These terms apply to all custom design and development projects.
Payment Plan
Unless otherwise noted, payment is taken in two installments. A 50% deposit is due at the start of the project. The project will not begin until this deposit is received. The deposit is non-refundable, even if you choose to cancel the project. The final 50% of the payment is due after the project is completed but before the files are handed over or the design/plugin/feature is installed.
Refund Policy
Creative Whim has a no refund policy. If you decide to cancel a project, your deposit will not be refunded. This is to ensure that I am compensated for the hours I’ve already put into the project.
Cancellations
Creative Whim reserves the right to cancel a project at any time and for any reason. In this case, Creative Whim may decide whether or not the deposit should be refunded. No refunds are guaranteed.
The client may also choose to cancel the project at any time. If this is the case, a refund will not be rewarded for any payments already made.
Project Scope & Timeline
Before a project begins, Creative Whim will deliver a detailed description of what the project entails and the estimated timeline. If, at any time, the development of the project starts running outside of scope or over timeline, or the project is no longer deemed profitable for Creative Whim, the project may be cancelled or extra payments may be requested from the client.
Response Time
Projects can only be successfully completed if both parties are responsive. If, at any time, the client does not respond to emails within a period of 10 business days (without prior, written notice that we agree upon) then Creative Whim may cancel the project. If the client then returns and wishes to resume the project, Creative Whim reserves the right to decline this request or add an extra “project reboot” fee.
Design Checkpoints
The typical design process includes two sign off checkpoints.
The first is after the graphical mockup phase. A Photoshop mockup is created of your website or blog design. After the revisions are finished and you confirm that you’re happy with the design, you sign off on it. This means, you are agreeing to use the design of the site as-is. After this point, major design elements cannot be added or changed without incurring additional fees. For example, once you sign off on the design, the header image cannot be redone. However, some minor changes are allowed (like tweaking font sizes or colours). Any major design changes after the design sign off may be charged at $50 per hour.
The second checkpoint is after the design is installed on the test site and you have approved it. When the site is installed on the test site, we review it together and make any final tweaks. Once you confirm that you’re happy with it, you sign off on it again. After this sign off, changes cannot be made to the design period once it’s installed on your blog. An exception to this would be if something is not working as expected once your content is loaded in. But the main point is that once the design is installed on your website/blog, you cannot backtrack and ask me to change fonts, colours, text sizes, etc. Doing so may incur charges at $50 per hour.
You will be notified beforehand if any changes you request will incur this hourly charge. You will not be charged unexpectedly.
Revisions
Unless otherwise specified, all designs come with a three revision limit during the mockup phase. This means I will scrap the design and start over a maximum of three times. If you’re still unhappy after the third revision, additional mockups/designs can be made but you will be charged $50 per hour for the time.
Compatibility
All website and blog designs are built to be compatible with all modern browsers, including the latest versions of Chrome, FireFox, Safari, and Internet Explorer. I cannot guarantee compatibility with old or outdated browsers, such as Internet Explorer 8 and below.
If specifically stated in your invoice or project proposal, your website or blog design will be responsive. This means it will resize and adapt to different screen and device resolutions. Responsive designs are tested on modern Android smartphones (Samsung Galaxy S4+) and tablets. I am unable to test on iPhones and iPads, but usually if a site is working responsively on a comparable Android smartphone/tablet, it will render the same on the equivalent Apple device.
Text and Content Input
Unless specifically noted otherwise, I am not responsible for inputting content onto your blog or website. I will create your post and page templates, which include the basic design and structure of the page. But you are responsible for added text and/or imagery to that template.
I am also not responsible for configuring your navigation menu or widgets. I create the functionality for adding a menu, and a sidebar area where you can add widgets, but you must populate those areas with your own content.
Graphics, Photos, and Illustrations
Unless specifically noted otherwise on your invoice, graphics, photos, and illustrations will be based on stock imagery. Custom drawing, illustration, or touchups may sometimes be done, but it is not promised unless specifically noted in the invoice.
Installation
When installing a custom design on your site, I will require temporary admin access to your blog. This information will not be sold, shared, or given away. You are welcome to delete my credentials after the design has been installed.
When installing a new custom theme, your old one will be deactivated. I am not responsible for any lost settings on your deactivated design.
Support
Blog/website designs and coding projects come with 30 days of free support. Support means fixing something that is not working correctly on the site. It does not mean adding brand new features or styles that were not previously agreed upon in the project proposal or invoice. Once this free 30 day period elapses, support may be purchased separately at $50 per hour.
Copyright
Copyright to the finished blog/website/coding project is owned by Creative Whim. You, the client, are given a license to use, display, and modify the project as you wish. However, you may not re-sell, re-distribute, or give away for free the project to any other party. Any code used in the project may be modified to suit your needs for that final product only. The code may not be used as a template or “starting point” for any different works.
Creative Whim has the right to showcase the design on our website and on any other promotional sites we use (such as personal blogs, Twitter, or Facebook).
All finished design products will include a note at the bottom specifying that it was designed by Creative Whim, with a link back to my website. This link may not be moved, altered, edited, or removed.