Working Together – Terms of Service
These terms are here to make sure we're both on the same page – no surprises about process, ownership, or money. They're written to be fair to both of us. If anything is unclear, just ask before we start.
How a project gets started
Every project begins with a conversation. You reach out via the contact form or email, we discuss what you need, and I put together a custom quote. Nothing is binding and no money changes hands until we've both agreed on the scope in writing (an email confirmation is all that's needed) and I've sent the deposit invoice.
I don't start work until the deposit is paid. This protects your investment too: it means I'm fully committed to your project from day one.
If the project grows along the way, say you'd like to add print materials to a logo project, I'll always discuss the extra cost with you before doing anything. You'll never be surprised by an invoice you didn't expect.
Revisions
Collaboration is a natural part of the design process, and I build room for it into every project. In practice, most projects come together within one or two rounds of feedback. Occasionally a third or fourth round is needed for smaller adjustments, and that's completely fine.
Where additional compensation becomes necessary is if revisions go well beyond what's reasonable – either because the feedback has accumulated across many rounds without converging, or because the direction shifts so significantly that it amounts to starting over rather than refining. Both situations are genuinely rare in practice, and if we're ever heading that way, I'll say so before doing any additional work so we can agree on next steps together.
Payment
To keep things clear and fair, I typically split projects into two payments:
50% deposit before work begins – this books the project into my schedule and covers the initial research and early concept phase.
50% after delivery of the final files, once you're happy with the result – this covers the full development of the design directions, logo file exports and organization, and additional deliverables depending on our agreement.
For larger brand identity projects, milestone payments are available, for example: 30% deposit, 35% on logo delivery, and 35% on delivery of the full brand guidelines and final assets. We'll agree on the structure upfront.
Invoices are due within 14 days. The final files are often already sent over before the final payment is made. Once I receive the payment, I will then send over the copyright transfer.
Preferred payment: I work with clients across the world and prefer payment through WISE for international transfers, which allows clients to pay via domestic bank transfer (USA or UK). SEPA bank transfer is also available and works best for EU clients. Other options such as Credit card, PayPal, Apple Pay, or Google Pay are also available if needed, but these come with a small fee.
Ownership
Once the final invoice is paid, the logo or design is completely yours. You receive full, exclusive, permanent rights to use it however you like, commercially, on merchandise, in trademark applications, anywhere in the world. No ongoing fees, no licences to renew.
Concepts and drafts shared during the project are for your review and feedback only. They shouldn't be published or used externally until the project is complete and payment has been received. Concepts that aren't selected as the final direction remain my property and may be reworked for other clients or offered through my Logo Shop at a later point.
Portfolio: I'd love to include our finished work in my portfolio and on design platforms like Dribbble. If you'd prefer the project stays private, for example, during a confidential product launch, just let me know and I'll respect that completely. (I’m also able to work under a NDA, if required)
Unique designs & trademark considerations
Every design I deliver is created from scratch and thoroughly developed to stand on its own. Before starting, I research the visual landscape of your industry to make sure the direction I'm taking is distinctive and not treading on existing work.
That said, with millions of brands operating around the world, it's genuinely difficult for any designer to guarantee there's no visual similarity to an existing mark somewhere. I take this seriously and do my best to produce work that is clearly original, but if you plan to register your logo as a trademark or roll it out at significant scale, I'd recommend also working with a trademark attorney to do a proper legal search. I’m happy to offer small adjustments to the design, if that helps with any infringement.
If a project gets cancelled
If you need to stop: Life happens, and I understand that. If you need to cancel the project after work has started, the deposit stays with me to cover the time already invested. I won't pursue any remaining balance unless the project was almost complete with fully developed concepts at the point of cancellation – in which case we would discuss what would be a fair arrangement. You'll receive the files for one of the concepts up to that point, if you want them.
If I need to stop: I take my commitments seriously. The only circumstances under which I would step back from a project are if communication has broken down entirely, meaning I've made multiple attempts to reach you with no response over an extended period of time, or if something genuinely and unexpectedly prevents me from continuing. In that case, I'd return a fair portion of the deposit based on the work completed and deliver everything done to that point. Rest assured, I’ve never cancelled a project so far.
Confidentiality
Anything you share with me about your business, plans, or strategy stays between us. I won't discuss your project with third parties or share your information with anyone. I ask for the same discretion in return regarding my processes and pricing.
The Logo Shop
The Logo Shop displays pre-designed logo shapes that serve as a starting point for your custom logo. It's not an instant-purchase shop – you reach out, we discuss how the shape gets tailored to your brand (colours, typography, name treatment), and the project then follows the same process as any standard logo project. The result is a logo that's fully customised and entirely yours, with a full copyright transfer.
Legal details
These terms are governed by the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany. In the unlikely event of a dispute we can't resolve between ourselves, the place of jurisdiction is Saarbrücken, Germany.
The version of these terms in effect when your project starts is the one that applies to your engagement.
SimonfelDesign™ — Simon Feltes, Saarbrücken, Germany — Version: April 2026