graphic design research proposal

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8 Essentials for Every Graphic Design Proposal You Send (+ Example)

Jimmy Rodriguez

Jimmy Rodriguez is the COO of Shift4Shop, a completely free, enterprise-grade ecommerce solution. He's dedicated to helping internet retailers succeed online by developing digital marketing strategies and optimized shopping experiences that drive conversions and improve business performance. Learn more »

Adam Wright

Adam Wright is the Content Manager at Millo, in addition to running his own graphic and web design business, Adam Wright Design. When he's not working on his business, you can find him watching hockey or just about any type of racing. Learn more »

What is a graphic design proposal?

Why is a graphic design proposal important, how to put together a graphic design proposal in 8 steps, graphic design proposal example, final thoughts.

BIG NEWS! We just released The Freelance Files , a collection of professional done-for-you email scripts, contracts, invoices, and more for smarter freelancing. The first 50 customers, save 50% with this link .

Are you trying to start your own graphic design business? If you are, here’s a little secret: you’re going to need more than just experience and an outstanding portfolio to land a design job from a new client. Landing gigs also means you’re going to need a standout graphic design proposal, too.

It doesn’t matter if you’re a newbie or a seasoned graphic designer, the graphic design industry is competitive and a bit shrouded in mystery, especially for people who can’t tell the difference between an Illustrator, a Graphic designer, and a UI/UX designer.

A graphic design proposal explains your value proposition and convinces the client why you are the best fit for the job, even if you’re looking for an agency job, an in-house position, or a freelance gig.

Whether you’re into graphic design to start an online business or just putting your creativity to work, a graphic design proposal lands you a design job with relative ease. That said, how do you go about drafting the perfect graphic design proposal? I’ll be teaching you all that and more in this article. Let’s get cracking!

A graphic design proposal is a document that sells your value proposition to a client.

It summarizes everything you can offer regarding a new design project. It also includes proof of your previous work — otherwise known as your portfolio — and the costs that you think you’ll incur while doing the project.

However, a graphic design proposal is not a sales pitch .

When we say “sales pitch,” we’re referring to a verbal attempt to sell your services to a client. Yes, it requires a mastery of its own, but it’s only the second step in the bidding process. Creating a graphic design proposal comes first.

So, technically speaking, you can say a graphic design proposal is a hard-copy sales pitch sent after you’ve discussed with a client, not before. This means your proposal must be top-notch, convincing, and engaging from the first page to get the client to the negotiation table.

A Facebook page called “Clients From Hell” shares horror stories from freelancers and creatives. Many of these stories feature some sort of client claiming that they shouldn’t be paying for services that they believe don’t require any real talent.

While clients like these are fortunately in the minority, many clients will balk at your price as a freelancer until you show them what you can do.

Unlike digital marketers or data analysts who quantify their claims with charts and statistics, the game’s different for us designers. You need visual proof that shows you understand and can deliver what the client expects. A graphic design proposal showcases your previous works and gives your clients an idea of what you can do for their business.

As a graphic designer, your proposal must answer these questions to a client’s design project:

• What does your project intend to do? Talk about the design project’s problems, goals, and objectives.
• How can you help the client? Explain your proposed solution.
• Why are you the best fit for this project? Show your portfolio.
• What will it take to do this project? : Outline your expected costs, including any work you expect to outsource to others .
• What can your client expect?: — Finish up with the deliverables, including the timeline for each item.

As you create your proposal, you need to keep in mind that you’re not the only one who can do the job. This is why you need to add your touch to the proposal and showcase what makes your designs unique.

Defining your unique selling proposition as a creative worker helps you stand out as a graphic designer and opens you to a whole new world of opportunities.

Now we have that out of the way, let’s look at how you can draft a winning graphic design proposal that reflects your value as a designer.

Clients ask for proposals. Not because they don’t trust you can do it, but because they want to compare, and your proposal might be all that breaks or makes the deal.

Hence, to ensure that you’re not missing the critical bit of a proposal, you must have a custom freelance design proposal template you can whip out when the need arises.

You have to understand that other designers are a competition. So your job is to communicate (with your proposal, of course) why you’re a better hire for their business, even though you might be way expensive.

It shows you understand the project in question and have the confidence and expertise required to execute the job flawlessly.

Below, I’ll cover the steps you need to draft a graphic design proposal. Read on.

1. Discuss every detail of the project with your client

Your proposal should never come as a surprise to your client. Before you send a proposal, you’ll want to discuss every detail of their project beforehand. It’s a collaboration, which means you’ll need to know where to come in and use your design expertise to tackle the problem.

While designers used to discuss projects with their clients face-to-face, it’s not practical at this point. Instead, you may email the client to ask for more information, then set up a video call where you can discuss their requirements.

The key to great project calls is to be prepared to go over each detail of the project and listen actively.

2. Do proper research

If all goes well with your client call, you’ll hopefully get their go-ahead to send a proposal. To allow you to send a proposal that meets their requirements, you need to do intensive research on the potential client and their needs.

You must find out more information on your own to understand everything about this prospect’s brand, services, or products. Ask for any branded materials or documents that shed light on the situation and get to work.

You can also research their competitors to see how they stack against the prospect’s brand. Analyzing information from their social media and how effectively they compete in their industry can be invaluable as you put together a proposal.

Proper research helps you know what you’re going into, so you don’t underestimate yourself and the services you hope to offer. And, at the same time, it gives you a glimpse into the scope of the project and the amount of time and effort you’ll put into it.

3. Determine the proposal software you’ll use.

When your research is done, the next step is to get your proposal started. But you don’t need to reinvent the wheel.

Thankfully, there are different freelance tools that can help you create a terrific graphic design proposal quickly and easily. While most of these tools offer paid plans you’d pay monthly or annually, some offer freemium services such as invoicing.

However, to get the most features when drafting your graphic design proposal, you might want to consider a paid version. Here are some software tools to help you get started:

Fiverr Workspace

Fiverr Workspace offers an efficient suite of smart and seamless freelancer tools. It has all the essential features that help you with invoicing, customized proposals, contracts, and more.

What’s more, it is easy to set up and use in just a few clicks. Plus, if you’ll need a legally binding contract along the way, Fiverr Workspace allows you to embed the Standard Freelance Contract from the Freelancers Union with one click.

Other features include:

• Automatic reminders
• Smart alerts
• E-signatures
• Automatic invoices, and much more.

Fiverr Workspace is also free to sign up for and doesn’t charge you for standard contracts if you’ve got just one client. This makes it perfect for first-time freelancers.

If you’re not keen on using complex proposal creation tools, then HoneyBook’s easy-to-use interface might be what you need. It has tons of basic options to create a graphic design proposal without requiring any HTML coding knowledge.

All you need to do is create sections and move blocks around those sections for each part of your proposal. These blocks let you add images, text, and other handy options to your proposal. Creating proposals doesn’t get any easier than this!

Bonsai’s proposal creation feature offers you multiple and flexible proposal templates you can customize for every client. The proposal package also lets you upsell services to your clients by allowing you to edit a previously-created proposal.

Along with these remarkable features, you can track when clients view your proposal and make scheduling decisions right away. The best thing about using these tools is that you’ll save a lot of time and energy that you could use for more useful activities.

4. Describe the problem

Remember when I said to do some proper research in step 2? Yes? Now is the time to put your research to use. Having a good grasp of the client’s problem gives you the following advantages:

I. It shows the client you fully understand their problem and that your solution will address their needs.

II. It gives you a framework for your proposal.

If you’ve done your homework, this should be a breeze. Be specific. Use relevant stats, data, figures to buttress your “problem statement.”

Here’s an example of a concise problem statement, stating a specific problem.

This example ticks the box when it comes to being concise. That way, there’s no room for ambiguity.

By stating the client’s problem in your own words, you show a thorough understanding of the issue being faced by the client. If done correctly, this section should help convince your prospect that you’re the right person for the job.

5. Address the main goals and objectives

This is where you give a situation appraisal by describing the goals and objectives (you’ve surmised from the research) of the problem. To stay on course, you must clearly understand what success looks like for the graphic design project by using SMART goals :

This framework serves as a jump-off point for measuring and assessing your goals. You might even score bonus points if you assess the situation from another angle that the client didn’t think of. Aim for something short — two, three paragraphs at most. After this, move on to proposing a solution.

6. Provide your solution + next steps/deliverables

The solution strategy section is the core of your graphic design proposal. Think of it as the key to your client’s conversion. If your client got this far, surely, they’re interested in what you have to offer. Don’t disappoint them.

How do you write a solution section that will bring you closer to landing the job? You can follow the outline below:

• A detailed plan of action that describes the steps to achieving the solution.
• Hard facts, data, and statistics that back up the proposed course of action.
• Consistent and defined opportunities to assess the solutions you proposed. In other words, you are providing a feedback mechanism for your client.

I’m not saying other sections of your graphic design proposal are not as important, but this is the meat of it. When it comes to deliverables, do not leave room for imagination. You must visually communicate by explaining what goes on behind the scenes. For example, you can include initial sketches, design revisions, and mood boarding.

This is also where you incorporate your portfolio into the proposal, with the relevant pieces.

For instance, if you’re trying to land a book design project, include previous book designs in your portfolio. Likewise, if you’re bidding for a print ad campaign, showcase previous print ads.

That said, for this section to be successful, all data, statistics, and outlined solutions must culminate into an actionable plan that tackles and benefits the client in the long term.

7. Outline the costs involved

Many designers aren’t comfortable setting their rates, possibly because they don’t know their worth. However, you should be careful not to sell yourself short if you already have a comprehensive portfolio.

I’ve found that asking for the client’s total budget for the project helps outline graphic design services’ costs. Many clients are skeptical about graphic design rates but can be flexible if you can assure them that your work is worth every penny.

Here are the steps you need to follow when you do pricing for a graphic design proposal:

1. Estimate the complexity and timeline of the design project. If you’re a seasoned graphic designer, you should be able to predict the number of hours you’ll need to complete specific types of deliverables.

2. Come up with an hourly rate based on your previous work, the industry standard, and the client’s budget.

3. Multiply the total number of estimated hours for the project by the hourly rate. This will form your initial costing.

4. Consider upselling your services for different project options.

You may plan to add a certain number of revisions or different image sizes for multiple platforms. You can also identify gaps in the client’s marketing using the research you performed earlier in the process. For instance, you can offer web design services if you feel that the current site needs a makeover.

8. Call to action — sign, deposit, etc.

After stating your case as the best person for the job, you’ll want to end the graphic design proposal with a solid call to action.

Give clear and specific instructions on the next steps and how to execute the agreement. These instructions help your prospect move to the next stage with ease.

If you created your graphic design proposal document on a PDF, embed PayPal buttons so clients can pay online. A tool like Fiverr Workspace allows your clients to attach e-signatures and enable invoice payments.

You may also promote yourself one last time by telling your prospect why they should hire you. This is less of a hard sell and more of sharing your excitement about working with clients and delivering what they need. This will end the proposal on a positive note.

Struggling to get better-paying clients as a freelance designer? Then, check out this next section to see how to use all the tips we’ve discussed so far below.

Now that we’ve discussed the elements of a graphic design proposal, let’s look at a sample proposal that could help you land new clients .

As you see, this example stated the problem specifically. In addition, it demonstrated a thorough understanding of the design project, which is to overhaul the client’s brand identity to target new customers in Northborough.

Goals and Objectives

Strategy and Solutions

For this section, list out the strategy you intend to use for the project. That could include research, design, implementation, and evaluation. Demonstrate your design prowess by making the strategies and solutions; SMART, to solve the problem.

Deliverables

The “deliverables” should be a continuation of the “solutions’ section. List out the milestones you hope to achieve and deliver. It must be as straightforward and visually appealing as possible.

Costs and Pricing

State out the implementation costs of the entire graphic design project. Ensure it includes your terms for implementation, such as the payment timeline for the first deposit and discounts, if applicable.

If you’re upselling your services by offering bundle package(s), use this section to explicitly state the prices of each service, in a table, like in this example. Then, make it scannable by highlighting the most important parts like the total amount and service description.

Call to action

Finish off the graphic design proposal with a straight-to-the-point CTA and next steps.

When you follow these outlined steps, you’ll earn your way into the heart of your client. What’s more, you now have the edge over those who don’t bother with proposals. This’ll allow you to land more projects and increase your freelancer cash flow.

There are many steps to being a professional graphic designer. Aside from knowing how to design, you also need to know how to find clients. Learning how to create a graphic design proposal will allow you to reach out to potential clients and showcase your work.

