Free Graphic Design Scope of Work Template [Docs / DOCX]
Adetola Rachael Iyanuoluwa
If you’ve ever delivered a polished brand identity project to a client and they asked if you could explore another direction. You know it's because your services and their expectations did not align.
In this article, I'll guide you on how to avoid this with a well-drafted graphic design scope statement, and I'll share a template that you can customize and send to your clients.
A graphic design scope statement is a foundational document that outlines the boundaries, deliverables, goals, and limitations of a creative project.
It defines what you'll design, like logos, social media templates, pitch decks, or packaging, and what’s not included (depending on the project). It also explains how many revisions are allowed, when the work will be delivered, and what the client must provide (like brand assets, content, or creative direction).
This document ensures that everyone agrees on what the project’s end result should be, especially because design is subjective.
Graphic design projects can lack boundaries. Your client could ask for a logo design, and you’d end up creating a social media kit and six slide deck templates. This happens because you don't have a clear scope statement to clarify the project boundaries.
Other reasons why you need a graphic design scope of work include:
A design scope tells the client what to expect with the project’s outcome. It lets you define how many initial concepts you’re willing to draw, and the number of times you will revise the deliverables.
It tells your clients that anything apart from these terms you’ve agreed on is out of scope, and you will either not do it, or you’ll offer the service at an agreed price.
You can also outline pricing for additional work, so when requests go beyond the original scope, you're prepared.
Vague scope leaves the door open for misinterpretation. A well-written scope gives clarity on what the client should expect. You can list exactly what you're creating, and just as importantly, what you're not.
For example:
Clients are less likely to make assumptions when you have these terms in clear writing.
In graphic design, delays often happen because no one knows who’s responsible for feedback or when to give it. A solid scope statement outlines:
It creates a shared process. Your team knows when to expect input, and your client understands when decisions need to be made. That way, you keep momentum without the endless emails.
These are some of the things to include in your graphic design scope of work:
List all the services you’ll deliver to the clients. Break these services into tasks so clients know what to expect and what the process will entail. For example, if you're working on a brand identity package, let the client know they'll receive 2 concept logos in colour and black/white, 1 brand color palette, typography recommendations, and a 6-page brand usage guidelines PDF.
If it's a social media kit, add that they’ll get:
Add what you won’t be doing for each of these categories. For example:
Graphic design projects are in phases. You’ll do discovery, concepting, revisions, and delivery. Your scope statement should show what happens during each stage.
Here’s an example of what a timeline looks like:
If you’re on a retainer, build a recurring cadence (e.g., 4 deliverables per month, feedback due every Friday, etc.). Make deadlines clear so nothing lingers indefinitely.
Be crystal clear about what the client will receive when the project is done.
Examples:
Don’t forget to list your delivery method. If you're using ManyRequests, you can send the design directly from your portal to the client's end.
Without leaving the portal, your client can receive the deliverable, go through it, and leave comments for revision through ManyRequests annotation tool.
As you can see in the image above, the client leaves annotated comments on the design document for the designer, so they know the exact points they want them to touch.
Learn more about ManyRequests's design annotation feature.
Use this section to protect your boundaries. These are services that clients may assume are included in the project deliverables but aren’t.
Examples:
When these items are excluded upfront, it’s easier to have a professional conversation when they come up later. You can always offer them as an add-on.
Set expectations around how many rounds of feedback are included, and what happens if the client wants more.
For example, add that;
You can also include turnaround times. For example:
Specify who signs off on deliverables, how feedback should be submitted, and what communication channels you’ll use.
Here's what that means:
You can also schedule a final sign-off call or include a checklist for handover to ensure you don’t miss any details.
Here's how to customize our free Graphic design scope statement template to fit your agency's needs:
Graphic design projects can become confusing when you don't set your boundaries at the beginning of the project. You can use our graphic design scope of work template to show your clients what to expect from the project, including the services that are and are not included.
If you want to take things further, you can manage all your project scopes, client requests, and approvals inside ManyRequests. ManyRequests provides a white-label client portal that gives you full control over the project, your team, and your clients. You can learn more about us here and sign up for a 14-day free trial without your credit details to see how it works.