Prepared for: Peter Atkinson
Email: peter@themerrybeggars.com
Organization: The Merry Beggars
Website: www.themerrybeggars.com
Prepared by: Margaret Ryland
Email: margaret@mryland.co
Website: mryland.co
Dear Peter,
Thanks for reaching out; I absolutely loved hearing about your mission and vision for this project!
Here's what I'm thinking.
Your project requires a heavy focus in UX. While I have some capabilities in this, my sense is that what you need is just outside where I can confidently say that I'm the best person for the job.
My first thought was to build a team to execute the project, and fill the gaps in my expertise. I would love to be a part of bringing your vision to life, because I love what you're doing, and agree with what you said about our aesthetic and cultural views being in alignment. I see this as an essential piece of a successful partnership.
However, given your timeframe and my current availability, I don't think I have the time to hire the right people, manage the project, and ensure that I'm bringing you my best work, which is what you deserve!
Regarding the option of a more iterative, prototyping approach. If you are interested in this, I have availability for 2-3 landing pages in October. I think you have 3 shows now, right?
One more thing: you mentioned that you're building a long-term team, and hoping that my involvement could transition to that. To be fully transparent, I'm in in a time of transition, where I'm moving towards working more on my own projects/products that are currently being developed between my client projects. This wouldn't necessarily preclude my future involvement, but how I'm currently handling retainer work is by scheduling up to one day a week where the client has all my focus. This allows me to serve them, while also protecting my creative and mental energy for this new direction.
Below you'll find info on my studio, see a few portfolio pieces, and sign the contract if you're ready to move forward.
M.Ryland Co is the business name for my one-woman design studio (along with the occasional freelancer I hire to help me with a project). I have two main prongs to my work: branding and books.
While branding has been my focus lately, book design and typesetting will always be my "first love." 😉
This love affair began in 2015; I'll never forget it.
I was in Assisi, Italy, and the executive director of a nonprofit where I did part-time admin work (remotely) asked me to design a book cover for them in an "emergency." Never having done anything like it before, I'd sneak awake in the hours before dawn to try to figure out how on earth to make it happen.
Somehow it worked, and for the next 3-4 years I designed — covers and interiors — over 70 books for them!
During that time I fell in love with the process. There was something deeply rewarding about being the hidden hands who took the author’s beautifully crafted-words and wove them into a book that weeks later would be shipped to Catholics across the world to nourish and grow their faith.
A small sampling of the books I've designed from cover-to-cover.
Design and production of a book that will help your families (and others!) progress in their reading capabilities.
Because of the (comparatively) short length of book, I think the best way to approach it is by doing a 3-day-design marathon. 🏃🏻♀️
🥇 3-Design-Day Package
We'll do the 3 days over the course of one week. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
Tuesday will be the initial design concepts for the interior (i.e. giving you font options — for the non-reading-lesson parts of the interior) and starting on the layout.
Wednesday will be primarily layout → you'll have it by Wednesday evening, so you can have Thursday to review and make sure it all looks good.
Friday will be any fixes, and then the cover design.
Includes
Cover Design:
- Around 2 design concepts to choose from (we've already talked about it I know, so it would be a matter of making the final decision about which direction to go: the floral, the more simple, or using some kind of art)
- 2 rounds of revisions
- Back cover design: we'll need text for the back cover, a picture of you would be nice if you're open to it, and if you have "endorsements" from people who have used the program or read the book that would be great as well!
Interior Design and layout:
- 3 interior layout concepts/font options to choose from
- 1 rounds of revisions on the design concepts
- Full book laid out and typeset
Printing
- Full book file prepared according to printer's specifications
- If this goes outside the three days that's fine → i.e. I'm happy to jump in at any point in the process if you have questions about what the printer is telling you!
Here are a couple of my favorite book covers I've done over the years. As far as the interiors it's a bit tricky as I don't have access to the final PDFs. I do have one with a small selection of pages that is below.
Covers for Emmaus Road Press
Interior for Emmaus Road Press / Kimberly Hahn
The full project was a 4-book set (this one can be found here on Amazon) including custom illustrated icons for Chapter pages, and full design and layout of all covers and interiors. (hover below to scroll and see the rest of this sample)
2021 Planner
I designed and did a limited run of this planner last year. (click any of the images below to see full size)
Schedule options
Let me know which week you'd prefer!