Creating a graphic design proposal starts with initiating a discussion with the potential client and continues with in-depth research about the client’s needs and what they intend to get out of the project. These insights will allow you to use professional tools to put together a proposal that addresses the client’s needs and gives them a clear idea of your vision for their campaign.

Finally, learning how to compute cost estimates will help set you apart from the competition as a graphic designer who doesn’t overcharge nor underestimate their value.

A well-curated design portfolio, accompanied by a comprehensive project plan, a reasonable price model for deliverables, and a strong CTA will help convince your clients that your design services are worth every penny.

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Freelancing Growth

Written by Jimmy Rodriguez

Staff at millo.co.

Jimmy Rodriguez is the COO of Shift4Shop , a completely free, enterprise-grade ecommerce solution. He's dedicated to helping internet retailers succeed online by developing digital marketing strategies and optimized shopping experiences that drive conversions and improve business performance.

Jimmy's Articles

Reviewed & edited by Adam Wright , Editor at Millo.

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• Design proposals

Graphic Design Proposal Template

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PREPERED FOR:

​ [Client.FirstName] [Client.LastName] [Client.Company] ​

CREATED BY:

​ [Sender.FirstName] [Sender.LastName] [Sender.Company] ​

Unlimited templates & signatures for 19$/month

Cover Letter

​ [Sender.Email]

​ [Sender.Phone] ​

Thank you for considering [Sender.Company] for your graphic design needs. After learning more about the project, I'm confident that our team can deliver fantastic results on time and within budget.

This graphic design proposal outlines the scope of work and pricing of our services. If you have any questions, please contact me directly over email or phone. To accept this proposal, please sign below.

​ [Sender.FirstName] [Sender.LastName] ​

Executive Summary

You can expect the following deliverables by this date:

​ [Client.Company] is looking to revamp its brand identity, which includes logo redesign, corporate brand book design, and an updated website. [Sender.Company] has handled a number of graphic design projects for businesses in software development. Our work has demonstrated significant achievements in business growth and brand development, helping our clients to garner lasting results. 

We hope to provide [Client.Company] with similar success through our outstanding graphic design services. Our team will work with your marketing department aiming at (Insert Date) as the completion date for this project.

NEW LOGO IDENTITY

TEMPLATES FOR BUSINESS CARDS

LETTERHEAD / TEMPLATE FOR COMPANY'S ELECTRONIC DOCUMENTS

SET OF GRAPHIC DESIGNS, ILLUSTRATIONS AND CONCEPTS FOR CORPORATE SWAG (MUGS, PENS, ETC.)

We have consulted multiple companies in the area of graphic design. It is crucial that your brand speaks directly to your end customers, causes positive emotions, and expresses the values of your company.

When working with [Sender.Company] , you're in good hands.   

The Assessment section is where you, as the designer, elucidate the strengths and weaknesses of the Client’s current design/brand/website, etc. This section can also contain analysis of market trends in the Client’s industry. 

Evaluating your Client’s competitors can help you firmly grasp the situation, and will allow you to anticipate your Client’s needs more quickly. You can also demonstrate here you and your company’s understanding of your Client’s own unique brand.

Started in 1998 by Stephen Salmeister, [Sender.Company] has always aimed at being a boutique, consultative graphic design firm.

We live and breathe graphic design, which is the main area of our focus. In addition, our team members have many years of experience within the fields of marketing, advertising, web design, and computer programming. We're passionate about our clients’ success and go the extra mile to ensure ultimate satisfaction.

Visit our cozy office at  (insert address) — let's have coffee, talk marketing, branding, identity and graphic design. 

Meet the people who have developed [Sender.Company] into the success story it is today.

(Name of Employee)

Design Head

(Name of Employee) is one of the pioneers in the design space, having contributed to over (Insert Number) + projects in their lifetime. They began this graphic design firm with the idea to make the services of graphic design affordable for all. Their vision is to provide premier agency-level expertise, at a rate that is affordable for small, medium, and large businesses alike.

Having worked on some of the largest projects the design industry has ever seen, such as (Campaign X) for (Company X), (Campaign Y) for (Company Y), and (Campaign Z) for (Company Z), (Name of Employee)’s expertise and experience is one of the biggest assets [Sender.Company] has.

Design Team

Account Manager

Meet our design team — aka, [Sender.Company] ’s heroes without a cape. They make your vision come alive through their creativity, expertise, and dedication to get your job expertly done. At [Sender.Company] , we’re proud of the work we create, and that pride can only be accredited to our design team.

This is (Name of Employee) — every client’s favorite account manager! (Name of Employee) is like a wish-granting genie, and they focus all their energy on making your vision come true. Just let them know your design requirements, and they’ll make sure it looks just the way you want it to.

Services we offer

Come explore the range of services we offer our clients:

DESIGNING FOR OFFLINE MEDIA, SUCH AS BILLBOARDS, POP-UPS, ETC.

DESIGNING FOR SOCIAL MEDIA

DESIGNING FOR THE METAVERSE

TRADITIONAL GRAPHIC DESIGN SERVICES SUCH AS LOGO AND BRANDING

DESIGN FOR YOUR CONTENT MARKETING NEEDS, INCLUDING BLOG POST CREATIVES, PRESENTATION DESIGNS, ETC.

DESIGNS FOR EVENTS — BUSINESS CARDS, CUT-OUTS, POSTERS, BANNERS, AND MORE

Client Testimonials

“ [Sender.Company] is, by far, one of the best design firms that I’ve worked with. I work as the content manager at (Client Company) , which means that I have the need for design work for blogs, social media, and videos. We didn’t have the capacity to do it in-house, so we turned to [Sender.Company] , and we were thoroughly impressed! They are professional, they submit work on time, and, most importantly, they’re reliable!”

“I have worked with many great graphic designing firms in my time, and what makes [Sender.Company] stands out from the rest is their attention to detail for all scope of work. I’m extremely glad I entered into a contract with them, because without their support, I think I might be lost with my design needs. I’m telling you this — they’re not just a service provider, they’re also a business partner (one that you need on your team).”

(Client.FirstName) (Client.LastName)

(Client.Role) (Client.Company)

What makes us stand out

There’s too much competition in the graphic design world. However, we pride ourselves on staying two steps ahead of the competition. Here are a few ways in which we stand out in such a crowded field:

We have over (Number) + years of experience in the industry, making us one of the pioneers in the space in [Sender.Country] .

Our network reaches far and wide. Although, at the present moment, we may only operate from [Sender.Country] , our team of designers and freelancers extends to all corners of the world. We have our team residing in (Country X), (Country Y) , and (Country Z) — and the list is forever growing!

Our team is made of professionals who know what they’re doing, and they take pride in the work they create. This means that till the time you’re not happy with your work, we’re not happy with our work.

​ [Sender.Company] places communication at the heart of what we do. We truly believe that communication is the ringbearer of utmost professionalism, and we want to keep our clients involved and in the loop about all that we do.

We just don’t think of the present — we’re invested in the future as well. If there’s any design aspect where we think we can lend a hand, we’re ready to explore. For example, we have begun designing samples for the metaverse.

Recognitions Received

Due to our team’s hard work and dedication, and [Sender.Company] ’s contribution to the design industry, we have been recognized through the following awards:

INSERT AWARD 1 NAME AND DETAILS

When it comes to  graphic design  for print or promotional materials, there are endless options. These are our top picks for logo, brand books, business cards, and/or brochures design. 

The goal of a creative process in graphic design is to set clear milestones and deadlines ensuring timely delivery of the project. By its own nature, creativity is hard to harness into a predictable and linear set of stages, but it is extremely important to do so.

While the exact milestone completion dates may vary by 1 to 2 days, we stick to a tight schedule and follow the process, outlined below: ​

Milestone and Timeline

Prising & terms

Care to rate this template?

Your rating will help others.

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Show off your graphic design company by adding photos and examples of your work to this customizable graphic design proposal template.

Proposal Templates

Free proposal templates for any profession!

• Graphic Design

Graphic Design Proposal Template

The graphic design proposal presents a graphic designer’s skill and portfolio as well as a client’s objectives to secure a contract. The graphic designer will discuss the steps of the graphic design process in relation to the client’s project and solidify the terms and conditions for the design service.

Types Of Graphic Design Proposals (16)

• Branding and Identity – The graphic design proposal that pulls together a designer’s skill with color, logos, typography, and brand voice for clients seeking to establish their brand identity.
• Environmental Graphic Design – The proposal that seeks clients with projects in physical spaces, such as with signage.
• Event Branding and Design – This proposal is designed for clients with events that require graphics, such as banners or stage designs.
• General Graphic Design – This proposal gives a comprehensive overview of all of the graphic designer’s skill sets (i.e., logo design, digital graphics, branding, etc.) seeking to appeal to a wide range of clients.
• Illustration Proposal – A proposal focusing on a graphic designer’s proficiency with conceptualization and representation because the projects will involve material such as digital media, book covers, album covers, or posters.
• Infographic Design – A proposal that shows a designer’s ability to communicate complex information through graphics.
• Logo Design – This proposal concentrates on the graphic designer’s mastery of color, typography, and symbolism since it aims at clients who wish to associate their brand identity with a single representative image.
• Merchandise Design – This proposal will show a graphic designer’s versatility in materials and is aimed at clients with projects such as those to develop promotional items or apparel accessories.
• Motion Graphics – This proposal is for clients seeking animated graphics or videos in their explainer videos or digital marketing.
• Packaging Design – A proposal demonstrating the graphic designer’s knowledge of product packaging design, thus featuring the designer’s ability to combine functionality with aesthetics and branding.
• Presentation Design – This aims at clients who require graphic design for seminars, meetings, and conferences; thus, the graphic designer should have strong presentation skills.
• Print Design – A proposal for clients requiring physical printed material such as flyers, posters, or business cards.
• Publication Design – A proposal presenting the graphic designer’s experience and proficiency in typography, layouts, and other visual elements because the clients seek to complete a publication project (i.e., e-books, books, magazines, etc.).
• Social Media Design – The proposal is written to attract clients seeking to fill projects involving social media platforms, thus requiring a graphic designer’s understanding of posting banners, profiles, and cover photos.
• UI/UX Design – This document seeks to attract clients with digital projects requiring strong user interface skills (i.e., user experience) because the projects will center on digital products or services such as a cell app.
• Web Design – The proposal focuses on the graphic designer’s online graphic skills (i.e., user interface, multi-platform responsiveness, etc.) since clients will seek to fill online projects such as web pages.

1. Introduction And Executive Summary

Open the proposal with an introduction to your graphic design business or agency. Then, combine the main goals of the project being sought with the positives of its completion so that the client will continue reading.

Project Summary And Objectives Concept And Materials Project Timeline Estimate Cost Qualifications And Credentials

2. Client Overview

Spell out the basic understanding of the client’s needs through a business description, the current branding and design, challenges and goals to the design, and a history of the client’s previous designs. The competitive landscape must be fully described because the client should feel comfortable that the design agency has a firm grip on the industry, the client, and the project.

Introduction To Client, Business Description, Industry Context Design Challenges And Goals Competitive Landscape, Previous Design Efforts Communication Preferences Budget And Timeline

3. Scope Of Project

Deliberately list the activities and tasks of the graphic design project with a step-by-step overview of design concepts, such as content integration, brand identity elements, revisions, and iterations. Identify any exclusions to the project scope; however, if applicable, provide the client with any optional additional services.

Design Services, Deliverables, And Exclusions Collateral Materials Website Design Elements Print And Packaging Design Final Artwork, Presentation, And Review

4. Design Approach And Concept

Explain the graphic design agency’s methodology in relation to the client’s project vision accordingly. Also, explicitly describe the graphic design team’s conceptualization process (i.e., creative vision, design objectives, adaptability and scalability, and brand alignment).

Conceptual Framework Audience Considerations Visual Language, Visual Hierarchy, Integration Of Media Responsive Design (If Applicable) Client Collaboration

5. Design Process

Enlighten the client of the graphic design agency’s design process because this aids their understanding of the agency’s approach. Therefore describe the research and discovery process, storyboarding, design creation, refinement, and all other design processes.

Introduction To the Design Process Conceptualization And Storyboarding Or Wireframing Client Presentation, Feedback, Revisions, Finalization Preparation And Presentation Of Deliverables Client Collaboration, Client Review And Approval

6. Project Timeline

Present the graphic design project schedule with attention to each phase (i.e., estimated duration, milestones, client feedback periods). This must give the client an overall understanding of when the project starts, what happens during it and when, and its completion date.

