Running a Design Business: Designer-Client Agreements

Learn to protect you and your client's interests and ensure a great creative design with a well-written contract.

Introduction

• Welcome to the course
• Course disclaimer
• About the exercise files

1. Contract Basics

• Introduction to contracts
• Anatomy of a contract: Part one
• Anatomy of a contract: Part two
• Reviewing a sample contract

2. Assessing the Project

• Scoping the work: Part one
• Scoping the work: Part two
• Breaking down the creative process
• Early phases of the creative process
• Later phases of the creative process
• Factors impacting the phases of a project

3. Financial Aspects

• Talking money: General tips
• Talking money: Revisions
• Talking money: Other issues
• Outlining your design fees
• Estimate worksheet
• Ways to price your work
• Estimated expenses
• Incorporating estimates from suppliers and subcontractors
• Amending contracts with change orders

4. Legalese

• The legal language: Terms and conditions
• Using the AIGA Standard Form of Agreement as a terms template
• Challenge scenario: Terms and conditions
• Challenge scenario: Answers
• Reviewing a sample contract

5. Contracts and Clients

• Implementing the agreement
• Negotiating contracts with clients
• Managing an agreement
• Problems and dispute resolution

Conclusion

• Next steps