Graphic design contract template: the clauses to include

A graphic design contract, also called a design agreement, sets out what you'll deliver, what the client will pay, and what happens if plans change. This page lists the clauses most freelance design contracts include, with what each one should say. It applies to branding, graphic design and web design projects.

This is not legal advice. Contract law differs between countries, and a template can't cover every situation. Use this outline to prepare your contract, then have it reviewed by a qualified lawyer where you work before you rely on it.

The contract outline

1. Parties

Your name or business, and the client's legal name and address. Add the date the agreement starts.

2. Project and scope

• A short description of the project.
• The list of deliverables, matching your proposal.
• What is not included. Naming exclusions, such as copywriting, photography or development, prevents disputes later.

3. Timeline

Key milestones and dates, and a note that dates depend on the client supplying feedback and content on time.

4. Fees and payment

• The total fee or the hourly rate.
• The payment schedule, for example a deposit before work starts and the balance at handoff.
• The due date for invoices and accepted payment methods.
• What happens if a payment is late.

5. Revisions

• How many revision rounds are included, and at which stages.
• What counts as a revision and what counts as a new request.
• The rate for extra rounds or out-of-scope changes.

6. Client responsibilities

• Supplying content, brand assets and access on time.
• Naming one contact person who collects feedback.
• Giving feedback within an agreed number of days.

7. Ownership and intellectual property

• When ownership of the final deliverables transfers to the client, often on full payment.
• What you keep: sketches, rejected concepts and working files, unless agreed otherwise.
• Third-party assets such as fonts, stock photos and plugins, which stay under their own licences.

8. Portfolio rights

Whether you may show the work in your portfolio and case studies, and from when. Some clients need a delay until launch, or confidentiality.

9. Cancellation and kill fee

• How either side can end the agreement.
• What the client pays for work completed up to that point.
• Whether the deposit is refundable.

10. Confidentiality

What each party will keep private, such as unreleased products or business information.

11. Limitation of liability

A limit on what you're responsible for, often capped at the fees paid. This is a clause where local law matters most.

12. General terms

• How the agreement can be changed: usually in writing, agreed by both.
• Which country's law applies.
• Signatures and dates from both parties.

Graphic design and web design contracts

Web design contracts usually need a few extra points:

• Which browsers and devices the design covers.
• Who builds the site, and whether development is in scope.
• Hosting, domains and third-party services, and who pays for them.
• What support is included after launch, and for how long.

Tips

• Send the contract with the proposal, so the client can accept both at once. The web design proposal template has the matching sections.
• Use the same words in every document. Deliverables named in the proposal, contract and invoice should match.
• Keep it readable. A contract the client understands is more likely to be signed quickly and followed.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a contract for small design projects?

A written agreement helps on any paid project. For a small job, it can be a short document or an email the client confirms, as long as it covers scope, fee, revisions and payment.

Is a design agreement the same as a contract?

Yes. "Design agreement", "design services agreement" and "design contract" usually mean the same thing.

Can I use a template without a lawyer?

Many freelancers start from a template, but laws differ between countries. Having a lawyer review your standard contract once is the safest way to rely on it.