Project Date Range Final Design Presentation And Final Deliverables Dates Buffer Time And Project Completion Date Communication, Updates, Client Input And Approvals Contingency

7. Project Budget

Deliver the cost breakdown of the graphic design project since this will be important to the client and will factor into their decision-making process. Disclose the design fees and the costs for revisions, changes, and additional work, as well as any fixed project rates or hourly rates that apply.

Cost Breakdown (Design Fees, Hourly Rates, Taxes) Fixed Project Price Additional Revisions Or Rounds, Additional Costs Payment Schedule, Late Payment Policy Deposit Amount, Payment Method

8. Design Team

Display the graphic design team roster assigned to this project. Introduce team members with their names combined with their qualifications, education, portfolio, and contact information. Also, explain each one’s design approach (if relevant), roles, and responsibilities.

Lead Designer, Designers, And Creatives Experience And Expertise Collaboration And Communication Client Relationship Contact Information

9. Client Responsibilities

The client’s obligations must be agreed upon and adhered to so that this proposal may enter the next stage. Thus, spell out all the client’s responsibilities, such as transparent and efficient communication and prompt payment.

Content And Materials Preparation Compliance With Design Guidelines Design Approvals, Reviewing Deliverables Design Direction, Input, Feedback Change Requests

10. Intellectual Property And Rights

Address any potential questions regarding intellectual property rights related to this project in detail. For example, specify client usage rights and the designer’s portfolio rights.

Stock Elements, Modifications, And Derivative Works Attribution And Credit, Exclusivity, Licensing Transfer Of Rights Legal Disclaimers, Confidentiality, And NonDisclosure Termination And Intellectual Property

11. Communication And Collaboration

Establish the frequency, etiquette, and preferred methods of communication between the graphic design team and the client. Furthermore, elaborate on appropriate response times, updates, document sharing, and other collaboration tools and topics.

Communication Channels, Contact Information Scheduled Meetings (Agendas, Objectives) Client Input Incorporation Feedback (Review Process, Incorporation Timeline) Language And Tone

12. Terms And Conditions

Formally document the legal terms, conditions, operational requirements, and relationship between the graphic design agency and the client. In other words, every condition, term, and provision between the designer and the client should be in writing.

Intellectual Property Rights Confidentiality, Non-Disclosure, Liability, And Indemnification Dispute Resolution, Protocol, Cancellations, Additions Governing Law Amendments And Modifications

13. Approval Process

Define how the graphic design agency will gain approval and how the client may deliver such approval accordingly. Overall, ensure the approval process and its scheduling are well-explained to the client.

Design Concept Approval Feedback (Consolidation, Incorporation Timeline) Revision Rounds, Formalizing Changes, And Scope Change Approvals Approval Of Final Design, Deadline, Confirmation Client Sign-Off

14. References And Portfolios

Assure the client of the graphic designer’s expertise by listing references, testimonials, and online portfolio(s). Specifically, impress the client with a history of the achievements and recognition the graphic design artist or team has earned.

Project Example And Details Case Studies, Before And After Comparisons Industry Relevance Client Diversity Contact Information

15. Appendices

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Top 10 Graphic Design Proposal Templates with Samples and Examples

Nidhi Aswal

Graphic design stands as the emissary of a brand, enriching messages with meaning and dimension. It not only captures attention but also weaves stories that resonate and remain memorable.

With visuals the obvious answer, the importance of graphic design is paramount. It elevates brands and guides consumer decisions through visual storytelling. Having an already prepared, ready-to-present graphic design proposal PPT Template is career and life -saving for designers and businesses.

It streamlines the proposal process, ensuring critical elements are covered – from conceptualization to final design delivery. It's not just about showcasing talent; it's about demonstrating an understanding of the client’s needs, the project’s goals, and the strategic thinking that will drive results.

SlideTeam’s editable PPT Templates emerge as the answer, and offer immense benefits. These are time-savers, allowing you to focus on the creative aspect rather than the repetitive structuring of proposals. They ensure consistency, which is key in maintaining a professional image.

Most importantly, these templates are 100% editable and customizable. These can be edited/tailored to fit any client’s requirements, making your proposal as unique as the design solution you are offering.

Refine your approach to problem-solving with key insights from our blog featuring essential issue proposal examples, complete with templates and samples with a click here .

A graphic design proposal is more than a mere document; it reflects your project insight, professionalism, and commitment to delivering a strategic addition to your client’s brand. SlideTeam’s slides enrich your graphic designing process and equip you to set industry benchmarks. Boost your pitches with our Top 10 Graphic Design Proposal Templates with Samples and Examples.

Let’s start.

Template 1: Graphic Design Proposal PowerPoint Presentation Slides

Launch your pitch with our Graphic Design Proposal PowerPoint Presentation Slides, a top-notch slide crafted for precision and impact. It presents your company, proposal title, client name, and delivery date, framed by the presenter’s credentials. This PPT Theme is your initial step in showcasing thoroughness and commitment to quality. Tailored to be impactful, it invites your clients to a professional journey, aligning your artistic prowess with their business goals and marks the beginning of a promising collaboration.

Download now!

Template 2: Graphic Design Project Proposal Example Document Report

Present your freelance prowess with this PPT Deck design that features specified spaces for both the submitter and the receiver of the graphic proposal, neatly listing your professional details alongside the client's information. This template paves the way for significant client interactions, marking your identity as a graphic design expert. It prepares you for a pitch that stands apart and communicates the tailored nature of your services. Download this PPT Layout now from the link below.

Template 3: One-Page Graphic Design Proposal Presentation Report Infographic

This One-Page Graphic Design PPT Proposal streamlines your presentation, delivering a polished and comprehensive snapshot of services. It ensures your message is both clear and compelling. This PPT Template conveys your company’s ethos, design methodology, and unique value proposition with clarity, highlighting your brand’s professional distinction. It covers elements like team details, risks, workflow and project cost and duration.

Template 4: One-Page Freelance Graphic Design Services Proposal Report 

Introducing the One Page Freelance Graphic Design Services Proposal, a PPT Template that blends style with substance. It articulates your proposal's specifics with visual finesse, ideal for freelancers working with recruitment agencies on specific projects. It details your services from scope to compensation and confidentiality, proposal details, and client agreement details, etc, laying out all vital elements for transparent collaboration. More than a visual asset, this report PPT Slide serves as a crucial reference for service agreements, fostering clear communication and mutual understanding between you and your clients.

Template 5: Designing Process for Graphic Design Project

Explore the essentials of our graphic design workflow with our concise PPT Infographic, highlighting five key stages: Gather, Brainstorm, Conceptualize, Modify, and Deliver. It starts with information collection, evolves through ideation, shapes into tangible concepts, refines through revisions, and ends with a finished design. This PowerPoint Presentation is crafted to outline your unique process, ensuring you convey your approach with clarity and impact to your clients. It's a streamlined blueprint that showcases the journey from concept to creation.

Template 6: Graphic Design Project Proposal Example Document Report

Explore our graphic design project summary with this comprehensive PPT Slide. It presents a clear narrative of client needs alongside your customized solutions, showcasing a strategic blend of requirements and innovation through project context and solution. This PPT Deck communicates the essence of the project, aligning client objectives with your creative output. It serves as a testament to your approach, condensing complex concepts into a concise overview that appeals to stakeholders and highlights the strategic insight your services contribute.

Template 7: Addressing the Methodology and Pricing Model for Graphic Design Project

This PowerPoint Presentation presents the methodology and pricing structure for graphic design projects. This PPT Theme outlines the systematic approach and the pricing details, ensuring a clear understanding of the design process and associated costs. This visual guide articulates strategic planning behind creative execution and transparent communication of value, allowing clients to grasp the project's direction and financial implications.

Template 8: Project Context Graphic Design Proposal

Our Graphic Design Proposal PPT Deck delineates a clear path from client needs to creative solutions. It captures client demands like logos, templates, layouts, and web elements, and offers a structured five-phase solution approach. Starting with creative discovery, it moves to competitive analysis, concept sketching, plan revision, and concludes with project finalization. This PPT Template is designed to convey a detailed and systematic process, ensuring that client specifications are addressed with accuracy and innovative design strategies.

Template 9: Our Services and Offerings for Graphic Design Proposal

Discover our collection of graphic design services with informative PPT Templates. This PowerPoint Presentation highlights seven core offerings: Cover design, brochure layout, wall stickers, outdoor hoardings, flyers, banners, and PowerPoint Presentations. It also introduces additional services, including logo creation, branding, social media graphics, email templates, packaging, promotional merchandise, and custom illustrations. Overall, 14 creative solutions showcase our adaptability and dedication to fulfilling your design requirements with exceptional quality and ingenuity.

Template 10: Our Packages for Graphic Design Proposal

This PPT Presentation outlines our versatile graphic design pricing options, crafted to match project needs. The hourly pricing model is perfect for intermittent tasks requiring adaptability. For sustained design work, our full-time equivalent model offers a cost-efficient solution. Alternatively, the fixed pricing model suits projects with precise goals. Our pricing structures give clients the flexibility to choose an option that aligns with their project's scale and financial plans, promoting transparency and ensuring value. In this lucid PPT Layout, our approach to pricing is designed to foster a transparent and valuable partnership from the start.

SEAL THE DEAL NOW!

Wrap up your hunt for exceptional presentation resources with SlideTeam’s Graphic Design Proposal PPT Theme. Take your pitch to the next level and engage your clients with a sharp, professional display of your creative expertise and thoughtful strategy. Our PowerPoint Presentations showcase your extensive service offerings, emphasizing a commitment to quality and attention to detail. From clear pricing models to comprehensive project overviews, our infographics are the key to unlocking potential client relationships. Let your proposals reflect the caliber of your work and make a lasting impression. Explore SlideTeam’s offerings today and arm your business with the finest resources for success.

Are you looking to enhance your consulting pitch? Read our blog with a click here for insights on creating an impactful consulting proposal cover letter, complete with PPT Templates.

PS Boost your consultancy’s client engagement with our expert Business Consulting Proposal Template. Click here for a blog tutorial on enhancing your pitch with our tailored PPT Resources.

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Apr 23, 2020 • 19 minutes read

How to create a winning design proposal with user research

A solid proposal acts as a source of truth for you and your client. Here’s how user research can make your next design proposal a success.

Simon Dumont

When a potential client asks for a design proposal, freelance designers can react in one of two ways:

• Google a cookie-cutter PDF proposal template that ticks all the boxes. Why do extra work when you’re not getting paid for it?
• Seize the opportunity to impress the client—and set their expectations of your work going forward.

This article is for people who embrace the second mindset. Because while it’s true that clients use competing design proposals to decide who they’ll hire for a project—so yours needs to stand out—they also provide a vital framework you can refer to throughout the project.

In other words, a solid proposal can act as a source of truth that protects you as a freelancer from a client’s goals or expectations shifting halfway through a project. And let’s face it, we’ve all been there.

One way to make your proposal rise above the competition and set the project on course for success? Include user research. As a vital part of the design process, making user research and testing part of your proposal immediately demonstrates the value your design will add for your prospective client.

Show them that the foundation of great design is understanding their users, and you’ll also get buy-in to do more user testing further down the line. Leave it out, and the client might see it as an optional part of the process—making it almost impossible for you to design user-centered solutions .

But before we dive into the details of how user research can elevate your design proposal, let’s remind ourselves of what a good proposal template should look like—and what it needs to achieve.

What is a design proposal?

A design proposal is a document or a series of slides that set out your plan for a design project. Normally requested by clients, it’s a way for them to compare the value that different designers are offering them. But value ≠ price. Branding expert Arek Dvornechuck explains:

The best fit for clients doesn't mean the least expensive option, or the best design portfolio. It means that you can move the needle for them and help them with something they need to get done.

So a solid design proposal template doesn’t need to show off your fancy design skills— or even any design skills at all . But it should clearly explain your client’s problem or objective, how your web design will help their business, and why you personally are right for the job.

And crucially, you need to show new clients that you’re the best option for their business in terms they understand. Remember, your client probably doesn’t know design. That’s why they’ve come to you.

But it’s also important to make one thing clear: design proposals don’t have to exist purely for your client’s benefit.

If you approach them the right way, they can guide the design process, keep the project scope in check, and align yours and your client’s expectations. So before you start a proposal, make sure to have productive conversations with the client on the goals, budget, and scope of the project. As designer Ran Segall says:

Your design proposal should never surprise a client.

Instead, it should be a clear, mutually agreed summary of what you both understand about the project.

Why do clients and designers need proposals?

Companies and individuals have so many options to choose from when looking for design services. Clients ask for design proposals because they want to compare your offer with those of other designers and find the best fit for the project.

