Master Services Agreement for Product Design Studios: What to Include (Customizable Template)

Introduction

As a Product Design Studio, having a clear Master Services Agreement (MSA) is crucial when managing multi-phase work, approvals, and handoffs. An effective MSA sets the stage for success by outlining project expectations and protecting both you and your clients. Don't leave things to chance—Customize your Master Services Agreement now for seamless collaboration!

Legal Terms: What Matters Most for Product Design Studios

IP Ownership and Use

• Ownership terms: Make sure the agreement specifies that intellectual property (IP) rights only transfer upon full payment of fees. This protects your work and ensures you retain ownership until you're compensated.
• Use of work products: Clearly state that clients cannot feed your designs into AI models or use them in ways not agreed upon. This helps keep your work unique and safeguards against misuse.
• Attribution rights: Define when and how you should be credited for your designs, whether in portfolios or promotional materials. This enhances your visibility and establishes your authority.

Revision Limits, Acceptance, and Payment Milestones

• Clear revision caps: Set limits on the number of revisions included in the contract to prevent scope creep. Suggested round caps can help maintain project efficiency.
• Acceptance criteria: Outline specific acceptance criteria for deliverables to ensure everyone is on the same page before moving forward.
• Milestone payment schedule: Implement a straightforward payment schedule tied to project milestones. This protects your cash flow and motivates clients to provide timely feedback.

Scope Creep and Change Orders

• Triggers for change orders: Clearly define what constitutes a change in scope and what the protocol is for requesting changes. This clarity helps manage expectations from the start.
• Pricing guidance: Provide pricing guidelines for additional work to prevent misunderstandings about costs associated with changes in scope.
• Schedule impact language: Include language in your MSA that describes how changes will affect the project timeline, ensuring clients understand the consequences of their requests.

Other Helpful Clauses for Product Design Studios

• Portfolio rights: Ensure you retain the right to showcase your work in your portfolio, as this can help attract future clients.
• Confidentiality clause: Protect sensitive information by including a confidentiality clause, which assures your clients that their proprietary information will remain secure.

How Counsel Club Helps

Counsel Club re-imagines legal for startups, freelancers, and creative entrepreneurs. Our platform allows you to search for lawyer-drafted forms for startups, freelancers, content creators, and other creative entrepreneurs. Our platform guides you through modifications, both to the contract and the scope of work. Counsel Club has the most sophisticated drafting tool on the market, and it was designed and developed by lawyers. If you want more help, reach out to a Counsel Club lawyer through our Concierge program. Our legal agent, Amicus, was trained on proprietary legal data to be your best legal assistant. Finally, legal for today, that is fast, protective, and cost effective.

Questions to Ask Amicus

• What are my rights regarding the ownership of the designs I create?
• How can I handle client requests for additional revisions?
• What should I include in the scope to avoid misunderstandings about deliverables?

Closing CTA

Ready to take your Product Design Studio to the next level? Create your Master Services Agreement today and pair it with your Statements of Work (SOWs) for total clarity. Customize your Master Services Agreement now.