This is probably the question we get asked the most and unfortunately there is no single answer. It’s like that age-old question ‘how long is a piece of string?’ Pricing depends on many variables associated with the design project in question.

Most projects will be quoted on a fixed price basis and this fixed price is generally worked out from how long it will take to complete a specific project/job (approximate number of hours etc). Over time, we have found that clients prefer this option to an hourly rate but this always depends on the client and the design project in question. In some circumstances, an hourly rate may be used and this will be discussed with the prospective client.

Once a price has been agreed upon and the design project is underway, any changes requested by a client which alters the original project brief may incur extra costs and this will be communicated to the client at all times.

Our rates are competitive for the level of service we provide and our clients benefit by receiving a quality product at an affordable price. Our service is a highly skilled art that we have spent years developing. All projects are priced at a fair market value for the level of service we provide. A main point to note is that graphic design should be thought of as an investment and not an expense. When coupled with a quality product and service, a well designed brand identity, brochure or advertisement will pay for itself again and again. Feel free to contact us as we would be more than happy to discuss your needs and provide you with a quote.

Projects can vary from days to a few weeks or several months. The length of time depends entirely on the project requirements. Feel free to get in touch with us to discuss your needs and deadlines.

We’re located in Traralgon, Victoria, Australia. If you are nearby and would like to discuss your project face-to-face, a time can be arranged to do so (subject to work load commitments). Otherwise, we find that communication via email or phone works well. Email is always a preference.

No, we don’t participate in ‘free pitching’. As professional designers, we follow a code of ethics, which has a very strong stand against free pitching or speculative work.

“Free pitching is the practice of clients or would-be clients asking for unpaid design submissions or speculative presentations from one or more designers/studios in order to decide the winner’ of the work to be commissioned or used.

Like any effective business process the design process begins with a good definition of the business and communications objectives. Developing that definition requires experience, knowledge, learning, respect and commitment from both designer and client in order that a successful partnership evolves for the short term as well as the long term.

The main product of our industry is ideas and creative solutions to our clients communication problems. Effective solutions take time for consultation, research as well as production, and the issue of time raises the issue of cost for all responsible business practitioners. The process of free pitching or competitive submissions devalues the profession and the experience, education and work practices encompassed in that.

As many designers say, My plumber, doctor, accountant, don’t free pitch.” From AGDA, Professional Practice, 2009

Before commencing work, we create a design brief and perform extensive market research about your industry. Both the design brief and research help us understand your industry better and present you with design options that will be appropriate for your target market.

In the event of you not liking anything we produce for you, we will review the design brief, and make sure we fulfil and surpass your expectations. We take pride in what we do and it’s important to us that you love the work we do for you as much as we do!.

You will always receive from us a written fee proposal and this will specify a set fee for the design.

The only time we need to charge extra for re-working and creating extra options, is when the original design brief alters/changes.

A deposit is required to commence work, generally 50% of proposed fee. We accept direct deposit and PayPal (surcharge applies).

All deposits are nonrefundable as it is my way of securing your spot in the queue. I book projects several months ahead of time, and scheduling ensures that I give all of my clients the proper amount of time that a project deserves. As a result, I turn away clients for your reserved time slot. If you back out of the project, you may leave an empty spot that could have been given to another project. The deposits ensure that clients are serious about moving forward with the project.

All custom work projects required a signed contract and deposit.

We’re not a printer nor do we have any printing facilities but If you would prefer, we can obtain quotes from local printers and forward these onto you, if you’re happy we can organise the printing on your behalf so that you do not have to deal with the technical side.

Copyright on all creative work we produce is always shared between us and the client. In a nutshell, we retain the right to be recognised as the creators of the artwork, and you get the right to copy or right to reproduce the artwork for the purpose it was created.

For instance, in the case of logotypes, you’re entitled to use it on all of your products and merchandise, e.g. websites; brochures; TV commercials, for as long as you are in business.

And from our side, no part of that logotype can be used for the creation of new artwork such as new logotypes for different businesses or/and entities because you get exclusive rights.

Copyright is part of intellectual property or IP because it results from a person’s creativity and thoughts.

The owner of the copyright is generally the author, and the author is generally the first person who gave life to a piece of art, music any creative production really!

According to the Australian Copyright Council, a design is automatically protected by copyright, if it is

• an artistic work as defined in the Copyright Act;
• the result of some skill and effort, and not merely copied from somewhere else; and
• fixed or captured, for example, on paper or on a computer disk.

In that respect, all concepts, designs, sketches and ideas we present to clients remain 100% the copyright of Cobba Designs. But once a design is approved, the client has the right to use the approved designs for the purpose they were commissioned.

Sharing copyright with our clients mean we are always acknowledged, whenever appropriate, as authors of the creative work. IP is always ours, and the rights to reproduce the design –the copyright – goes to the client.

In the event of using stock images or clip art, copyright remains that of the original photographers or stock image providers and can only be used according to their terms and conditions.

For more information about copyright, please visit the Australian Copyright Council website (http://www.copyright.org.au/

Standard industry practice states that the designer retains ownership rights of all works completed. Clients are not authorised to resell, lease or sublease any of the original art or designs produced by Cobba Designs. A design created by a freelance graphic designer is a work-for-hire created by an independent contractor. In such a case, the designer retains copyright ownership and has the following rights: (a) Make derivative works or modifications including using media to execute an idea, combining images or applying various effects. (b) Publicly distribute copies and/or display the work including for promotional use such as in a portfolio (whether printed and/or electronic), advertising, a web site or social media site (ie Facebook etc). (c) Control reproduction of the work which includes granting usage rights to clients.

There are certain situations where ownership is granted to the client – this occurs mainly with logo designs. It would not be practical for the designer to retain ownership of this design. Therefore the contract that is agreed upon when the project begins states that upon full payment, ownership of the logo design will transfer to the client (known as a transfer of all rights). This is a commonly accepted standard by which most graphic designers adhere.