Are these Design Terms and Conditions for me?
These Terms and Conditions are ideal for designers who offer services through fixed packages or custom proposals. Whether you're a graphic designer, website designer, interior designer, UX/UI designer, packaging designer or brand strategist, this document is tailored to your needs.
The Terms and Conditions will:
- streamline your client engagements
- legally protect your work, process and time
- reduce disputes over scope creep or intellectual property
- provide a professional foundation for client relationships
- set clear expectations from the outset
- give you peace of mind that your T&Cs are NZ business-friendly
What do the Terms and Conditions cover?
These Design Services Terms and Conditions are designed to be used alongside a fixed price service package displayed on your website, or a custom proposal. The document covers client responsibilities (such as providing content and timely feedback), late payment terms, options for IP ownership to remain with you (granting a licence to the client) or for ownership to be transferred to the client, how additional revisions and variations to scope are handled, warranties, disclaimers and liability limitations, confidentiality and dispute resolution. There are also optional clauses designed for specific design disciplines.
Along with your tailored Terms and Conditions, you’ll also get an optional Design Proposal Template. This one-page, editable document helps you clearly set out the scope, deliverables, fee, and timeline for each project. It’s designed to be used with your Terms and Conditions to create a professional, legally binding client agreement. You can use this template again and again, customising it for each new project.
How do I create my Design Services Terms and Conditions?
It takes about 10 minutes to complete using our interactive Q&A tool. You can:
- Save your progress and return later
- Revise your answers to reflect changes in your services
- Generate multiple versions for different service offerings
You’ll answer a few simple questions about:
- The type of design services you offer (this could be just graphic design, or multiple design disciplines)
- Whether you give clients ownership of IP or just a licence to use the work
- Whether you require attribution for your work
- Whether you will retain intellectual property in unused concepts or drafts
- Your default payment terms
You’ll receive a tailored, ready-to-use Terms and Conditions document to use with your proposals or website packages.
What if I need help?
We’d love to help. Just contact us at hello@onyourterms.co.nz and we can either help over email or jump on a call.
The T&Cs will be a word doc, so you can make changes if you like (and add branding). Also, our legal partner Luminate Legal can provide legal advice for a fixed price if you’d like it.
What do I do once I've created my Design Services Terms and Conditions?
Read them to check you’re happy (and that you understand your obligations) and upload them to your website. It’s important your clients clearly accept your T&Cs before using your services. Adding a ‘tick box’ to confirm acceptance is a good way to do this. Here are some best practice tips for tick boxes:
- don't pre-tick the tick box – users should take a positive step to tick the box
- next to the tick box, include a statement along the following lines "I accept the terms and conditions"
- include an obvious hyperlink on the words 'terms and conditions' to the full terms and conditions
- make the terms and conditions easy to find
- keep records of terms and conditions versions, dates, and acceptance data
Money back guarantee - if you’re not happy with your purchase, let us know within 10 days of purchase and we’ll provide a refund.
Check out our blogs for helpful info: 10 steps to start your NZ business right!, Do I really need T&Cs?, Empowering Creatives: How to protect your copyright, Intellectual Property Guide. You may also find these bundles or documents useful for your business: Website Essentials, Creative Services Agreement, and Shareholders’ Agreement and Constitution Bundle.
Disclaimer: On Your Terms was created to provide fast, easy and affordable access to legal information and documents. We are not a law firm and do not provide legal advice. The information and documents we provide are general in nature, designed for common situations, and may not be suitable for your needs or circumstances. If you need legal advice, we have a network of law firm partners who can assist you here.