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So, you’ve just taken on a new design client and are ready to get started. Congratulations! Winning a new round of work is an exciting moment for any creative person. But before you sign on the dotted line, it’s important to make sure that both you and your client are on the same page—and stay that way throughout the duration of the project.
Illustration by Fe Melo
A new design project can open the door to long-term working relationships and client referrals that will help you build your business. But even the most experienced designers can run into roadblocks. A client relationship can quickly turn sour for a variety of reasons—from scope creep and seemingly unending revisions to feedback delays or client disagreements.
To protect your time and your working relationships, it’s important to set boundaries upfront. Clear project terms will give you and your client guidance in case anything goes wrong down the line. By setting these expectations, you’ll both know when to say “no,” when the client needs to pay more and when it’s time to walk away.
In this article, we’ll go over 7 crucial terms you should always agree on with your client before getting started:
Let’s get started!
1. Discuss your deliverables
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The client sends you a creative brief and it seems simple enough. But have you two really dug into the details? It’s important to be specific when it comes to the number of designs and variations that are meant to be completed in a project.
Logo suite by coric design
Scenario #1: Say a client wants a logo. What are they actually expecting? These days, many brands have a wide variety of logo deliverables for their digital and physical assets. Will they need different sizes to ensure legibility? How many color options do they want? Will they need wordmarks and badges? How about the extra details—patterns, ornamentation, brand accents or animations. Do they assume a brand guide is included?
You and your client may be defining…
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