A well-written design proposal clearly defines what you’ll be doing for your clients and how your proposed solution will address their needs. It allows you to show the value that you're offering and communicate that you're the right person for the job.

Also, a design proposal will help you and your clients set expectations from the beginning. Clearly stating what you'll deliver, when, and how much the service will cost is vital for the project's success.

How to create a design proposal

So, with both your client’s and your own interests in mind, here’s what your proposal writing should cover:

• Cover page: an elegant front cover with a simple, professional design
• Table of contents: a breakdown of your proposal sections with page numbers for easy access
• Project overview: an executive summary of the project based on your conversations with the client. Use the client’s own words to avoid misunderstandings. If their definition of the project is ambiguous, you need to clear this up before starting the proposal.
• Objective: this should be measurable and clearly defined (e.g., increase conversions). If a project has more than one objective, make sure you and the client agree on which takes priority.
• "Why me?" section: convince the client that you’re the best person for the job. They’ve probably seen your work already, so in this section, answer questions like: Why are you interested in solving this problem? Or helping this business? You can also include testimonials from previous clients and information about your design services.
• Scope: clearly define the limits of what you’ll design for the client as part of this project and budget. For example, you might be working on a logo design for a new brand. Defining the scope in the design proposal helps establish the purview of the project and sets realistic expectations.
• Timeline: present a timeline that’s realistic for you. In my experience, most design clients would rather have something done right than done fast. Leave more time than you think you’ll need, as this sets your clients' expectations and gives you breathing space when there are complications.
• Deliverables: write a comprehensive list of what you’ll deliver the client by the end of the project. Make sure they know that anything extra will require adjusting the budget and scope.
• Terms & conditions: check out these tips for writing air-tight T&Cs
• Contact info: seems obvious, but don’t forget!

Most standard proposal templates cover these bases. But what if you want yours to be above and beyond ‘standard’? Let’s talk about how user research can make your design proposal stand out—and guide your work on a project going forward.

Why you should include user research in your design proposal

There are many benefits of including user research in the proposal process. From helping you discover user needs to benchmarking the usability of the current design or competitors, user research can help you succeed. Here’s how.

User research is vital, so get buy-in asap

As a designer, it’s your job to demonstrate to the potential client that there’s no such thing as great design without user research. Show this in the UX research plan , and your client will buy into this idea. Leave it until later, and it’ll be harder to secure time and budget for further user research when the time comes. Erika Hall from Mule Design Studio explains:

When research is defined as a type of work outside of design, it’s easy to define gathering evidence as something extra and find reasons not to do it.

But while the importance of research and testing might be obvious to you as a designer, your client might not instantly be convinced that it helps their business. So let’s think about how you can make this argument with your client’s perspective in mind.

The main idea of doing user testing is to learn about the goals of the people who will use your client’s product in the future. It’s a deeper way for both you and the client to understand their business goals from a user’s perspective. This explanation from UX designer Darko Čengija breaks down the importance of user research in a way your client will understand:

People buy things because they want to achieve something. If your product helps people achieve their goal, they’ll love it, they’ll continue to use it, and they’ll recommend it to others. So, you need to know how they use it.

In other words, your client’s real goal is always to help users achieve their goals. Without understanding the importance of user testing, there’s a good chance your client won’t explain their objective in this way. But by re-framing their problem from a user’s perspective, you can align their business objectives with the project’s.

Take a library app, for example. The business goal of ‘increasing conversions’ could be related to ‘helping more people find the right book for them,’ from a user’s perspective. Show evidence from user research and usability testing that your new design will help more people find books that they like, and you’ll create a link between user research and the business goal in the client’s mind.

Do this at the proposal stage, and they’re much more likely to see user research as a crucial part of your design services and deliverables.

Proposal-stage user research = success further down the line

Once you’ve introduced usability data early in the process, it’s easier to get approval on future iterations of your design. With the user testing data from your design proposal as a benchmark, you now have solid evidence to base future designs on. To find out what’s working and what isn’t, you can do more rounds of usability testing , and compare the results with your early data.

This potentially saves a lot of back and forth with the client if they’re unsure whether to move forward with a design—which is always a danger if neither of you has data to back up your points. Here’s Martin Brady from Zengenti, who we’ll hear more from later:

With an evidence-based approach, it’s much easier to get projects signed off and deliver on time.

Martin Brady , Senior Experience Designer @ Zengenti

Doing user testing ASAP can also prevent the need for big design overhauls later on if a fundamental part of your design isn’t working for users. And fewer iterations means fewer headaches. UX expert Nick Babich agrees:

“If you can invest energy in testing early and prevent problems from happening in the first place, you will save a tremendous amount of time later.”

Just as clearly defining scope, design principles and objectives in your design proposal provides a strong foundation for a project, including user testing future-proofs your design process with solid data, and reassures the client that your designs going forward will be backed by evidence.

Your project proposal will stand out from the competition

Whether it's product design or graphic design, pretty much every designer understands that user testing is important. But not as many start their research at the proposal stage. Since the immediate purpose of any project proposal is to win a project, telling the client what they want to hear can seem more appealing than challenging their perspective on the importance of user research.

But if a client hasn’t mentioned anything about user testing, that doesn’t mean they’re against investing in it—especially if it’ll help their business. Here’s Arek again:

To put it simply: you must appear as the least risky option.

By showing the client solid evidence to back your proposal, you’re delivering the client fresh, data-driven insights before the project even starts. This is especially great value if the client hasn’t done much previous user testing themselves. As a result, your offer will seem like a more valuable business proposal than others that don’t include testing.

Starting to see why how usability testing can help you create a winning proposal? Here’s how a real company does it.

Case study: Zengenti

Zengenti team

According to UK-based content management software company Zengenti, data from usability testing has “been vital in helping us win projects.”

They mostly work with big public sector clients like universities and councils, which have huge numbers of users. Changing their website design is a big deal for them. So providing a quantifiable idea of how a proposed design would help users makes Zengenti a safer option than other pitching designers.

Zengenti starts by collecting insights at the discovery phase , where team members spend time figuring out what both the client and their users want to achieve.

We interview key stakeholders from the company, and equally important, we look at user needs, analytics, and any research that has already been done.

Tip: Before you start your design proposal, ask the client if you can review any usability data, user interviews, or user research they already have.

Next, the Zengenti team makes a quick prototype design with the tasks they’ve identified as most important for what users want to achieve. Then they test the usability of their prototype with Maze to get results fast.

We do a lot of early prototyping and testing with our clients’ actual users. If we have to recruit externally, we survey participants to make sure we get the right people.

Tip: Try to get access to your client’s users as early as possible, even if it's just via social media. The product's current end-users are the most suitable participants for user research.

Of course, conducting user tests the traditional way with in-person sessions is a lot of effort for a design proposal—and it’ll probably take too long to set up. That’s why Zengenti uses Maze to quickly share links for remote usability tests , which people can easily complete in their own time. They’ve found remote testing has other advantages too—besides being fast and easy:

We’re actually getting better results that reflect what people would really be doing in the product, as opposed to what they’ve been pressured to do while someone’s recording them. Maze’s unmoderated approach is really valuable.

Tip: One important rule in usability testing is the difference between what users say vs. what they do . To create the best UX designs, measure and pay attention to both.

By doing user research and showing the value of usability testing from the proposal stage, Zengenti automatically has an edge over other design pitches that only focus on the design brief . And thinking about user needs early doesn’t just win projects—it also guides your work further down the line.

Make your next design proposal data-informed

When putting together a design proposal, it’s easy to focus on making yourself look good by thinking about what the client wants to hear. And in general, both of these instincts are correct.

But user research is an integral part of the design process—without it, products and websites aren’t built to address user goals and pain points. And ultimately, your client’s success depends on their users’ success. So it’s super important to devote time to understanding users and conducting early usability tests. Then you can use the results in your proposal to show your client the value of user testing at the first opportunity.

Down the line, after you’ve won the project, your future self will thank you for getting buy-in for user testing at the start, and for providing early-stage results to work with.

And as a bonus, you’ll instantly stand out from other designers you’re competing with.

Take a look at these design proposal templates to start creating yours now.

How to Write a Graphic Design Proposal

If you want to win better clients for your graphic design agency or freelance practice, you need more than just a portfolio. You need to show your work's intended impact on prospective clients' businesses, how you can help them grow, and the value you provide.

Graphic design sales proposals can help you close deals with ideal clients, but you must ensure they're compelling enough to get to yes.

What is a graphic design proposal?

A graphic design proposal is a document graphic designers or design-focused agencies use in their sales process to communicate their ideas, scope of work, timeline, and cost estimates for a potential project. It is an essential tool in securing new clients and projects as it outlines the creative concepts and strategies that will be used to solve the client's needs.

This document aims to close sales deals and set the right expectations for both the agency and the client.

Graphic Design Proposal Template

Capture clients with a visually appealing and persuasive graphic design proposal – create an imaginative, coherent, and impactful graphic design proposal fast.

Steps to write a graphic design proposal: Key elements to include

There's no universal, one-size-fits-all recipe for writing winning graphic design proposals.

However, there are ways to ensure your sales proposal is compelling, enticing, and effective. Below are the steps you need to take and some of the key elements that should be included in your graphic design proposal:

1. Research your customer's business

Understanding your client's business is an essential first step in crafting a persuasive graphic design proposal. This knowledge shows your potential clients that you see them as more than just another project but as a unique entity with specific needs and goals.

To do this, investigate their industry, competitors, and target audience. Look at their current visual brand and how they communicate with their customers. This step will not only give you a better understanding of what they may need from a design perspective but also offer insights into how your design can help them stand out, increase their market reach, or enhance their brand image.

Once you're done with this, move on to your prospect's current designs:

• Do they match up against industry standards?
• Are they memorable and appealing?
• Are they following design best practices?
• Are they in tune with what your prospect's main messaging is?

These kinds of questions will help you assess your potential customer's current state -- and inform your strategy as well.

2. Write a compelling executive summary

If sales proposals were social media posts, the executive summary would be your "hook" -- the part that compels people to read on and take action. It should provide highlights of what your potential client can expect from your proposed design solution:

• What inspired the concept?
• What impact will it have on their business?
• Why are you the perfect fit for this project?

This is your chance to clarify things for your prospect, get their attention, and make a strong case for why you are the best choice for their design needs. If you're struggling to write this early in the process, you might consider making this first section of your proposal the last thing you work on, once you've compiled all of the information.

3. Define the project scope and goals

This section of your graphic design proposal should outline what exactly you’ll be doing for your client, answering questions like:

• What specific services will you provide?
• How long is the project expected to take?
• What is the timeline for deliverables?
• What is the budget for the project and what are your payment terms?

Clearly defining the project scope and goals sets realistic expectations for both parties and ensures there are no misunderstandings later on. This section should also include a breakdown of costs , including any additional or optional services, and your payment terms.

4. Create and share a visual style guide

Show your prospect you mean business! Create a visual style guide to give them a taste of what your final design will look like. This can include color palettes, example typography, and other elements that will help them visualize the final product. You don't want to invest too much time in this until you've won the business, so for the purpose of this proposal make sure you're just giving your prospect a taste of what's to come if they decide to work with you.

5. Include relevant samples and case studies

Examples give you an opportunity to show off your skills, and expertise and instill confidence in your potential client. Make sure to choose work that is relevant to the project at hand and demonstrates your ability to deliver high-quality designs.

6.Walk the prospect through your design process

After showing off some examples of your designs, it's essential to outline the design process. This step involves clearly articulating your creative process, illuminating how you transform initial concepts into final designs. Include when you'll present creative concepts and how many rounds of revision are included at each step.

Remember, your proposal is not just about selling your design services; it's about selling the experience of working with you. Illustrating your design process effectively can show potential clients why that experience is worth investing in.

7. Outline your deliverables

In this section of the graphic design proposal, you're expected to give a clear and detailed description of what the client will receive upon the completion of the project. Your deliverables could be anything from the final design files in various formats to the original source files, and a comprehensive style guide. Mention each deliverable along with a brief description of its relevance. For instance:

• Final design files: This includes the finished design items in high-resolution formats, such as JPEG, PNG, PDF, etc. These are the files your client will use for their marketing and branding purposes.
• Editable source files: The editable versions of your designs (probably in AI, EPS, PSD formats) allow your client to make minor changes in the future, if needed, without requiring your assistance.
• Style Guide: The style guide is a document that outlines the project's branding elements like logo usage, color palette, typography, imagery, etc. It ensures consistency in the client's brand representation across different platforms.

Remember also to add information on what you don't include, like a fourth round of edits, unique, custom illustrations, copywriting, etc., if they're not part of your package. This will help set clear expectations and prevent confusion or misunderstandings later.

