What Should a Design Studio Proposal Include?

The short answer

A good proposal covers six things: scope, timeline, team, review rounds, handover and terms. If any one is missing, ask for it in writing before you sign. Most project disputes start with something the proposal never mentioned.

The proposal at a glance

• Scope: Every deliverable, listed by name
• Timeline: Dates for each stage, tied to your deadline
• Team: Who does the work day to day
• Reviews: How many rounds, and how feedback is given
• Handover: The files, access and training you receive
• Terms: Payment stages, ownership and what happens if plans change

What good looks like

• Scope. A list you could tick off. Pages, brand assets, film length and cut-downs are named, not implied.
• Timeline. Stage dates that work back from your launch or announcement, with the days you owe feedback marked.
• Team. Names and roles. You should know who designs, who builds and who you talk to.
• Reviews. A set number of rounds per stage and one place to leave comments.
• Handover. Source files, platform access, guidelines and a walkthrough for your team.
• Terms. When you pay, when ownership transfers and how extra work is priced.

Warning signs in a proposal

• Deliverables described as phases with no list underneath.
• No mention of who owns the work at the end.
• Unlimited revisions. It usually means the process is undefined.
• A timeline with no dates for your feedback.

Related reading: Questions to Ask a Webflow or Framer Agency, How to Choose a Branding Agency

FAQ

How long should a design proposal be?

Long enough to list every deliverable and date. A few clear pages beat a long deck.

Should a proposal include a timeline?

Yes, with dates for each stage and for your feedback. Our scoping docs come with a timeline, and we send them within 48 hours of a brief.

Can we compare proposals from different studios?

Yes, if you send every studio the same brief. Compare the deliverable lists line by line, not the totals.

Want a scope you can compare? Share your brief and we reply with a scoping doc and timeline within 48 hours.