THREE-DESIGN-DAYS
Normal price = $800 / Design-Day, but you get discounts for multiple days! 🙌🏼
Payment Plans
Pay-in-4
Due:
Upon Booking = 25% (non-refundable)
- $500
Project Start Date (PSD) = 25%
- $500
1 month after PSD = 25%
- $500
2 months after PSD = 25%
- $500
Pay-in-3
Due:
Upon Booking = 33% (non-refundable)
- $650
Project Start Date (PSD) = 33%
- $650
1 month after PSD = 33%
- $650
(Total = $1950)
Nota bene: Once you've chosen a package and signed the contract (which you'll do below) I'll email you an invoice and you'll be able to set up a recurring payment so you won't have to think about it again! 💆🏻♀️
Click the arrow toggle below to read the contract.
Once you've read the contract (to your satisfaction) you will accept and "sign" it by filling out the form at the bottom.
Client Service Agreement
Entered into on ___________
Parties: Margaret Ryland
Known as "Designer"
and Margaret Walsh
Known as "Client"
Collectively, all of the above people or businesses entering this Agreement will be referred to as the "Parties."
Purpose of the Agreement
Client wishes to hire Designer to provide services relating to Client’s as detailed in this Agreement. Designer has agreed to provide such services according to the terms of this Agreement.
Terms
Services
Designer shall provide Client with the following services and/or products ("Services"):
Cost, Fees and Payment
The total cost ("Total Cost") for all Services is $2000 due in full by October 13, 2021. Client shall pay the Total Cost to Designer as follows:
The first payment is a non-refundable retainer. At a minimum, Client agrees that the retainer fee fairly compensates Designer for committing to provide the Services and turning down other potential projects/clients.
Intellectual Property
Final Works
Upon Designer's receipt of all payments due, Designer hereby assigns to Client all rights, title, and interest, including copyright, in and to the final Deliverables. Designer retains the rights to display all work created by Designer for this Project, including preliminary designs and final Deliverables, in Designer's portfolios, including in print and online, and to submit such work to design periodicals and competitions.
Preliminary Works/Working Files.
Designer retains all proprietary rights, including property ownership, intellectual property rights and Copyrights, in and to all Preliminary Works and Working Files.
Relationship of the Parties
Independent Contractor
Designer is an independent contractor, not an employee of Client or any company affiliated with Client. Designer shall provide the Services under the general direction of Client, but Designer shall determine, in Designer’s sole discretion, the manner and means by which the Services are accomplished. This Agreement does not create a partnership or joint venture and neither party is authorized to act as agent or bind the other party except as expressly stated in this Agreement. All rights, if any, granted to Client are contractual in nature and are wholly defined by the express written agreement of the parties and the various terms and conditions of this Agreement.
Designer Agents
Designer shall be permitted to engage and/or use third party designers or other service providers as independent contractors in connection with the Services (“Design Agents”). Notwithstanding, Designer shall remain fully responsible for such Design Agents’ compliance with the various terms and conditions of this Agreement
Artistic Release
Client has spent a satisfactory amount of time reviewing Designer's work and has a reasonable expectation that Designer will perform the Services in a similar manner and style unless otherwise specified in this Agreement.
Consistency
Designer will use reasonable efforts to ensure Client's desired Services are produced in a style and manner consistent with Vendor's current portfolio and Designer will try to incorporate any reasonable suggestion made by Client. However, Client understands and agrees that:
- Every client is different, with different tastes, budgets, and needs;
- Design services are often a subjective art and Designer has a unique vision, with an ever-evolving style and technique;
- Designer will use its artistic judgment when providing Services for Client, which may not include strict adherence to Client’s suggestions;
- Although Designer will use reasonable efforts to incorporate Client’s suggestions and desires when providing Client with the Services, Designer shall have final say regarding the aesthetic judgment and artistic quality of the Services.
Limit of Liability
Client agrees that the maximum amount of damages he or she is entitled to in any claim relating to this Agreement or Services provided in this Agreement are not to exceed the Total Cost of Services provided by Designer.