8. Explain success metrics

Measuring success in graphic design can be difficult, but it's important to provide your clients with some metrics that will help them evaluate the effectiveness of your work. These could include:

• Timely delivery
• Increased brand recognition or perception
• Increase in leads or sales
• Positive customer feedback or reviews

By setting measurable goals and success metrics, you can showcase the impact and value of your design work, helping to build long-term relationships.

9. Write about your company and team

Your graphic design proposal should also include a brief overview of your company and the team members who will be working on the project. This could include their qualifications, experience, and relevant skills.

Introducing your team can add a personal touch to your proposal and allow potential clients to get to know you better. It also shows that you have a strong team to handle their design needs effectively.

10. Provide a cost breakdown

Break down how much everything costs, what each item is quoted as, and any additional costs associated with the project. This will help clients understand where their money is going and what they get in return for their investment.

Make sure to be transparent about your pricing , including any potential extra charges or fees that may come up during the project. This helps to build trust and avoid any misunderstandings down the line.

11. Conclude with the next steps

Your proposal should have compelled the prospect to move forward with your services by now. Make it easy for them by clearly outlining the next steps and how they can get started with you. This could be as simple as having them sign a contract or schedule a call to discuss further details.

Example of graphic design proposal template

Our graphic design proposal template is designed to help you create a professional and persuasive proposal that will win over potential clients. We have included all the sections you need to have better sales conversations with your prospective clients and improve sales performance :

• An executive summary
• Your priorities
• 12-month goals
• Your approach to design
• Portfolio samples
• Pricing Breakdown
• eSignature field

You can grab this template , adjust it to your branding and your customer's needs, and use it to start closing deals today. You don't need any coding or technical skills to create a professional and polished web-based document.

What’s the best format for a graphic design proposal?

The best format for a graphic design proposal is a clear, concise, and visually appealing document. It should showcase your understanding of your client's needs, as well as skills, experience, and approach to design. It should also include details about deliverables, cost breakdown, and expectations.

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Final thoughts

The best sales proposals flow like stories: they focus on the customer and what their pain points are and offer your services as a way to support the prospect's needs. Be concise, compelling, and polish your proposal with great design skills.

Remember: proposals are not just a document; they're a conversation starter. Use them to showcase your work and build long-lasting relationships with potential clients. And don't forget to follow up! Your proposal is just the start of the customer journey - be sure to keep in touch and continue building that relationship even after the project is completed.

Ready to create a graphic design proposal template that you can tailor to the needs of any potential client? Qwilr is here to help you get started in minutes so you have more time to do what you love - design great work!

About the author

Marissa Taffer | Founder & President of M. Taffer Consulting

Marissa Taffer is the Founder & President of M. Taffer Consulting. She brings over 15 years of sales and marketing experience across various industries to a broad range of clients.

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Learn how to write a design proposal that wins freelance design jobs. Bonus design proposal templates to help you get started.

Renee Fleck

Written by Renee Fleck

Published on Aug 06, 2021

Last updated Mar 11, 2024

If you’re a freelance graphic designer, chances are you’ll need to write a design proposal for some of your prospective clients. But if you’ve never written a design proposal before (or your design proposals aren’t winning you work), the process can be a bit daunting.

What should you include? What sets a winning design proposal apart from all the ones that are passed over? The answers are simpler than you might think.

Before we show you how to write a design proposal that wins you more work, let’s talk about what a design proposal is (and why you really need one).

What is a design proposal?

A design proposal is a formal document (or presentation) that freelance graphic designers typically create and send to prospective clients after an initial kickoff meeting discussing high-level project objectives.

The purpose of a design proposal is to outline the core details and deliverables of the project along with your proposed solution for how you would go about accomplishing the client’s goals.

For a client, design proposals help set project expectations and emphasize your value (should this client decide to hire you). For freelancers, a well-written design proposal can ultimately make the difference between you getting hired or not.

Your design proposal checklist

Writing a proposal doesn’t have to be hard. As long as you follow the proposal format outlined below, you’ll be winning over new freelance graphic design clients and projects in no time.

Note: Different types of proposals call for different formats. For the sake of this article, we’ll be outlining a design proposal example that works great for freelance creatives pitching their design services to a prospective client.

There are a number of things an effective design proposal should include. We’ll go through each item in more detail below.

• Scope of the work
• Past Results
• “Why me?”
• Pricing and fee details
• Terms & conditions

✔️ Scope of the Work

One of the most important parts of your design proposal is to spell out the scope of the work you’re going to complete for the potential client—in other words, the project deliverables.

This should be as detailed as you can make it. For example, don’t just say you’ll complete a web design for them. Instead, detail what that website will include (pages, features, if it will be built on a CMS, etc.). This way, there’s little room for misunderstanding later.

You can also include a timeline in this part of your business proposal. While the final dates and timelines should be spelled out in your graphic design contract , giving your potential client an idea of how many days or weeks you plan to spend on the project (or each part of the project) is helpful.

✔️ Past Results

This is an often overlooked section of many design proposals. But a section that explains the  results  you’ve gotten in the past for clients is an excellent selling point.

For example, as a freelance graphic designer, this could include an e-commerce website design that increased a client’s sales, a design you created that won an award, or any other positive results your work has gotten.

Past results are a form of social proof for clients. It tells your prospective clients that you’ve done excellent work for previous clients. And it gives them an idea of what kind of results they can expect from your work.

Virtually every proposal I’ve done that included a solid past results section has secured the project for me.

That’s how powerful this section can be.

✔️ “Why Me?”

Make sure your design proposal sells prospective clients on why you’re the perfect freelancer for their design project.

Why do you want to work on it? How do your skills and prior experience make you a perfect match for their business? Detail how your background makes you the best fit for their design project.

This is also a place in your proposal where you can add a testimonial or two from previous clients to provide further social proof.

Clients like to know that they’re dealing with a known entity who has proven themselves successful in the past.

Don’t be afraid to show them that.

“People hire who they know, who they like, and who they trust.” —  Chris Do, The Futur

✔️ Pricing and Fee Details

This can be the most stressful part of proposal writing for many freelancers. Even if you have standard package prices, it can still be agonizing to wonder whether your prospective client is willing to pay those prices (or even has the budget to).

If you’re billing hourly or by the project, it’s a good idea to factor in a bit of padding in your pricing—just in case there are unexpected delays or overages. You always have the option to charge a client less in the end, but trying to charge more than your proposed rate will often result in resistance or an outright refusal to pay more.

This is also where you should detail when payments are due, including an upfront deposit before beginning the work.

Let clients know how long they’ll have to pay invoices and if there are any consequences for late payments.

✔️ Terms & Conditions

Some freelance designers opt to have a lawyer write up this portion of their proposals, which isn’t a bad idea by any means.

But if that’s not something you’re interested in doing, your best bet is to spell out terms in clear, straightforward language. 

So what should you include here? You should reiterate details like a deposit being due upfront and any penalties for late payments.

You should also include details about intellectual property rights, such as that you retain the copyright to all work until payment is made in full. Also be sure to include things that you’re  not  transferring ownership of, such as fonts.

You might want to include a point about how long the proposal is valid for (such as 30 or 60 days), so that you don’t have a client come back two years later expecting you to honor the same terms and pricing for your product or service.

Pro Tip:  Keep this part as short and simple as you can. Clients don’t want to read a 20-page section of terms and conditions, so this can be an easy place to outshine your competition.

✔️ Next Steps

The point of a design proposal is to win a client’s business. But one thing so many freelancers overlook is actually asking for that business and telling the client what comes next.

This section of your project proposal doesn’t need to be complicated. If your proposal also serves as your contract, you can simply instruct clients to sign off on the proposal, send the deposit, and then you can set up your initial meeting if necessary or get right down to work.

The important thing here is to make it easy for them to know  exactly  what to do next in order to hire you.

Presenting your design proposal

In many cases, you’ll “present” your design proposal by emailing it to the client.

When emailing the client, be sure you clarify that you’re including a proposal for the specific project you discussed, mention anything in particular you want them to take notice of, and let them know when you’re available to begin work on their graphic design project.

This is also a good time to thank them for their time and let them know that you’re looking forward to working on their project.

On the off chance that you have a meeting to present the proposal, be sure to cover the most important sections first: the scope of the work, your past results and why you’re the perfect freelancer for the project, and the pricing.

Give them a written version of the design proposal as well, so that they can review everything and refer to it if they have questions.

Always follow up with your clients!

Writing a winning proposal is the first step to gaining a client’s trust (and money). Keep in mind, best practices say to follow up a few days after you present your design proposal to see if the client has any questions about what you’ve sent.

Freelance graphic designers who are proactive about keeping in touch with clients are more likely to earn their business than freelancers who send a design proposal and never follow up.

Whether you use a design proposal template or decide on writing your own, use the checklist above to make sure you’ve covered all of the important points and set yourself up for success.

Use a design proposal template to get started

There’s never a better time to start working on your next design proposal than now.

Still not convinced you can do it on your own? Then  Bonsai  is your answer—it’s our favorite tool for freelance graphic designers. Bonsai lets you write design proposals with the help of their professional proposal templates and seamlessly sends them to clients for instant approval.

If you’re just starting out in the world of freelancing, and don’t need a full suite of tools just yet, try exploring a few project proposal templates on Creative Market. They’ve got a ton of  downloadable templates  you can customize based on the type of proposal you’re looking for.

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Graphic Design Proposal Template

Easily customize this graphic design proposal template and send it online to impress your clients and get more proposals signed.

The original language of this template is English, but you can always use the translated text.

Prepared For Trevor Brendon

Prospero team

[email protected]

Graphic design is more than just what you get to print. Graphic design means giving your brand a face. From getting you a new logo to posters, flyers, service manuals, and other promotion materials, graphic design is a way of painting you differently to your audience. Through proper branding, your product/service would have an identity that would be carved in the hearts of your customers. Graphic design can be magical enough to turn your customers into followers and down-to-earth fans. That’s because you have made your brand in a way that they connect personally to it. Our team has worked on several design projects for companies in agriculture, cosmetics, and household items. These companies have been able to grow significantly and have better engagements through our re-brand. We are hoping that through our graphic design services, your company is perceived in a new light and that it translates to growth for your company. Our team of creatives believes that every stroke, every line, every curve, every gradient, every color, in a proposed logo for you should make a statement about you. Our choice of colors, fonts, and use of design elements would give you an outstanding re-brand for your company. We understand that it is imperative that your brand connects to the end customer, defines the values of your company, and instills positivity in the minds of your targeted audience. The objective of this project is to rebrand your company’s identity and design posters and promotion materials, all these to improve your customer base, increase engagements, and create a movement of fans who connect strongly with your company’s brand.

My team and I are a great fit for your perfect re-branding and graphic design jobs. This is because: 1. We are a team of creative and innovative designers with skills in the areas of content writing, marketing, web design, and advertising. 2. We take time seriously. Your projects will be executed and delivered on time. 3. We have had years of experience consulting for different companies. Our portfolio is unbeatable. 4, Our team of experienced designers is ever ready to help you through your design thought processes, so we both have a full understanding of the best concept that would tell your brand story. 5. We have backups for every design project we do. Our efficiency makes us stand out. 6. Deadlines are deadlines. Once decided, we always meet up.

Here’s a breakdown of the deliverables we’ve discussed and their cost:

To make this project a success, I suggest we meet at these times to deliberate on the progress of the project. You may contact me if you feel additional meetups are needed.

What’s Next

Our team lead will be looking forward to discussing and answering any question regarding this proposal. The company’s phone numbers and email addresses are attached. As indicated above, we meet as soon as you approve this proposal. There we can set dates and decide when to kick-off the project. Work starts as soon as the first payment is made and the resources needed are provided.

1. Resources needed for the execution of this project, such as stock photos, fonts, Adobe in design add-ons are not included in the prices above. Those will be paid for by the client, and the rights to use them shall be theirs. 2. Payment structure: First payment is 50% of the total bill, 50% after approval of the final work. 3. Apart from the number of revisions included in the proposal, additional time used to work for components in the project will be charged $60 per hour. 4. New components that are not described in the scope of work will be assessed in a new estimate. 5. Business day count starts after the client provides all resources requested, such as images, contact details, etc. 6. Usage rights: The client will own the rights to the design only after the work is completed and payment has been received. 7.In the case of project cancellation, while it’s ongoing, the client will pay for the relative part of the work.

Trevor Brendon

Graphic Design Proposal

Proposal maker.

