10 Things Designers Need To Know: Terms and Conditions

Know the value of your work:

• Protect work and brand:
• likely designs will be copied if successful - lawyer if necessary 
• Copywrite, trademarks, patterns and licensing help to protect work and brand name/identity. 
•  Know the client and what they want:
• Formalise the conversion, have written proof of what's being asked of you 
• Keep a clear and concise dialogue.
• Who owns your work?
• stipulate that you retain rights to use work you created online/post/share. 
• who retains right to show - confidentiality.
• NDA: 
• What is reasonable? usually higher price 
• Have a lawyer read through
• Don't agree before thinking, decisions don't need to be made instantly. 
• if your being hounded, usually a bad deal. 
• Never sign without reading the fine print, ask for contract amendments 
• Consultant/ contractor/ employee or worker:
• Understand role:
• worker: expected to come in, work certain hours, have a certain role - legally entitled to min wage (internship).
• Look at definition 
• Register for self assessment (TAX) - self employed/ freelance
• Worldwide In perpetuity:
• allows work to be used worldwide 
• options: say no, increase fee or negotiate less usage. 
• Budget Up Front:
• Avoid pitching for free 
• Find out if the project is worth you getting invested in, minimise time spent on work your not sure about. 
• Hellosign / Freeths IP Media:
• Digital respondent recorder. 
• Legally covered if someone says 'oh I didn't see the contract', records who opens documents and when.