters • Fund governing documents and offering document packages • Securities law analysis for private capital raising transactions Mergers & Acquisitions • Letters of intent and term sheets • Stock purchase, asset purchase, and merger agreements • Due diligence coordination and transaction support • Disclosure schedules, closing documents, and post-closing matters • Earnouts, rollover equity, indemnity structures, and related deal terms • HSR, CFIUS, and related regulatory issue spotting for qualifying transactions Digital Assets & Emerging Technologies • Federal-law digital asset and token securities analysis • Entity structuring for blockchain and Web3 ventures • Digital asset fund and operating structures • AML/KYC documentation support and regulatory issue spotting Franchising • Franchise Disclosure Documents (FDDs) • Franchise agreements • Master franchise and area development agreements • Franchise structuring and registration coordination Real Estate Transactions • Commercial real estate acquisitions and dispositions • Real estate joint ventures and syndications • Commercial lease drafting and negotiation • Real estate investment structures and related offering documents Cross-Border & International • U.S. market entry and entity structuring for international clients • Delaware and multi-entity holding structures • Cross-border transaction planning and documentation • Coordination with foreign counsel and tax advisors on cross-border matters Why Clients Hire Me: • Big-law-level drafting with boutique responsiveness • Practical, business-focused advice grounded in execution reality • Clear scoping and transparent fee arrangements • Experience across financings, acquisitions, fund formations, and cross-border transactions Typical Projects: • Contract drafting and negotiation • Entity formation and governance packages • Private offering document suites • Venture financing documentation • M&A transactions from LOI through closing • Fractional or outside general counsel support Industries Technology | SaaS | FinTech | Digital Assets | E-commerce | Healthcare | Real Estate | Food & Beverage | Professional Services
"Working with Daehoon was a wonderful experience! As someone establishing a new audiobook narration business, I wanted to be confident that my contracts were carefully written and addressed the unique needs of my work, particularly the important issue of AI voice protection. Daehoon was patient, professional, and attentive to my questions and concerns. I especially appreciated his willingness to work through revisions with me and make sure the final documents reflected what I needed. Throughout the process, I felt that he genuinely cared about doing a good job. His attention to detail and thoughtful approach gave me confidence and peace of mind as I move forward with my business. I’m very grateful for his help and would happily work with him again. Thank you, Daehoon!"
Zachary J.
I am a solo-practitioner with a practice mostly consisting of serving as a fractional general counsel to growth stage companies. With a practical business background, I aim to bring real-world, economically driven solutions to my client's legal problems and pride myself on efficient yet effective work.
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June 6, 2024
Liliette A.
I have been in the legal field since 2015 starting as an intern, moving my way up to paralegal to making my final way to Attorney. As an attorney I worked in civil litigation for a brief period of time and then I got into the the immigration field.
June 6, 2024
Michael P.
I have been licensed since 2006 and have extensive experience in family law, personal injury, criminal law, and general litigation. I have a solo practice and I am seeking new opportunities.
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Browse Lawyers NowLawyer Reviews for Graphic Design Agreement Projects
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Business Contracts
Graphic Design Agreement
Florida
Is it necessary to have a written Graphic Design Agreement for freelance projects?
I am a freelance graphic designer who often takes on various projects for clients. While I have typically relied on verbal agreements or informal emails to outline the project scope, deliverables, and payment terms, I recently had a negative experience where a client disputed our agreed-upon terms. This incident made me wonder if it is essential to have a written Graphic Design Agreement in place to protect both parties' rights and ensure clear communication and expectations from the beginning of a project.
Ralph S.
It is highly recommended, but it is not necessary (ie required by law) to have a written agreement in most circumstances. But, as in with any handshake agreement- it will hard to figure out if there's a misunderstanding or something goes wrong. You end up in court, having people give testimony about what was and what wasn't the deal, and you're asking the judge/jury to go through your emails to try to get an understanding. Not to mention, an agreement can force things like mediation and arbitration to makes things easy. Also, without a writing you can both be wrong about your understanding of what the deal was, nobody being at blame. Litigating is never simple or easy or fast. Unless it's in small claims. Making it easy on yourself or your future lawyer can help you avoid a lot of future headache.
Business Contracts
Graphic Design Agreement
New York
Can a graphic design agreement be terminated if the client is unsatisfied with the designer's work?
I recently hired a graphic designer to create a logo for my business, and we entered into a graphic design agreement that outlined the scope of work, payment terms, and timeline. However, I am unsatisfied with the designer's work as it does not meet my expectations and requirements. I would like to terminate the agreement and seek another designer, but I am unsure if I have the right to do so and if there are any legal implications or obligations that I should be aware of.
Damien B.
To make the decision less subjective, consider whether the designer has failed to meet the agreed-upon terms, such as missing deadlines or not adhering to the specified requirements. For example, if you provided clear and specific requirements and the designer failed to meet them, this could be considered a material breach of the agreement. On the other hand, if the designer is making a good faith effort to fulfill the terms and the dissatisfaction stems from subjective preferences, it may be more challenging to establish legal grounds for termination—unless the agreement explicitly permits termination based on dissatisfaction.
Graphic Design
Graphic Design Agreement
California
Is it necessary to have a written agreement for a graphic design project?
I am a freelance graphic designer and recently I had a client who requested a logo design for their business. We discussed the project details verbally, but I didn't have a written agreement in place. Now that the project is complete, the client is refusing to pay and claiming they are not satisfied with the final design. I'm wondering if having a written agreement in place would have protected me in this situation and if it is necessary for future graphic design projects to avoid similar disputes.
Dawn K.
I always recommend a signed agreement that covers the basics of "Q-TIPS"- this is for educational purposes only, by the way. The 1. Quantity 1 logo- plus, I would add the number of revisions under the agreement, because creative work often needs tweaks and you will be unprofitable when there are hours involved in 6 revisions when you only said 2. Time of Performance- 2 weeks? a month? 6 months? when will the project be done? When will payment be due? 3. Identity of the parties (pretty self-explanatory)4. Price (not your estimate, a contracted price) and 5. Subject matter. Not "logo" but an actual description with the colors, fonts, ideas. Finally, I would encourage project management software, like Trello, or Monday, or Asana, or whatever to track the phases of the project and the critical places the client must sign off on the design or document carefully the requests for revision. In a creative space, like graphic design, the final like or dislike can be subjective. You were hired to create a brand and an identity into a logo- and you didn't get paid. Based on the agreement, this is potentially small claims to enforce a verbal agreement.
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