A graphic design proposal can be formatted with full graphics or it can also be just in simple proposal formats . The way that you will present this document depends on the aesthetic and brand that you would like your business to be known for and associated with. Before coming up with a graphic design proposal, you first need to ask yourself this question  –  what Is in a design proposal?  If you can properly provide all the right information to your clients, then it is most likely that your graphic design proposal will be effective.

Whether you are creating  freelance proposal examples & samples or a graphic design proposal for a business or establishment, the cohesion and completion of the items that you will present to your customers is what you should give focus on. If you need help in making a graphic design proposal, refer to the downloadable samples that we have put together in this post.

Graphic Design Proposal Sample Template

• Google Docs
• Apple Pages

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Graphic Design Proposal Template

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Simple Graphic Design Proposal Template

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Freelance Graphic Design Proposal Template

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Graphic Design Project Proposal Template

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Graphic Design Bid Proposal Template

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Graphic Design Proposal Example

Size: A4, US

Graphic Design Creative Services Proposal

static1.squarespace.com

Free Graphic Design

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Graphic Designer Sample

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How to Make an Effective Graphic Design Proposal

A graphic design proposal is simpler to develop when compared to  research proposal examples & samples . It may not follow the steps on  how to write a proposal for a project  depending on the kind of graphic design proposal that you want to develop. However, you should remember that developing one requires your full attention as it can affect the decision of your clients to hire you or not. Here are some ways on how you can make a graphic design proposal that is effective enough for you to close a business deal:

1. Just like in any other  business proposal examples & samples , provide a clear purpose on what the graphic design proposal is all about. You need to target the particular aesthetic and design needs of the client for your proposal to be deemed usable.

2. Give information about the business whether you are a graphic design hub, an organization or a freelance graphic designer. However, do not focus too much on these items as the outcome that you can provide is what matters the most.You may also see  grant proposal examples

Request for Proposal Graphic

Size: 155 KB

Graphic Design Program Proposal

What Should Be in a Graphic Design Proposal?

When creating a graphic design proposal, you have to be aware on  how to write a business proposal for customers . Creating  project proposal examples  is good for your business as it can already showcase what you can offer. If you are making a graphic design proposal, here are a few of the important items that you should include in the document:

1. Create a cover letter that can serve as the initial discussion of what the graphic design proposal is all about.

2. Have a title page that can easily give an idea of the overall content of the graphic design proposal.

3. If you want to specify the items that are presented in the graphic design proposal, create a comprehensive table of contents.You may also see  branding proposal examples

4. It is important for you to have a summary of the cost of your proposal so that the clients can identify whether their budget would fit your costing.

5. Come up with an organized process of how the graphic design creation and development will go. This includes payment terms, assessment of needs of both parties, a timeline for your graphic design project deliverable, and the step by step processes that must be honored within the entire transaction.You may also see  short proposal examples

6. Summarize the entire  professional proposal examples & samples . You may want to include a few other options so that your client can select more of your offers if they are not interested with your main proposal.

Graphic Designer Fundraising

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Request for Proposal Graphic Design

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Tips For Graphic Design Proposal Development

Your graphic design proposal should be able to impress your clients so that they will book you for your services. Listed below are some tips that you can use when developing a graphic design proposal.

1. List down testimonials of your previous clients. This can set the tone of your trustworthiness and credibility. If possible, provide links on where these testimonials have been written.You may also see  simple proposal formats

2. Attach a link of your online portfolio so that your clients can see the kind of graphic design works that you can produce. Aside from your  proposal examples in PDF , this can help them assess whether you are fit for the project or not.

3. Create the  concept proposal examples & samples  based on the initial requirements of the clients. Doing this can help you set the right foot when starting the transaction.

New Program Proposal for Graphic Design

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Graphic Design Example

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Having a Hard Time Making a Graphic Design Proposal?

A graphic design proposal can give your business the break that it needs. The more clients that you can book, the more brand exposure you will have. The samples above can easily guide you in making your own graphic design proposal. However,  short proposal examples & samples  can be made in a more-efficient manner; especially formatting wise, if you will use templates for your layout references. Once you have already received  request for proposal examples , do not forget to remember all the items that we have discussed so you can already be guided on how to develop a comprehensive and outstanding graphic design proposal.

Doing a graphic design proposal is easy. What you need to remember is that not all graphic design proposals are created the same. Hence, you have to make sure that the graphic design proposal that you will create is better when compared to those that are made by businesses in the same industry. Create your graphic design proposal now and tap the potential clients that you target to have.You may also see  investment proposal examples

Text prompt

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• Professional

Generate a proposal for a new school recycling program

Compose a proposal for a school field trip to a science museum.

Graphic Design Proposal Template

The Graphic Design Proposal Template is a captivating design blueprint tailored not just to impress, but more importantly, to secure your prospective clients' nod of approval. Outfitted with an aesthetically pleasing black and white color scheme, artfully accented with a brilliant highlight color, this proposal template commands undivided attention and admiration. Comprising of 12 distinctive and stylish page designs, the template fits seamlessly into any business proposition you seek to make.

The design's modernistic approach is enhanced by its high quality, professional appeal. Apart from being time and cost-effective, this template aligns perfectly with any business use. Intricately developed in Adobe InDesign, it promises absolute flexibility; allowing you the liberty to alternately replace images, fonts, and page layouts, while retaining the overall quality. What's more, it comes with free fonts included, thus adding more value to your purchase.

Despite its captivating design and the level of customization it permits, this template considers ease of use as paramount. Courtesy of the smart layer technology, layers are neatly organized, allowing for easy editing. Further, a 3mm bleed and readiness for 300 DPI print saves you from any hassles during the printing process.

Details & Features

• Proposal Dimensions - 21cm x 29.7cm (A4)
• Indesign Compatibility (.indd & .idml)
• Total of 12 Custom Page Designs
• Color Format - CMYK
• Ready for 300 DPI Print
• 3mm bleed incorporated
• Free Font Used
• Well Organized Layers

Why We Like It

We're smitten by the Graphic Design Proposal Template for its professional aesthetics and high adaptability. It harmoniously marries function and form through an appealing design that is effortlessly editable, making it an indispensable tool for anyone aiming to create a lasting impression.

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Graphic Design Proposal

Introduction .

[Managing Director]

[Head Designer]

Client Testimonials

[client 1 testimonial] .

[Client 2 Testimonial] 

Terms and Conditions

• Unless agreed otherwise with the [Client Company] , all design services require an advance payment of a non-refundable minimum amount of [0.00] % of the project quotation total cost before the work commences or is supplied to them for review. The remaining [0.00] % of the project quotation total will be due upon completion of the work prior to upload to the server or release of materials.
• The [Client Company] will be provided with an Approval Form or Proof Email, and an Invoice prior to final publication. Any invoice queries must be submitted by email within [Time Period] of the invoice date. Publication and/or release of work done by [Graphic Design Company] on behalf of the client, may not take place before cleared funds have been received.
• Confidentiality
• [Client Company] and [Graphic Design Company] will agree not to misuse or disclose, during and after the completion of this association, any confidential information on each other that they may come across during this association.
• This will apply to their respective employees and third party associations as well.
• Cancellation Policy
• Cancellation of orders may be made initially by telephone contact, or e-mail, however, following this, [Graphic Design Company] will need formal notification in writing to the company’s postal address.
• The client will then be invoiced for all work completed over and above the non-refundable deposit that will have been made at the time of first ordering. The balance of payment dues must be paid within [Time Period] .
• Please note: Any cancellation which is not formally confirmed in writing and received by [Graphic Design Company] within [Number of days] of such instruction being issued, will be liable for the full quoted cost of the project.
• Warranty for Services
• The [Client Company] acknowledges that no computer system or software can be made completely stable or secure and that the provider cannot guarantee the stability, safety, or security of their network or data.
• The [Graphic Design Company] warrants that the Services will be provided in a professional manner, and in conformity with generally prevailing industry standards.
• The [Client Company] is solely responsible for implementing and monitoring appropriate operational and security procedures, and for making appropriate backup copies of all data.

Acceptance and Signature

Free Graphic Design Proposal Template

Draft an impressive graphic design proposal that highlights your skillful work and experience as a graphic designer. our editable design proposal template is specially curated for you that includes the best ideas and overviews..

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What is a Graphic Design Proposal?

A graphic design proposal is used by graphic designers to pitch their design services to prospective clients. It is a professional proposal that describes the capabilities of a freelance graphic designer or a creative agency and how they will address the prospective client’s needs. Businesses leverage their services for various purposes like creating impactful marketing and branding collateral, establishing brand identity, revamping website design, and many more. 

Who needs Graphic Design services?

Any company/business looking for content design, website revamp , logo design , marketing collateral design, and any other designing needs graphic design services. 

How to prepare a Graphic Design Proposal? What are its elements?

Cover page .

This is the first page your prospective client sees. The proposal cover page includes the graphic design agency's name, the prospective client's name, and the proposal's name. You can also add a gripping subtitle to capture the attention of the client.

Executive summary

This section makes your clients believe that you get them and their graphic design requirements. Write briefly about the pain points of your prospective clients and precisely mention what they will gain by opting for your services. Make sure to keep it crisp.

This is one of the most critical sections that explain your company and services to your clients. It has to be well written in a professional manner providing information about your unique brand. Mention the company values, vision, mission, expertise, and strengths. You can also add client testimonials to offer more credibility to your brand. Finally, do not forget to introduce your team members who create professional designs and help you gain new clients.

Our approach and graphic design services

This section reveals how your company renders top-quality services to the client. Mention the varied benefits you provide to your clients like quick turnaround time, competitive rates, and best quality visuals. 

Also, explain the approach and process of delivering the graphic design projects; here is an example: 

Discussion - Discussing with the client on the design requirements.

Sketch - Creating rough graphics/visuals as instructed by the client.

Approval - Once the designs are ready, they are sent to the client for approval.

Updates - Updating the necessary changes on the visuals.

Final design - Once the designs are approved with the final changes, they are sent to the clients in the required format. 

Project and timeline 

It is essential to provide a project timeline to your client. Give your client clarity on every action, milestone, and time consumed on the projects. This helps the client in keeping track of the project.

Add pricing tables and mention every service along with its price. A detailed breakdown of pricing helps the client to understand the cost of the project. 

Terms and conditions

This is one of the most critical sections that set out the legalities of entering into a binding agreement with the creative professionals and the client. To avoid any future conflicts, mention the rules, regulations, payment terms, warranties, special rights, liabilities, termination, and any other vital clauses based on your business needs.

This is the final section of the project proposal. Here, the creative agency/graphic designers and the client officially sign the project proposal and turn it into a formal agreement.

Tips: How to create an effective Design Proposal and win your clients?

Here are few tips to and create a successful client proposal:

Research  - To create an effective design proposal, do extensive research on the client's company, competitors, past projects, new projects, and pain points.

Focus on benefits - Highlight what sets you apart from the competition, what you bring to the table, and how it will help the clients in their business. 

Professionalism - A successful graphic design proposal provides a well-written solution to your clients. Keep it thoroughly vetted and formatted with no grammatical errors.

Simplicity - A graphic design proposal should be accessible and easy to understand. 

Pro tip  - Adding an effective color scheme will make the design project proposal template more catchy.

Convert potential clients quickly by using a professional Graphic Design Proposal template

Competing with numerous creative agencies and even freelance graphic designers makes it challenging to gain clients. A graphic design proposal template will help your company stand out from your competitors. Here's how:

A professionally written proposal creates an incredible impression on your clients.

It is easily customizable and helps in accelerating the proposal process.

It brings uniformity and structure to your proposal.

It simplifies the drafting process.

Partner with Revv- Create an effective proposal template that brings success to your business!

Revv, an all-in-one electronic signature and document automation system, offers advanced features that enable graphic designers and creative agencies to win clients. 

Legally vetted and easily customizable graphic design proposal template 

Revv's beautiful, well-structured, and legally vetted graphic design proposal template helps you to craft a comprehensive proposal in no time.

Modify your design proposal template with Revv's drag and drop editor 

You can quickly add/remove images, text and easily customize the proposal based on your business requirements. 

Built-in eSignature system

Revv's inbuilt electronic signature speeds up the signing process. As a result, both parties can close the business deal within minutes.

Collaboration within graphic design proposals

Revv's collaboration features like tagging, adding notes, and attachments let you have real-time communication within the project proposal and have quality discussions.

Real-time visibility

Revv helps in tracking the status of the project proposal on a real-time basis. It gives you insights into the progress of the proposal. 

Automated alerts

Revv sends automated notifications to both sender and recipient to take action on the proposal and keep them updated on all the activities.

