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Graphic design contract template: the clauses designers need.
Design projects go wrong in predictable places: endless revisions, arguments over source files, and unclear rights to a logo. This template lists the clauses a freelance graphic design contract should cover, with example wording you can adapt.
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In short
A graphic design contract should set out the parties, the design deliverables and formats, what is not included, the timeline, the fee, deposit and payment terms, how many revision rounds are included and the rate for more, when ownership of the final design passes to the client, what happens to drafts and source files, portfolio rights, a kill fee if the project is cancelled, and signatures. It is a starting template, not legal advice.
Graphic design contract template: clauses to include
Use these headings and fill in each one for the project:
- Parties and project: your studio or name, the client, and a one-line project description
- Deliverables and formats: for example a primary logo, two variations, a colour palette and a one-page style guide, supplied as SVG, PNG and PDF
- Not included: for example printing costs, stock image licences, web development or brand naming
- Timeline: concept date, feedback windows and final delivery, and that dates move if feedback is late
- Fee, deposit and payment terms: the total, a deposit before work starts (often 50%), and when the balance is due
- Revisions: the number of revision rounds included at each stage, and the hourly or fixed rate for extra rounds
- Ownership and licensing: when rights in the final design pass to the client, and what you keep
- Drafts and source files: whether unused concepts and editable source files are included or charged separately
- Third-party assets: fonts, stock photos and mockups licensed separately, in whose name
- Portfolio use, cancellation and kill fee, confidentiality, liability and signatures
Revisions: write down the number of rounds
Example wording: “The fee includes two rounds of revisions on the chosen concept. A round means one set of consolidated feedback from the client. Further rounds are billed at $85 per hour, with an estimate given before work starts.” Asking for one consolidated set of feedback per round prevents a stream of small requests from several reviewers.
Ownership, licensing and source files
Decide whether the client owns the final artwork or receives a licence to use it. A common approach for logos and brand identities is that rights in the final, approved design transfer to the client once the invoice is paid in full, while you keep rights in unused concepts and your own tools and templates. State whether editable source files (such as Adobe Illustrator or Figma files) are included. Copyright rules differ by country, so have this clause checked by a lawyer.
Deposits, cancellation and kill fees
Take a deposit before starting, and say what happens if the client stops the project. Example: “If the client cancels after concepts are delivered, the deposit is non-refundable and the client pays for work completed to date at $85 per hour, up to the full fee.” This protects you without charging for work you never did.
Send, sign and get paid from one place
For a fill-in version, use the free freelance contract template, which builds a plain-language agreement with your revisions, ownership, deposit and notice terms, ready for Word or PDF. In Workspace369, you can send the contract for e-signature, collect the deposit invoice, share drafts in the client portal and track revision rounds on the same client record.
FAQ
Common questions
Do I need a contract for small graphic design jobs?
Yes, even a short one. A one-page agreement that lists the deliverables, the fee, the number of revisions and when rights pass to the client prevents most disputes, and it takes minutes once you have a template.
How many revisions should a graphic design contract include?
Two or three rounds on the chosen concept is common for logos and brand work, with a set rate for extra rounds. The exact number matters less than defining it clearly and saying what a round means.
Should a designer hand over source files?
Only if the contract says so. Many designers include final files in standard formats and charge separately for editable source files, or include them for brand identity projects. Write down which files the client gets.
Can I show client work in my portfolio?
Add a clause that allows you to show the finished work in your portfolio and case studies, with an option for the client to ask for a delay, for example until after launch, or to opt out for confidential work.
Is this graphic design contract template legal advice?
No. It is a plain-language starting point. Laws on contracts and copyright differ by state and country, so have a qualified lawyer review your agreement.
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