How a project actually runs.
Three phases, every time. A logo, a full website, or eventually a custom build. What changes between projects is the scope and the timeline, not the structure. Here's what actually happens at each stage, including the parts that don't fit in a three-bullet summary.
The framework, at a glance
01
Connect & Understand
A real conversation, then a written quote.
02
Design With Purpose
Concepts, feedback, revisions
03
Deliver & Support
Final files, plus a short window to catch anything that's actually broken.
Connect & Understand
This starts with a conversation, not a form to fill out and forget. Over email or a call, we talk through what the business does, who it's trying to reach, and what's not working right now: the outdated site, the inconsistent brand, the manual process eating your week.
What I need from you. Clarity on your goals, any existing brand materials or examples you like, and honest answers about what's actually not working. If you're not sure how to describe it, I'll ask the right questions to get there.
What you get back. A written, itemized quote and a firm timeline, not a rough estimate. You'll know the exact cost and the exact scope before anything starts. I don't charge a deposit, and no work begins, until you approve it.
How long this takes. Usually a day or two to turn around a quote after the initial conversation, depending on how much scoping the project needs.
Design With Purpose
Once the quote's approved and the deposit's in, the actual work starts. I put together concepts based on what came out of Phase 1, you give feedback, and we refine until it's right.
What "a revision round" means. One consolidated set of feedback, delivered together, not an open-ended stream of small edits over days. Each package includes a set number of rounds: 2 for smaller packages, up to 3 for larger ones (see the full package terms for the exact count per package). If the first direction genuinely misses, that's exactly what these rounds are for, at no extra charge within what's included.
If you want more than the included rounds. I quote an extra round as a flat add-on before it happens. It's never added silently to the invoice.
Milestone payments, where they apply. On larger packages, part of the balance is due when you approve the concept direction, not just at final delivery. That splits the risk on both sides instead of one lump payment at the very end.
How long this takes. The bulk of a project's timeline lives here. A single logo or graphic moves through this phase in a few days; a full brand system or website takes two to six weeks, depending on the package.
Deliver & Support
Once revisions are approved, I prepare final, production-ready files: source files and usage-ready exports for a brand identity, a launched and tested site for a web project. The balance is due at this stage. Full files and usage rights transfer to you the moment it's paid in full, not before.
The support window. Every package includes 14 days after delivery for fixing genuine defects: something that doesn't work as delivered, not a change of mind or a new idea. That's covered at no extra charge. Anything past a defect fix is either a new change request or, for websites, something an ongoing Care Plan can cover.
What happens after. Nothing, unless you want it to. Some clients are done at this point. Others move into an ongoing plan (website care, hosting, email) or come back later for the next project. Either way, there's no pressure to sign up for anything beyond what you already paid for.
How we communicate
Email, calls, and shared files: whatever's easiest for you, wherever you're based. This is a remote-first practice, and every project runs the same way regardless of time zone. Messages are read and answered personally, typically within one business day.
Ready to start?
The first step is just a conversation. No commitment, no obligation to move forward after we talk.
That's what the revision rounds are for. I ground concepts in the Phase 1 conversation specifically to avoid wildly-off directions, but if it still misses, say so. Revising within your included rounds costs nothing extra.
Yes, though it may affect where you land in the queue when you're ready to pick it back up. Best to flag it as early as possible so we can plan around it rather than let a deadline quietly slip.
Rush delivery is available as an add-on for priority scheduling. Ask when you're getting your quote, since it depends on current workload.
Approving your written quote and paying the deposit is the agreement — see the full Terms of Service for what that covers. Need a separately signed document for your own records? Ask and I'll provide one.
Anything outside what the original quote covers — a new page, an added feature, a direction change after concepts are approved — is a change request. I quote it and get your approval before that work starts. It never gets folded into the existing quote or added to the invoice after the fact.