How it works: Brands
1. What is a Design Pitch?
As a brand on Designers Trust, you can fill out a design brief, which will be answered in a pitch. Our team will review your brief and invite the most relevant designers to answer your brief in a pitch round.
You are guaranteed a minimum of three qualified pitch submissions at a starting cost of €5.000 and delivered at an output level that enables you to properly explore the potential of the designs.
You are free to decide whether you wish to proceed with any of the submissions. If you choose to go ahead, the process is straightforward since the relationship between you and the chosen designer is governed by a standardized legal framework, which allows all parties to focus on what they do best.
In addition, the team at Designers Trust makes certain that an outstanding output is waiting ahead.
2. How to launch a Design Pitch
Once you have signed-up and created your account you will be able to create your design brief, which will be used to launch the Design Pitch.
Go to the “Design Pitch” tab and get started by clicking “Create new pitch”. The brief will serve as a foundation for the Design Pitch. The format of the brief ensures that all requirements you may have to the desired design is addressed.
If you are new to the platform, a representative from Designers Trust will reach out and schedule an initial exploratory call. During the call, we will learn more about your Brand and have a dialogue about the objective of the Design Pitch. Notes from our initial talk will already be added to the brief, and you can subsequent continue to work on it.
When you have finalised the brief, Designers Trust will set up a review call. During the call we will go over your brief and provide input/sparring on the content. Once the brief has been approved, we will present the designers which may be assigned.
Before launching the pitch on the platform, Designers Trust will assign one of the presented Designers to the Design Pitch. The Designer will be informed and aligned with the expectations of the process and deadlines.
You are guaranteed a minimum of three qualified pitch submissions after 6 weeks at a starting cost of €5.000 and delivered at an output level that enables you to properly explore the potential of the designs.
The concept presentation consists of 7 sections: an overview, inspirational section, presentation of the overall design, details and features, colour options, technical/dimensions drawings, and environmental shots.
You are free to decide whether you wish to proceed with any of the submissions. If you choose to go ahead, the process is straightforward since the relationship between you and the chosen designer is governed by a standardised legal framework, which allows all parties to focus on what they do best.
The process for this is elaborated under “How is a concept developed into a production ready design?”
Once we had our review call and you are satisfied with the design brief, we will approve it and launch the Design Pitch
Based on the design brief, Designers Trust will handpick a Designer with industry experience within the given category.
You will have 1 month to decide whether to select one of the concepts, or a merger thereof, and develop it into a production ready design. If no concepts have been selected, the Agreement will be deemed completed and the intellectual property rights of the concepts go back to the Designers and Designers Trust
After the presentation of the 3 concepts, you will have the option to select one or more of the concepts and develop it into a production ready design. The following payment terms are available for developing the concept into a production ready design:
- 5% royalty
- 3% royalty and an hourly design fee of 100€ for developing the concept into a production ready design*
- Hourly design fee of 200€ for developing the concept into a production ready design. No royalties*
*The Designer is to provide an hourly estimate to develop the concept into a production ready which must be pre-approved in writing by you. 150 hours should be expected to develop a production ready design.
3. How to gain access to the Trust
Many of the designers in our Trust have submitted concepts waiting for the right partner to realize them. When you join Designers Trust, you will have the opportunity to view and reserve concepts relevant to your business and industry.
To ensure the integrity of our process, we present these in private online viewings for you and your team. If anything strikes your fancy, you can reserve a concept for a pre-determined period of time, and/or acquire the concept for further development.
All concepts submitted by designers have been curated to ensure that the quality presented enables you to properly evaluate potential.
4.How to proceed with a chosen concept
The payment model consists of two elements. A one-off fee starting from €5,000 combined with one of the following payment terms for developing the concept into a production-ready design:
- 5% royalty
- 3% royalty and an hourly design fee of 100€ for developing the concept into a production ready design*
- Hourly design fee of 200€ for developing the concept into a production ready design. No royalties*
*The Designer is to provide an hourly estimate to develop the concept into a production ready which must be pre-approved in writing by you. 150 hours should be expected to develop a production ready design.
