# GRAPHIC DESIGN PROPOSAL

> **Disclaimer — not legal advice.** This template is provided free of charge, as is and with no warranty of any kind, and using it creates no attorney-client relationship. It is jurisdiction-neutral: you are responsible for adapting it, for your own legal and tax compliance, and for having a qualified professional in your jurisdiction review it before you rely on it. Full terms: https://trycolo.co/terms-of-use

**Prepared for:** [CLIENT CONTACT NAME], [CLIENT COMPANY NAME]
**Prepared by:** [YOUR NAME / STUDIO NAME], [YOUR EMAIL], [YOUR PHONE]
**Date:** [DATE]  |  **Proposal ref:** [PROPOSAL NUMBER]  |  **Valid until:** [EXPIRY DATE]

## 1. Project summary

[ONE PARAGRAPH. What the design must do and where it will appear. Example: "[CLIENT COMPANY] is exhibiting at [EVENT] on [DATE] and needs a consistent set of printed and digital materials to drive visitors to stand [NUMBER]. This proposal covers a key visual, a trifold brochure, a pull-up banner and six social adaptations, with print-ready files at the printer by [DATE]."]

**Final files needed by:** [DEADLINE]
**Total fee:** [CURRENCY] [TOTAL FEE]

## 2. Deliverables

| # | Deliverable | Format and size | Pages / quantity | Medium |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | [KEY VISUAL / MASTER DESIGN] | [DIMENSIONS] | 1 | [PRINT / DIGITAL] |
| 2 | [BROCHURE] | [TRIM SIZE, FOLD OR BINDING] | [NUMBER] pages | Print |
| 3 | [POSTER / BANNER] | [DIMENSIONS] | [NUMBER] | Print |
| 4 | [SOCIAL ADAPTATIONS] | [SIZES] | [NUMBER] | Digital |
| 5 | [PRESENTATION TEMPLATE] | [ASPECT RATIO], [SOFTWARE] | [NUMBER] master slides | Digital |

Anything not listed above is out of scope.

## 3. Creative process

1. **Brief confirmation.** I confirm the brief, audience, mandatory content and references in writing.
2. **Concepts.** I present [2–3] distinct design directions applied to [DELIVERABLE 1].
3. **Selection.** You choose one direction. Combining elements of several directions counts as one revision round.
4. **Development.** I apply the chosen direction to all deliverables in section 2.
5. **Revisions.** [2] rounds of consolidated written feedback on the full set.
6. **Final proof.** You approve a final proof of each piece in writing before files are released.

**What counts as a revision round:** one consolidated set of feedback from your approver, sent in one message. Changes to approved copy after layout count as a round.

## 4. Copy, images and brand assets

| Item | Supplied by | Due date |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Final, proofread copy | [CLIENT / COPYWRITER] | [DATE] |
| Logo files (vector) and brand guidelines | Client | [DATE] |
| Photography | [CLIENT / STOCK LICENSED BY ME UP TO [CURRENCY] [BUDGET] / PHOTOGRAPHER] | [DATE] |
| Fonts | [CLIENT LICENSE / INCLUDED / BILLED AT COST] | [DATE] |
| Data for charts or tables | Client | [DATE] |

If material arrives late, the delivery date moves by the same number of days.

## 5. Print production

| Item | Specification |
| --- | --- |
| Printer | [CLIENT'S PRINTER / PRINTER SOURCED BY ME / TBC] |
| Color mode | [CMYK / SPOT COLORS: [PANTONE REFERENCES]] |
| Bleed and safe area | [BLEED] bleed, [MARGIN] safe area |
| File format | [PRINT PDF STANDARD REQUESTED BY PRINTER] |
| Paper and finish | [STOCK, WEIGHT, FINISH] |
| Proof | [DIGITAL PROOF / HARD PROOF / PRESS CHECK] |

**Print management:** [OPTION A: You deal with the printer directly. I supply print-ready files and answer the printer's technical questions.] [OPTION B: I manage quotes, proofs and delivery for a fee of [CURRENCY] [AMOUNT]. Print costs are billed at cost and must be paid before the order is placed.]

I am not responsible for printer errors, but I will check proofs against the approved artwork.

## 6. Files you receive

- **Included:** print-ready PDFs for every print piece and [PNG / JPG / PDF] exports for every digital piece.
- **Source files:** [INCLUDED ON FINAL PAYMENT / AVAILABLE FOR [CURRENCY] [AMOUNT] / NOT INCLUDED].
- **Fonts and stock images** are licensed separately and are not transferred with source files unless the license allows.

## 7. Timeline

| Stage | Target date |
| --- | --- |
| Deposit received, brief confirmed | [DATE] |
| Concepts presented | [DATE] |
| Direction chosen (your feedback) | [DATE] |
| Full set presented | [DATE] |
| Revision round 1 returned | [DATE] |
| Revision round 2 returned | [DATE] |
| Final proof approval | [DATE] |
| Files to printer / final handover | [DATE] |

## 8. Investment

| Item | Amount |
| --- | --- |
| Concept development ([2–3] directions) | [CURRENCY] [AMOUNT] |
| [DELIVERABLE 2] | [CURRENCY] [AMOUNT] |
| [DELIVERABLE 3] | [CURRENCY] [AMOUNT] |
| [DELIVERABLE 4] ([NUMBER] adaptations) | [CURRENCY] [AMOUNT] |
| Print file preparation | [CURRENCY] [AMOUNT] |
| **Total** (excluding [TAX] where applicable) | **[CURRENCY] [TOTAL FEE]** |

**Add-ons**

| Add-on | Price |
| --- | --- |
| Additional concept | [CURRENCY] [AMOUNT] |
| Additional revision round | [CURRENCY] [AMOUNT] |
| Additional size or adaptation | [CURRENCY] [AMOUNT] each |
| Rush delivery (under [NUMBER] business days) | [PERCENT]% of the affected items |

**Payment schedule**

| Payment | Trigger | Amount |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Deposit ([PERCENT]%) | On acceptance | [CURRENCY] [AMOUNT] |
| Balance | On final proof approval, before files are released | [CURRENCY] [AMOUNT] |

## 9. Usage and portfolio

You may use the final designs for [PURPOSE / ALL BUSINESS PURPOSES] once paid in full. I may show the work in my portfolio after [PUBLIC RELEASE / EVENT DATE] unless you ask me not to in writing. Full terms are in the attached [DESIGN CONTRACT].

## 10. Acceptance

| Client | Designer |
| --- | --- |
| Signature: ____________________ | Signature: ____________________ |
| Name: [CLIENT SIGNATORY NAME] | Name: [YOUR NAME] |
| Company: [CLIENT LEGAL NAME] | Business: [YOUR BUSINESS NAME] |
| Date: [DATE] | Date: [DATE] |

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### How to use this template

1. Fill the deliverables table with real sizes and quantities. Vague rows create unpaid adaptations.
2. Choose one print management option in section 5 and delete the other.
3. Decide the source-file position in section 6 before sending.
4. Work back from the printer deadline when setting the timeline, not from the event date.
5. Get written approval of every final proof before you release files.

*Template provided by Colo (trycolo.co). Not legal advice — review with a qualified professional in your jurisdiction.*