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] ------------------------------------------------------------ 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.