5. How is a concept developed into a production ready design?
Once a concept has been acquired (“Phase 1 – Concept Acquisition”) it is developed into a production ready design through two additional phases: “Phase 2 – Design development” and “Phase 3 – Design implementation” and launched in “Phase 4 – Launch and PR support (optional)” :
- Phase 1 – Concept Acquisition: A concept is acquired through the Design Pitch or the Trust.
- Phase 2 – Design development: The concept is developed into a final design based on your feedback. Timeframe: approx. 8 weeks.
- Phase 3 – Design implementation: The Designer will, from a design point of view, ensuring that the design can be produced. Timeframe: Ongoing small adjustments over 2-6months based on feedback from you.
- Phase 4 – Launch and PR support (optional): The Brand may request further assistance from you in the launch (e.g. extended interviews and/or designing marketing materials or packaging). Any Phase 4 services are due to a separate agreement.
5.1 Phase 2 – Design development
The purpose of this phase is to further develop the selected concept, or a merger of the concepts, into a final design.
Designers Trust will facilitate an initial kick-off meeting with you, and the Designer behind the selected concept. The purpose of the meeting is to align expectations, ways of working and what is to be delivered (output).
Following the kick-off meeting, a feedback session will be scheduled at your convenience wherein you can to provide the Designer and Designers Trust with feedback on the concept.
After the feedback session, the Designer will present an hourly estimate and a timeline for developing the concepts further.
Once the feedback has been incorporated, the Designer will present the next iteration, and you are to either approve the design or provide further feedback.
On average 1-2 feedback sessions are before the final design can be approved. The feedback sessions should be limited to 3.
Depending on iterations needed, the development of the final design usually takes around 6 weeks.
The final Design will be presented in the same format as the concept, consisting of 7 sections: an overview, inspirational section, presentation of the overall design, details and features, colour options, technical/dimensions drawings, and environmental shots.
In Phase 2, the feedback can be related to related to shape, style, colours, materials etc.
Designers Trust has developed a clear feedback form and guidelines to keep expectations aligned.
5.2 Phase 3 - Design implementation
Once “Phase 2 – Design development” is completed, the final design has been created.
The objective of the next phase “Phase 3 – Design implementation“, is to assist you from a design point of view (in terms of the conceptual and visual aspects of the design), in implementing the design to the preparation for production. Specific preparation may include redesign of portions of the design to adjust for manufacturing capabilities.
Designers Trust will facilitate a kick-off meeting for Phase 3. The purpose of the meeting is to align expectations on ways of working, what is to be delivered (output), agree on the timeframe and next touch point(s) for Phase 3.
After the kick-off meeting, a feedback session will be scheduled at your convenience wherein you can to provide the Designer and Designers Trust with feedback on the design based on your requirements (dimensions, shape, size etc.).
The Designer will provide you with a memo of the meeting alongside an hourly estimate and timeline for incorporating the feedback and schedule the next feedback session. This will have to be approved by you in writing.
During the design implementation phase the Designer will on average spend 30-50 hours depending on the complexity of the design to support the process.
The design will be adjusted based on the requirements and the impacted sections in the design presentation will be updated accordingly.
“Phase 4 – Launch and PR Support” is optional. If you decide to include any additional Phase 4 assistance, Designers Trust will together with the Designer present you a separate proposal of these services based on your requirements.
5.3 Phase 4 - Launch and PR Support (Optional)
The concept has now been developed into a production ready design.
You have the right to use the following assets:
- You may add the “Fair Share Design mark” on the finalized design and communication material
- You may reference the Designer behind the design and Designers Trust by Timothy Jacob Jensen
In addition, Designers Trust and the Designer can on request assist you in the launch of the design in terms of:
- Participation in media and/or product launch events including 1:1 interviews
- Assist in development of press and promotion materials e.g., press release, video and photo shoot
- Endorsements online and offline
- Design of marketing materials such as packaging, POS materials, product manuals, advertising etc.
If you decide to include any additional Phase 4 assistance, Designers Trust will together with you present a separate proposal of these services based on the requirements by the Brand.
At Designers Trust, we share all revenue and royalties with our Designers. This motivates everyone to do their best and inspires them to realize their full potential. All creations developed according to the fair-share principle of Designers Trust may carry the carry ”Fair-Share Design Mark” for endorsement and authenticity. |