Working Together

Working Together

I offer graphic design, branding, web design, and related creative services. Every project is different. I work with clients to understand their needs, define the scope of work, and develop solutions that align with their goals. If you have an idea in mind, or are still figuring out what you need, feel free to get in touch.

1. Inquiries and Project Proposals

After receiving an inquiry, I will review your requirements and discuss the project with you. Based on the agreed scope, I will provide a quotation outlining the proposed services, deliverables, fees, estimated timeline, and relevant terms. A project will be considered confirmed once both parties have agreed to the quotation and any applicable project terms. Where appropriate, a separate contract, purchase order, or written agreement may also be used.

2. Fees and Payment

Project fees are determined individually based on the scope, complexity, deliverables, and timeline. Payment terms will be specified in the quotation or project agreement before work begins.

For larger projects, the standard payment arrangement is:
• 50% deposit before work begins.
• 50% remaining balance upon completion and delivery, subject to the agreed payment terms.

For smaller projects and ongoing services, alternative payment arrangements may be agreed upon, including full payment in advance, payment upon delivery, or monthly billing. Payment deadlines, accepted payment methods, applicable currencies, and any relevant transaction fees will be communicated before the project is confirmed. Any applicable taxes or additional charges will be addressed in the quotation or project agreement.

3. Revisions and Feedback

The number of revisions included in a project will be specified in the quotation. Unless otherwise agreed, graphic design projects generally include up to two rounds of revisions following the initial presentation. A revision round refers to a consolidated set of feedback on the presented work. Clients are encouraged to collect and submit feedback together to keep the process efficient. Additional revisions, new directions, or substantial changes to the agreed scope may incur additional fees. Any additional fees will be discussed and agreed upon before the extra work begins. Revision arrangements for web design, branding, and ongoing projects will be defined individually according to the nature of the work.

4. Changes to the Project Scope

Requests for additional deliverables, new features, or significant changes to the original brief may affect the project fee and timeline. If a change in scope is required, I will explain its potential impact and provide an updated quotation or agreement where necessary. Additional work will proceed once both parties have agreed to the revised terms.

5. Project Timelines and Client Responsibilities

Project timelines are established based on the agreed scope, review stages, and expected delivery of materials and feedback. Clients are responsible for providing the information, content, assets, and approvals reasonably required to complete the project. Delays in receiving feedback, approvals, or necessary materials may affect the delivery schedule. If the timeline needs to change, I will communicate the revised schedule and discuss it with the client.

6. Cancellation and Termination

If either party wishes to cancel or terminate a confirmed project, the other party should be notified in writing as soon as reasonably possible. The applicable cancellation terms will be established in the quotation or project agreement before work begins. Depending on the agreed terms and applicable law, the final settlement may take into account: work completed up to the cancellation date; project progress and deliverables already produced; costs and commitments reasonably incurred for the project; and payments already made. Any refund, outstanding balance, or additional amount due will be determined in accordance with the agreed cancellation terms and applicable law. Where a project-specific agreement includes additional termination conditions, those conditions will apply to the extent permitted by applicable law.

7. Copyright and Usage Rights

Copyright ownership and usage rights will be agreed upon individually for each project. The quotation or project agreement will specify whether the client receives a license to use the work or whether any copyright ownership is transferred. Where a license is granted, its scope may include the permitted uses, media, territory, duration, and any applicable restrictions. Unless otherwise agreed in writing, the delivery of a design does not automatically transfer copyright ownership. Third-party materials, including fonts, photographs, illustrations, stock assets, and other licensed resources, remain subject to their respective license terms. Editable source files and working files are not automatically included in the deliverables. Their inclusion will be specified in the quotation or project agreement.

8. Portfolio and Promotion

I may wish to showcase completed projects in my portfolio, website, or social media. However, I will only feature client work with the client's prior permission. Confidential information and unpublished work will not be made public without the client's consent. If a project includes third-party materials or other restrictions, any portfolio use will remain subject to the applicable rights and permissions.

9. Website Design and Development

For website projects, the quotation will specify which services are included, such as website design and layout, implementation and responsive adjustments, CMS setup where applicable, publishing and launch support, and other agreed features or services. The choice of platform will depend on the project's requirements, budget, maintenance needs, and intended use. Third-party costs, including domain registration, hosting, website platform subscriptions, paid plugins, and other external services, are not included unless expressly stated in the quotation. Where applicable, clients will be informed of recurring costs before the project is confirmed. Unless otherwise agreed, ongoing maintenance, content updates, technical support, and new features are not included after delivery.

10. Ongoing Design Services

For ongoing or retainer-based work, the scope of services, monthly fee, expected workload, contract period, payment schedule, and cancellation conditions will be agreed upon individually. Requests outside the agreed scope may require an additional quotation. Any changes to an ongoing arrangement will be discussed and agreed upon by both parties.

11. International Projects

I welcome inquiries from clients in Japan and other countries. For international projects, relevant terms will be discussed and confirmed before work begins, including fees and payment currency; payment methods and transaction fees; project timelines and communication arrangements; deliverables and usage rights; applicable taxes and other project-related costs; and any additional terms required for the project. International payments may be subject to bank charges, currency conversion fees, or other transaction costs, which will be clarified where applicable. The terms of each international project will be documented in the relevant quotation or agreement.

12. Project-Specific Agreements

This page describes my general approach to working with clients. The specific terms of each project will be set out in the applicable quotation, contract, purchase order, or other written agreement. Where a project-specific agreement conflicts with this page, the project-specific agreement will generally take precedence for that project, to the extent permitted by applicable law. Nothing on this page is intended to exclude or restrict any rights that cannot legally be excluded or restricted. For project inquiries or questions about working together, please get in touch through the contact form on this website.

Name: Sage Oki
Email: hello@sageoki.com

General project guidelines