Loss of Product. In the event that any or all product(s) are lost, such as damage to or loss of a component of the product necessary for final delivery, Designer shall refund Client a pro-rated portion of the Total Cost based on the amount of Services that were completed/provided against the amount of Services that were agreed to be completed/provided.
Indemnification. Client agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless Designer and its affiliates, employees, agents and independent contractors for any injury, property damage, liability, claim or other cause of action arising out of or related to Services and/or product(s) Designer provides to Client.
Changes
Unless otherwise provided herein, Client shall pay additional charges for all changes requested by Client which are outside the Scope of the Services on a time and materials basis, at Designer’s standard hourly of $100 per hour, or in an amount separately agreed upon in writing in advance of the change. Such charges shall be in addition to all other amounts payable under this Agreement despite any maximum budget, contract price or final price identified therein. Designer may extend or modify any delivery schedule or deadline as required by such Changes.
Impossibility
Force Majeure. No party shall be liable or responsible to the other party, nor be deemed to have defaulted under or breached this Agreement, for any failure or delay in fulfilling or performing any term of this Agreement (except for any obligations to make payments to the other party hereunder), when and to the extent such failure or delay is caused by or results from acts beyond the impacted party’s (“Impacted Party”) control, including, but not limited to, the following force majeure events (“Force Majeure Events”): (a) acts of God; (b) a natural disaster (fires, explosions, earthquakes, hurricane, flooding, storms, explosions, infestations), epidemic, or pandemic; (c) war, invasion, hostilities (whether war is declared or not), terrorist threats or acts, riot or other civil unrest; (d) government order or law; (e) actions, embargoes or blockades in effect on or after the date of this Agreement; (f) action by any governmental authority; (g) national or regional emergency; (h) strikes, labor stoppages or slowdowns or other industrial disturbances; and (i) shortage of adequate power or transportation facilities. The Impacted Party shall give Notice within [number] days of the Force Majeure Event to the other party, stating the period of time the occurrence is expected to continue. The Impacted Party shall use diligent efforts to end the failure or delay and ensure the effects of such Force Majeure Event are minimized. The Impacted Party shall resume the performance of its obligations as soon as reasonably practicable after the removal of the cause. In the event that the Impacted Party’s failure or delay remains uncured for a period of [number] days following Notice given by it, the other party may thereafter terminate this Agreement upon Notice.
Failure to Perform Services. In the event Designer cannot or will not perform its obligations in any or all parts of this Agreement, it (or a responsible party) will:
- Immediately give Notice to Client via the Notice provisions detailed in this Agreement; and
- Attempt to find another competent professional to take its place with the mutual agreement of Client(s);
- If another competent professional is not available or Client(s) do not agree to transfer of obligations to said alternate professional, Company will issue a refund or credit based on a reasonably accurate percentage of services rendered; and
- Excuse Client(s) of any further performance and/or payment obligations in this Agreement.
General Provisions
The laws of OH govern all matters arising out of or relating to this Agreement, including torts.
Severability
If any portion of this Agreement is deemed to be illegal or unenforceable, the remaining provisions of this Agreement remain in full force.
Notice
Parties shall provide effective notice (“Notice”) to each other via either of the following methods of delivery at the date and time which the Notice is sent:
- Designer's Email: margaret@mryland.co
- Client Email: margaretwlsh28@gmail.com
Merger
This Agreement constitutes the final, exclusive agreement between the parties relating to the Design and Services contained in this Agreement. All earlier and contemporaneous negotiations and agreements between the parties on the matters contained in this Agreement are expressly merged into and superseded by this Agreement.
Amendment
The parties may amend this Agreement only by the parties’ written consent via proper Notice.
Once you've signed, I'll sign the contract below:
Designer Signature:
Date Signed:
Are you ready? 🙋🏻♀️
If you are ready to move ahead, the only thing you need to do is sign the contract by submitting the form just above here!
Once that's done I'll send you an invoice to hold your spot.
We'll then have a brief meeting to make sure we are ready for the project start date!
In the meantime, let me know if you have any questions!
All the best,
