Running a Design Business: Designer–Client Agreements – Terry Lee Stone

By: Terry Lee Stone

Level: Appropriate for all

Duration: 1h 10m

Released: Apr 30,2013

Description:

As a freelance creative, you need to know how to write proposals and contracts for client-commissioned projects. Learn the basics of writing consulting agreements that are good legal and financial insurance and great tools for communicating with clients. Author Terry Lee Stone also introduces a pricing equation that helps you estimate your costs and charge appropriately for your work and shows how to manage complexities of client relationships, especially when it comes to defining an acceptable number of revisions.

Topics include:

• Understanding the anatomy of a contract
• Scoping the project
• Estimating your costs
• Subcontracting work
• Heading off problems

Contents:

Introduction
Welcome to the course 1m 0s
Course disclaimer 30s
About the exercise files 1m 0s

1. Contract Basics 9m 27s
Introduction to contracts 2m 27s
Anatomy of a contract: Part one 2m 48s
Anatomy of a contract: Part two 2m 27s
Reviewing a sample contract 1m 45s

2. Assessing the Project 15m 44s
Scoping the work: Part one 3m 1s
Scoping the work: Part two 2m 23s
Breaking down the creative process 3m 1s
Early phases of the creative process 2m 57s
Later phases of the creative process 3m 2s
Factors impacting the phases of a project 1m 20s

3. Financial Aspects 21m 27s
Talking money: General tips 2m 31s
Talking money: Revisions 2m 27s
Talking money: Other issues 2m 8s
Outlining your design fees 2m 47s
Estimate worksheet 1m 19s
Ways to price your work 2m 47s
Estimated expenses 2m 59s
Incorporating estimates from suppliers and subcontractors 1m 59s
Amending contracts with change orders 2m 30s

4. Legalese 10m 19s
The legal language: Terms and conditions 2m 16s
Using the AIGA Standard Form of Agreement as a terms template 2m 8s
Challenge scenario: Terms and conditions 2m 41s
Challenge scenario: Answers 1m 32s
Reviewing a sample contract 1m 42s

5. Contracts and Clients 10m 28s
Implementing the agreement 2m 19s
Negotiating contracts with clients 2m 58s
Managing an agreement 2m 43s
Problems and dispute resolution 2m 28s

Conclusion 38s
Next steps 38s

Author:

Terry Lee Stone

Creative strategist Terry Lee Stone has taught the business of design at Art Center, CalArts, and Otis.

Terry Lee Stone is a writer, design management consultant, and creative strategist. She has worked with top U.S. design firms and their clients. She teaches the business of design at Art Center College of Design. She has taught Professional Practice at CalArts and Otis College of Art. The author of several books, including the Managing The Design Process series, Stone also writes for HOW, Communication Arts, and Felt & Wire. She’s “Ask Design B*tch” at rockpaperink.com. Stone has served on the AIGA in Atlanta, Los Angeles, and Miami, where she was the president; and has presented lectures to numerous creative organizations, including the AIGA, the Art Directors Club of New York, and the HOW Design Live Conference. She’s the co-author of the cookbook Booze Cakes, proving that Stone isn’t all business all the time.