Are you looking for a free Graphic Design Proposal template?

Check out the free graphic design proposal template provided on this page. It is carefully drafted, keeping your prospect's business at the center. Use this template to establish yourself as a design service professional and gain new clients.

Frequently asked questions

What is a graphic design proposal.

A graphic design proposal is a proposal that sets out detailed information about a design agency's services. The proposal has to be professional and crisp to win the potential clients. Use Revv's graphic design proposal template to create a winning proposal and gain more clients.

How do you write a graphic design proposal?

To write an effective graphic design proposal start by knowing your prospective client and find out what exactly they are looking for. Next, research about your prospective client's company as well the competitors. Structure the proposal properly and explain your solutions. Do not forget to use Revv to draft your proposal effectively.

What is the best graphic design proposal template?

Create winning graphic design proposals with Revv's graphic design proposal template. It is a beautiful, well-structured, and legally vetted template made to amaze your clients about your services and win them. Revv also offers a rich editor, collaboration features, automated alerts, eSignatures, and much more.

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Table of contents

What is a Graphic Design Proposal?

A graphic design proposal is a document drafted to persuade a prospective client to opt for a designer’s value propositions. The proposal document outlines the problem at hand, design solutions, and includes pricing and timeline .

Simply put, a crisp and professional graphic design proposal helps a freelance designer or a design agency to get the client’s signature on the dotted line and land a graphic design contract template .

Prepping a proposal can be overwhelming, but it’s a whole lot easier when you know what to include. ‍

What to Include in the Graphic Design Proposal

Including the right sections makes your proposal stand out and portrays the value for money of your services. Here are a couple of important pointers on what to include in your design proposal:

This is the first page of your proposal. It’s also your first chance to explain how your skills and experience perfectly align for a design job. A cover page should create curiosity and compel a client to dive deeper into the rest of the proposal.

Executive summary

An executive summary, as the name suggests, sums up what’s in a proposal. Think of this summary as a more condensed yet clean and concise version of the proposal. A good executive summary tells clients about important points that they’ll find in the proposal document.

Company overview

This is where you provide the client with brief background information about yourself or your company. Graphic designers should use this section to inform clients about:

• Services: that you offer
• Strengths: that make you the perfect fit for the job
• Track record: of working with other notable clients
• Target market: that you serve or plan to extend to

Team members

If you work with a team of graphic designers, this is the place to showcase their skills. If you’re a one-person graphic design firm, that’s great too. The length of this section depends on the number of team members. Here’s an idea of what to include:

• Name and photo: so that the client knows who’s who
• Team roles: to let clients know about who they’ll be working with at which stage
• Biography: add some information about the team members i.e. education, experience, and interests

A graphic design portfolio is a must-have for showcasing your previous work to potential clients. It shows your ability to walk the walk and talk the talk. Here’s what you can include:

• Previous works: completed for clients in similar industries
• Diverse projects: to show your ability to handle varied deliverables
• Awards: that speak volumes about your design capabilities
• Testimonials: from past clients for building trust and credibility

Design process

A methodical design process is key for efficiency and transparency . Creating this process beforehand helps both you and your client to be on the same page about what to expect next.

This process also shows your ability to break down a project into manageable elements. Here’s an idea of what to include:

• Client discovery: for learning the design requirements of a client
• Industry discovery: for understanding what competitors are doing
• Application discovery: to frame the solution
• Sketching: to explore and explain potential design concepts
• Design drafts: for creating and visualizing mock-ups
• Refinement: for refining a design to fruition
• Further developments: for adding finishing touches to the design
• Delivery: to hand over the final design product to the client

It’s a good idea to add a project timeline and milestone completion dates for each of these stages. That’ll help a client to gauge the time it’ll take to complete a project.

Fees and finances

This section outlines the proposed fees for completing the project. Based on a client’s needs, you can either add a category-wise pricing chart or service-based fees. Don’t forget to mention the number of iterations you’ll provide for each category or service.

Pricing and terms

This is the last section of your designer proposal. It generally includes key pointers like:

• Billing schedule: for mentioning the fee schedule and preferred mode of payment.
• Terms: for making changes to the proposal
• Acceptance: so that both parties can begin to take the steps to enter into a contractual agreement

If you and your client agree to work on an ongoing basis in the proposal, you can try our graphic designer retainer contract template . ‍

How to Write a Graphic Design Proposal

Winning graphic design proposals have persuasive writing at their core. What you include in it determines whether you’ll hit a home run or not. Since you already know what goes into a graphic design proposal, let’s take a look at how to put these pointers together:

Find out exactly what the client wants

Clients want to be sure of a number of things before contracting your services. They want to ensure that you:

• Have some knowledge about their industry
• Understand their design problems
• Possess specialized skills to solve the challenges

Understanding what they really want is key to landing graphic design projects. That’s why it’s super important to talk to a client as much as possible and research.

If a client is hiring you for graphic design tasks—such as brand collaterals or logo design—it’s best to start by understanding:

• Persona: so that you can learn more about the company’s target audience
• Design references: for learning the design styles and templates that the client prefers
• Purpose: of creating these brand collaterals
• Business goals: that are connected to this design initiative
• Marketing channels: that the collaterals will be promoted on
• Brand perception: for understanding how customers should perceive these collaterals
• Values and mission: that brand collaterals should reflect
• Competitors: so that you know how they are creating similar designs
• Likes and dislikes: of the client so that you can include or avoid them

Highlight what sets you apart

You’ve done the difficult bit. Now it’s time to show intangible skills that make you stand out. This part is important because your client is looking at other graphic designers' work too. Portray your can-do attitude, enthusiasm, commitment, and skills so that a client knows—you’re the one!

Include a CTA

Now that you have put so much work into creating the proposal, you should let the customers know what to do next. This is where a call to action comes in. It can be as simple as a list of next steps to follow or even a calendar link for booking some time to chat. ‍

Creating a Graphic Design Proposal Template is Simple with Bonsai

If you’re ready to pitch to prospective clients but find it increasingly difficult to create a design proposal, Bonsai is here to help. You can easily customize the design project proposal template available on Bonsai and even manage the entire contract lifecycle. Here’s how to get started:

• Sign up for free to Bonsai
• Find your desired design proposal template
• Edit and customize your proposal

You can also use Bonsai to send the proposal to the client for acceptance, and get it signed without ever leaving the platform. ‍

Graphic Design Proposal FAQs

What information goes into a graphic design proposal.

Here are the key aspects that make a proposal persuasive and convincing:

1. Cover page

2. Executive summary

3. Company overview

4. Team members

5. Design portfolio

6. Design process

7. Fees and finances

8. Pricing and terms

A graphic design project proposal is a graphic designer’s chance to woo the customer, so make sure yours stands out.

How long should a design proposal be?

Any word count is fine as long as the proposal piques the client’s interest and persuades them to have a conversation with you. That’s why it’s necessary to give them sufficient detail while keeping it engaging.

What goes into a design proposal?

What is the structure of a proposal, is there a proposal template on word.

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Graphic Design Proposal Template

Creatively share your fresh graphic design ideas with this trendy proposal template..

Give your graphic design clients a rundown of your services and make sure your brand gets noticed with the help of this creative and artistic proposal template. Featuring a clean and effective design, this template will enable you to focus on your design services and put you in a great position to win your next big project.

• Change colors, fonts and more to fit your branding
• Access free, built-in design assets or upload your own
• Visualize data with customizable charts and widgets
• Add animation, interactivity, audio, video and links
• Download in PDF, JPG, PNG and HTML5 format
• Create page-turners with Visme’s flipbook effect
• Share online with a link or embed it on your website

Expertly present your fabulous graphic design services with this template or browse Visme’s excellent range of proposal templates for more ideas.

Edit this template with our  proposal maker !

Template Specifications

8 Pages, 8.5” X 11” (US Letter) – Can also be customized to any desired dimension.

Customizable

This template can be fully customized. You can edit content, change image(s), apply custom colors, input your own fonts and logo, and more.

Download as a PDF to share with your recipient or generate a shareable link for online sharing.

Compatibility

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Proposal Templates by Visme

Part of your job with a business proposal is to be as convincing as you possibly can. You don't just need to make an argument for your product or service to potential clients — you need to do so in a captivating, compelling way that will grab their attention in a way that practically makes your argument for you.

With these proposal templates , that is officially easier than ever. Each business proposal template is colorful, visually attractive  and easy to use right from your web browser. Just choose the best proposal template that fits your needs, populate it with all of the specific information you have, and choose from a number of compelling free graphics. Your audience won't be able to look away. Get started with our proposal creator today!

Create Your Proposal Now

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Graphic Design and Data Visualization Resources for Proposal Development

Thinking of a proposal as a visual presentation will lead to a competitive advantage!

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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

What’s the Best Way to Present Your Knowledge, Skills and Experience?

Strength of Signal: Improving your scientific figures and diagrams for proposals

Five Quick Tips for Winning Proposal Graphics

How to Effectively Use Proposal Graphics

Proposal Graphics and Graphic Design Support

https://td.usnh.edu/TDClient/60/Portal/KB/ArticleDet?ID=770

(Go to the site above for access to these resources)

*Note re: Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop: Both programs make high quality figures at appropriate resolution for publication but the learning curve for both of these programs is steep. However, training is available through UNH Professional Development & Training, on the Internet, or in places like LinkedIn learning.

Kaleidagraph

Biorender BioRender has a ton of templates and icons to make scientific figures. The interface is online, and it works very similarly to PowerPoint, so the learning curve isn’t very high for someone familiar with PowerPoint. Figures export at resolutions appropriate for publication, and they will give you a publication license. They also have resources and recorded webinars with tips on how to make the best figures for manuscripts, grants, etc.

Canva: Visual Suite for Everyone A great resource for simpler figures (charts, diagrams, etc.) or even inspiration on where to start, Canva has are free and premium tiers, but you can do a lot with the free tier. This platform is good for social media graphics and if something at a high resolution isn't need. It’s quick and easy to learn.

Datawrapper Datawrapper makes clean bar and linecharts that can be easily uploaded into a web newsletter. They have free and paid tiers, but you can do quite a bit with the free tier. The learning curve is moderate .

Powerpoint While figures made with BioRender may look better, there’s nothing wrong with using Powerpoint; plus, many people already know how to use it. It's an excellent tool for editing figures made on another platform.

Color Accessibility

Here are some resources to help with making graphics readable for those with color blindness:

The Arts: Creating Scientific Figures with Color in Mind Scroll past the references to find simulators

How to Make Scientific Figures Colorblind Accessible

How to make scientific figures accessible to readers with color-blindness

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GRAPHIC DESIGNERS AND ILLUSTRATORS FOR HIRE

Graphic Designers Recommended by Research Development Professionals

(Listed alphabetically)

Amity Fernai

Animedia Science -- Cheryl McCutchan

Bohnsack Design

Depict Data Studio

Ella Maru Studio -- Ella Marushchenko

ELC Design   -- Emily Creasy

Esser Design

Gordley Group

Matthew Dunn Illustration and Design

O’Reilly Science Ar t -- Mary O'Reilly

O Studios -- Dave O’Gara

Studiosayers - Curtis Sayers

Designer Directory -  AIGA , the professional association for design

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Methodology

• What Is a Research Design | Types, Guide & Examples

What Is a Research Design | Types, Guide & Examples

Published on June 7, 2021 by Shona McCombes . Revised on November 20, 2023 by Pritha Bhandari.

A research design is a strategy for answering your   research question  using empirical data. Creating a research design means making decisions about:

• Your overall research objectives and approach
• Whether you’ll rely on primary research or secondary research
• Your sampling methods or criteria for selecting subjects
• Your data collection methods
• The procedures you’ll follow to collect data
• Your data analysis methods

A well-planned research design helps ensure that your methods match your research objectives and that you use the right kind of analysis for your data.

Table of contents

Step 1: consider your aims and approach, step 2: choose a type of research design, step 3: identify your population and sampling method, step 4: choose your data collection methods, step 5: plan your data collection procedures, step 6: decide on your data analysis strategies, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about research design.

• Introduction

Before you can start designing your research, you should already have a clear idea of the research question you want to investigate.

There are many different ways you could go about answering this question. Your research design choices should be driven by your aims and priorities—start by thinking carefully about what you want to achieve.

The first choice you need to make is whether you’ll take a qualitative or quantitative approach.

Qualitative research designs tend to be more flexible and inductive , allowing you to adjust your approach based on what you find throughout the research process.

Quantitative research designs tend to be more fixed and deductive , with variables and hypotheses clearly defined in advance of data collection.

