Terms of Service

CRE8T1V3 provides design and branding services as described on this site. Scope, timeline, and deliverables for each project are agreed upon separately with each client.

A 50% deposit is required to begin any project, with the remaining 50% due upon completion. Deposits are fully refundable within 72 hours of payment, provided no work has begun. After 72 hours, or once work has begun — whichever occurs first — all payments are non-refundable.

For rush/quick-turnaround projects, work typically begins immediately upon payment. In these cases, the 72-hour refund window does not apply once work has started, even if within 72 hours of payment.

Clients may cancel a project at any time. Upon cancellation, no refund will be issued, and any unfinished work remains the property of CRE8T1V3 — the Client acquires no rights to incomplete deliverables.

A canceled project may be resumed within 30 days of cancellation, with the original deposit applied toward the resumed project. After 30 days, the deposit is forfeited and any continued work requires a new project agreement and deposit.

CRE8T1V3 follows a structured design process built on professional expertise. Within each phase, CRE8T1V3 will present work — for example, a set of initial concepts or moodboards — and gather Client feedback to guide the direction toward a final, polished solution for that phase. CRE8T1V3 determines when a deliverable reflects a considered, professional solution ready for Client's final approval.

Feedback within a phase should address direction, tone, and alignment with the project's goals; CRE8T1V3 will incorporate that feedback to arrive at the best solution for the phase. Once CRE8T1V3 has delivered a final, approved-ready version of a phase and Client signs off, that phase is considered complete and the project moves to the next phase. Completed phases are not reopened for further revision.

CRE8T1V3 works collaboratively with Client throughout this process, but retains creative and professional judgment in determining how feedback is best applied to achieve the project's goals.

Client agrees to review and respond to each phase within 3–5 business days of delivery, including approvals, feedback, or a request to pause. Timely responses keep the project on schedule and are the Client's responsibility.

By Client: Client may pause an active project by providing written notice, for a combined total of 14 days across the life of the project, whether taken as a single pause or split into multiple shorter pauses.

By CRE8T1V3: CRE8T1V3 may similarly pause an active project for up to a combined total of 14 days for reasons including scheduling, health, or other operational needs, by providing written notice to Client. This does not affect any payments made and does not entitle Client to a refund.

Non-Responsiveness: If Client does not respond within the response window above and remains unresponsive, CRE8T1V3 may pause the project for up to 30 days. If Client communicates and re-engages within that 30-day period, the project will be rescheduled and resume as soon as reasonably possible. If Client remains unresponsive for the full 30 days, CRE8T1V3 reserves the right to cancel the project with no refund, consistent with Payment & Cancellation.

Repeated Pauses: Once the 14-day combined pause allowance (client-side or studio-side) is used, no further pauses will be granted; continued delay will be treated as non-responsiveness above.

Neither party will be held liable for delays or failure to perform due to circumstances beyond their reasonable control — including natural disasters, serious illness, power or internet outages, government restrictions, or similar events ("Force Majeure Events"). The affected party will notify the other in writing as soon as reasonably possible, describing the nature of the delay. Timelines will be extended by the length of the disruption. If a Force Majeure Event prevents the project from continuing for more than 30 consecutive days, either party may cancel the project; in that case, deposits already paid for uncompleted work will not be refunded, but no further payment will be owed.

CRE8T1V3 reserves the right to cancel a project at any time, including for non-payment, failure to provide necessary materials or access, unprofessional or abusive conduct, or if continuing the project is no longer feasible.

If CRE8T1V3 cancels a project for reasons other than Client breach, Client will be refunded the portion of payment corresponding to any phase not yet started. Payment for phases already completed or in progress is non-refundable, reflecting work and time already invested. Unfinished work remains the property of CRE8T1V3 regardless of which party initiates cancellation.

A project is considered "rush" when the Client requests completion within a compressed timeframe relative to CRE8T1V3's standard turnaround for that type of deliverable — generally a 3–12 day timeframe, depending on project scope and complexity. Rush eligibility and the applicable timeline will be confirmed by CRE8T1V3 at the time of booking. Rush projects incur a fee of 25% of the total project cost, in addition to the standard project price. As referenced in Payment & Cancellation, rush projects may begin work immediately upon deposit, and the standard refund window does not apply once work has started.

Any work requested beyond the agreed project scope — including new deliverables, additional concepts beyond what was defined, or requests made after a phase has been approved — will be billed separately at $100/hour. CRE8T1V3 will provide an estimate before beginning any out-of-scope work, and such work will not begin without Client's written approval of that estimate.

CRE8T1V3 offers ongoing retainer engagements at the following monthly tiers: Design Support Retainer (20 hours/month), Creative Direction Retainer (40 hours/month), and Full Creative Pod Retainer (60 hours/month), as described at time of booking. Hours are dedicated to design, production, and strategic execution as needed each month.

Retainer hours do not roll over month to month and expire at the end of each billing cycle. Work requested beyond the included monthly hours will be billed at the standard rate of $100/hour.

Either party may cancel a retainer agreement with 30 days' written notice. The retainer will remain active, and monthly fees will continue to apply, through the end of the current 30-day notice period.

Deliverables produced within a billing period become Client's property upon payment for that period. Work in progress at the time a retainer is canceled follows the ownership terms outlined below.

Client agrees to provide timely feedback and materials needed to complete the project.

Upon receipt of full and final payment (50% deposit and 50% due upon completion), Client is granted ownership of the final approved deliverables for the agreed project. CRE8T1V3 retains ownership of preliminary concepts, drafts, and unused design work not included in the final deliverables. Client's rights to any deliverables are granted only upon completion of the applicable phase and receipt of payment for that phase.

CRE8T1V3 retains the right to display completed work in its portfolio, case studies, and self-promotional materials, including on this website, unless otherwise agreed in writing with the Client.

CRE8T1V3 maintains licenses for any typefaces, photography, or other third-party assets used to create project deliverables. Final logo files are delivered as outlined/vector artwork, allowing Client to use the logo itself without requiring a separate typeface license.

Some third-party assets (including stock photography) are licensed on a subscription basis, meaning usage rights may be tied to CRE8T1V3's active subscription status with that provider. CRE8T1V3 does not guarantee perpetual rights to any third-party asset unless a perpetual/extended license has been separately purchased for that specific asset.

If Client wishes to use a licensed typeface or other third-party asset beyond the delivered project — including in website copy, marketing materials, or other brand touchpoints — Client is responsible for independently obtaining their own license for that use.

CRE8T1V3 is not liable for indirect or consequential damages arising from use of our services, to the extent permitted by law.

We may update these terms; continued use of the site or services means you accept the current version.

mikea@cre8t1v3.com