It’s also possible to use a mixed-methods design that integrates aspects of both approaches. By combining qualitative and quantitative insights, you can gain a more complete picture of the problem you’re studying and strengthen the credibility of your conclusions.

Practical and ethical considerations when designing research

As well as scientific considerations, you need to think practically when designing your research. If your research involves people or animals, you also need to consider research ethics .

• How much time do you have to collect data and write up the research?
• Will you be able to gain access to the data you need (e.g., by travelling to a specific location or contacting specific people)?
• Do you have the necessary research skills (e.g., statistical analysis or interview techniques)?
• Will you need ethical approval ?

At each stage of the research design process, make sure that your choices are practically feasible.

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Within both qualitative and quantitative approaches, there are several types of research design to choose from. Each type provides a framework for the overall shape of your research.

Types of quantitative research designs

Quantitative designs can be split into four main types.

• Experimental and   quasi-experimental designs allow you to test cause-and-effect relationships
• Descriptive and correlational designs allow you to measure variables and describe relationships between them.

With descriptive and correlational designs, you can get a clear picture of characteristics, trends and relationships as they exist in the real world. However, you can’t draw conclusions about cause and effect (because correlation doesn’t imply causation ).

Experiments are the strongest way to test cause-and-effect relationships without the risk of other variables influencing the results. However, their controlled conditions may not always reflect how things work in the real world. They’re often also more difficult and expensive to implement.

Types of qualitative research designs

Qualitative designs are less strictly defined. This approach is about gaining a rich, detailed understanding of a specific context or phenomenon, and you can often be more creative and flexible in designing your research.

The table below shows some common types of qualitative design. They often have similar approaches in terms of data collection, but focus on different aspects when analyzing the data.

Your research design should clearly define who or what your research will focus on, and how you’ll go about choosing your participants or subjects.

In research, a population is the entire group that you want to draw conclusions about, while a sample is the smaller group of individuals you’ll actually collect data from.

Defining the population

A population can be made up of anything you want to study—plants, animals, organizations, texts, countries, etc. In the social sciences, it most often refers to a group of people.

For example, will you focus on people from a specific demographic, region or background? Are you interested in people with a certain job or medical condition, or users of a particular product?

The more precisely you define your population, the easier it will be to gather a representative sample.

• Sampling methods

Even with a narrowly defined population, it’s rarely possible to collect data from every individual. Instead, you’ll collect data from a sample.

To select a sample, there are two main approaches: probability sampling and non-probability sampling . The sampling method you use affects how confidently you can generalize your results to the population as a whole.

Probability sampling is the most statistically valid option, but it’s often difficult to achieve unless you’re dealing with a very small and accessible population.

For practical reasons, many studies use non-probability sampling, but it’s important to be aware of the limitations and carefully consider potential biases. You should always make an effort to gather a sample that’s as representative as possible of the population.

Case selection in qualitative research

In some types of qualitative designs, sampling may not be relevant.

For example, in an ethnography or a case study , your aim is to deeply understand a specific context, not to generalize to a population. Instead of sampling, you may simply aim to collect as much data as possible about the context you are studying.

In these types of design, you still have to carefully consider your choice of case or community. You should have a clear rationale for why this particular case is suitable for answering your research question .

For example, you might choose a case study that reveals an unusual or neglected aspect of your research problem, or you might choose several very similar or very different cases in order to compare them.

Data collection methods are ways of directly measuring variables and gathering information. They allow you to gain first-hand knowledge and original insights into your research problem.

You can choose just one data collection method, or use several methods in the same study.

Survey methods

Surveys allow you to collect data about opinions, behaviors, experiences, and characteristics by asking people directly. There are two main survey methods to choose from: questionnaires and interviews .

Observation methods

Observational studies allow you to collect data unobtrusively, observing characteristics, behaviors or social interactions without relying on self-reporting.

Observations may be conducted in real time, taking notes as you observe, or you might make audiovisual recordings for later analysis. They can be qualitative or quantitative.

Other methods of data collection

There are many other ways you might collect data depending on your field and topic.

If you’re not sure which methods will work best for your research design, try reading some papers in your field to see what kinds of data collection methods they used.

Secondary data

If you don’t have the time or resources to collect data from the population you’re interested in, you can also choose to use secondary data that other researchers already collected—for example, datasets from government surveys or previous studies on your topic.

With this raw data, you can do your own analysis to answer new research questions that weren’t addressed by the original study.

Using secondary data can expand the scope of your research, as you may be able to access much larger and more varied samples than you could collect yourself.

However, it also means you don’t have any control over which variables to measure or how to measure them, so the conclusions you can draw may be limited.

As well as deciding on your methods, you need to plan exactly how you’ll use these methods to collect data that’s consistent, accurate, and unbiased.

Planning systematic procedures is especially important in quantitative research, where you need to precisely define your variables and ensure your measurements are high in reliability and validity.

Operationalization

Some variables, like height or age, are easily measured. But often you’ll be dealing with more abstract concepts, like satisfaction, anxiety, or competence. Operationalization means turning these fuzzy ideas into measurable indicators.

If you’re using observations , which events or actions will you count?

If you’re using surveys , which questions will you ask and what range of responses will be offered?

You may also choose to use or adapt existing materials designed to measure the concept you’re interested in—for example, questionnaires or inventories whose reliability and validity has already been established.

Reliability and validity

Reliability means your results can be consistently reproduced, while validity means that you’re actually measuring the concept you’re interested in.

For valid and reliable results, your measurement materials should be thoroughly researched and carefully designed. Plan your procedures to make sure you carry out the same steps in the same way for each participant.

If you’re developing a new questionnaire or other instrument to measure a specific concept, running a pilot study allows you to check its validity and reliability in advance.

Sampling procedures

As well as choosing an appropriate sampling method , you need a concrete plan for how you’ll actually contact and recruit your selected sample.

That means making decisions about things like:

• How many participants do you need for an adequate sample size?
• What inclusion and exclusion criteria will you use to identify eligible participants?
• How will you contact your sample—by mail, online, by phone, or in person?

If you’re using a probability sampling method , it’s important that everyone who is randomly selected actually participates in the study. How will you ensure a high response rate?

If you’re using a non-probability method , how will you avoid research bias and ensure a representative sample?

Data management

It’s also important to create a data management plan for organizing and storing your data.

Will you need to transcribe interviews or perform data entry for observations? You should anonymize and safeguard any sensitive data, and make sure it’s backed up regularly.

Keeping your data well-organized will save time when it comes to analyzing it. It can also help other researchers validate and add to your findings (high replicability ).

On its own, raw data can’t answer your research question. The last step of designing your research is planning how you’ll analyze the data.

Quantitative data analysis

In quantitative research, you’ll most likely use some form of statistical analysis . With statistics, you can summarize your sample data, make estimates, and test hypotheses.

Using descriptive statistics , you can summarize your sample data in terms of:

• The distribution of the data (e.g., the frequency of each score on a test)
• The central tendency of the data (e.g., the mean to describe the average score)
• The variability of the data (e.g., the standard deviation to describe how spread out the scores are)

The specific calculations you can do depend on the level of measurement of your variables.

Using inferential statistics , you can:

• Make estimates about the population based on your sample data.
• Test hypotheses about a relationship between variables.

Regression and correlation tests look for associations between two or more variables, while comparison tests (such as t tests and ANOVAs ) look for differences in the outcomes of different groups.

Your choice of statistical test depends on various aspects of your research design, including the types of variables you’re dealing with and the distribution of your data.

Qualitative data analysis

In qualitative research, your data will usually be very dense with information and ideas. Instead of summing it up in numbers, you’ll need to comb through the data in detail, interpret its meanings, identify patterns, and extract the parts that are most relevant to your research question.

Two of the most common approaches to doing this are thematic analysis and discourse analysis .

There are many other ways of analyzing qualitative data depending on the aims of your research. To get a sense of potential approaches, try reading some qualitative research papers in your field.

If you want to know more about the research process , methodology , research bias , or statistics , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.

• Simple random sampling
• Stratified sampling
• Cluster sampling
• Likert scales
• Reproducibility

 Statistics

• Null hypothesis
• Statistical power
• Probability distribution
• Effect size
• Poisson distribution

Research bias

• Optimism bias
• Cognitive bias
• Implicit bias
• Hawthorne effect
• Anchoring bias
• Explicit bias

A research design is a strategy for answering your   research question . It defines your overall approach and determines how you will collect and analyze data.

A well-planned research design helps ensure that your methods match your research aims, that you collect high-quality data, and that you use the right kind of analysis to answer your questions, utilizing credible sources . This allows you to draw valid , trustworthy conclusions.

Quantitative research designs can be divided into two main categories:

• Correlational and descriptive designs are used to investigate characteristics, averages, trends, and associations between variables.
• Experimental and quasi-experimental designs are used to test causal relationships .

Qualitative research designs tend to be more flexible. Common types of qualitative design include case study , ethnography , and grounded theory designs.

The priorities of a research design can vary depending on the field, but you usually have to specify:

• Your research questions and/or hypotheses
• Your overall approach (e.g., qualitative or quantitative )
• The type of design you’re using (e.g., a survey , experiment , or case study )
• Your data collection methods (e.g., questionnaires , observations)
• Your data collection procedures (e.g., operationalization , timing and data management)
• Your data analysis methods (e.g., statistical tests  or thematic analysis )

A sample is a subset of individuals from a larger population . Sampling means selecting the group that you will actually collect data from in your research. For example, if you are researching the opinions of students in your university, you could survey a sample of 100 students.

In statistics, sampling allows you to test a hypothesis about the characteristics of a population.

Operationalization means turning abstract conceptual ideas into measurable observations.

For example, the concept of social anxiety isn’t directly observable, but it can be operationally defined in terms of self-rating scores, behavioral avoidance of crowded places, or physical anxiety symptoms in social situations.

Before collecting data , it’s important to consider how you will operationalize the variables that you want to measure.

A research project is an academic, scientific, or professional undertaking to answer a research question . Research projects can take many forms, such as qualitative or quantitative , descriptive , longitudinal , experimental , or correlational . What kind of research approach you choose will depend on your topic.

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Home » Blog » Dissertation » Topics » Graphic Design » Graphic Design Dissertation Topics (28 Examples) For Research

Graphic Design Dissertation Topics (28 Examples) For Research

Mark Jun 22, 2020 Jun 20, 2020 Graphic Design No Comments

A good graphic designer knows how to attract people by using appealing and innovative work ideas. When working on the thesis, it is important to choose an attractive dissertation topic. To help you out, we have prepared a list of graphic design dissertation topics, which are interesting and useful. The list of graphic design dissertation […]

A good graphic designer knows how to attract people by using appealing and innovative work ideas. When working on the thesis, it is important to choose an attractive dissertation topic. To help you out, we have prepared a list of graphic design dissertation topics, which are interesting and useful.

The following list of graphic design research topics includes some of the most interesting topics to work on. You can select any research topic on graphic design for your project from this list and tweak it a bit to make it yours or you can let us help you in preparing a proposal and brief on the chosen dissertation topic in graphic design.

List of Graphic Design dissertation topics

Studying the evolution of graphic designing during different periods.

A cost-benefit analysis of investing for hiring an experienced graphic designer.

Analysing the main stages of development of the graphic design industry.

An analysis of the role of colours in graphic design: the best and worst choices.

A review of the approaches used by male and female graphic designers.

Exploring the relationship between signage and mobile map for indoor wayfinding.

To study the impact of visual information in service design.

An evaluation of designing career paths in graphic design.

Studying the graphic design theory research and application in advanced technology.

An analysis of the usage of artificial intelligence in today’s graphic design.

Studying the trends in layout design of feature articles in outdoor magazines.

To examine the graphic design as an instrument of identity assertation for indigenous people.

Evaluating the aesthetic values of the two-dimensional visual design structure.

A literature review of the basic graphic designs.

Studying the importance of artistic sensibility in graphic designing.

Analysing the role of brainstorming and mocking up design ideas.

An analysis of the projecting budgets and schedules in graphic designing.

Studying the importance of design education beyond boundaries in the 21st century.

A review of the new perspectives on visual communication design education.

An empirical study of applying narrative theory to graphic design courses.

An investigation of creativity in graphic designing education from psychological perspectives.

Studying the end-users challenge graphic designers intuition through visual-verbal co-design.

An analysis of the trends in graphic design over the past decade.

Exploring the factors that contributed to the evolution of digital art.

A literature review on the graphic novel.

Analysing the relationship between graphic design and pop-culture.

Identification of the qualities that a professional graphical designer must possess.

Exploring the distinctive features of web-design using secondary research.

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