Effective May 2025 | Design by Steph (Pty) Ltd

At Design by Steph (Pty) Ltd, we are committed to providing a high-quality, one-on-one creative experience that aligns with your vision, timeline, and investment. These Terms & Conditions are here to protect both you (“the Client”) and us (“the Designer”) during the course of our work together.

By paying your deposit, you confirm that you have read and agree to these Terms & Conditions.

1. Ownership & Rights

Final ownership of all approved and paid-for design work is transferred to the Client upon full payment. Until full payment is received, all design materials remain the property of Design by Steph (Pty) Ltd.

2. Project Communication & Client Responsibilities

Timely communication is vital. The Client agrees to provide content, feedback, and approvals within reasonable timeframes (typically 2–3 business days). Delays of 7+ days without communication may result in project delays or rescheduling.

3. Scope, Revisions & Additions

Each package includes a set number of revision rounds, as outlined in your proposal or quote. Additional revisions or scope changes will be quoted separately and must be approved by the Client before work continues.

If excessive content needs to be transferred from an existing website, or if large volumes of new content (e.g. blog posts, portfolio items, resources) need to be loaded, this must be agreed upon in advance and will be quoted separately before the project begins.

4. Payments & Invoicing

Payment terms are governed by the signed Service Agreement. A non-refundable deposit is required to begin all work. Remaining fees are due according to the agreed payment schedule. No final files will be delivered before the full balance is paid.

For convenience, payment can be made via EFT (bank transfer) or card payment (payment link provided).

5. Cancellation Policy

Should either party wish to cancel the project, notice must be given in writing. Work completed up to that point will be billed accordingly. Projects with no client communication for 30 consecutive days may be closed or paused without refund.

6. Web Design Terms

Hosting is billed annually or monthly as agreed. A 1-month notice is required to cancel hosting. Clients are responsible for supplying all website content and images. Design by Steph will load up to 9 products on e-commerce sites; clients may add more thereafter.

Basic SEO is included, but rankings are not guaranteed.

All website hosting services—whether arranged through Design by Steph (Pty) Ltd or sourced independently by the Client—are provided via third-party hosting providers. Design by Steph does not own, operate, or control hosting servers and therefore cannot be held responsible for any hosting-related issues.

Design by Steph (Pty) Ltd is not liable for downtime, performance issues, data loss, security breaches, email failures, plugin or theme conflicts, server limitations, expired hosting services, or any other issues arising from third-party hosting providers, regardless of whether hosting is billed through Design by Steph or directly by the Client.

Hosting and website design/development services are separate services. No refunds, partial or full, will be issued for website builds or design services due to hosting-related issues, as these are outside the Designer’s control.

7. File Formats & Delivery

Final files will be provided in industry-standard formats (PDF, JPEG, PNG, EPS, AI). Editable files (e.g. Adobe Illustrator) are included where applicable. Files are prepared for print or web use only.

8. Backups

Clients are responsible for saving and backing up final files once delivered. Design by Steph is not responsible for storing or archiving final work beyond 30 days after delivery.

9. Errors & Proofing

The Client is responsible for proofreading all content. Design by Steph is not liable for errors, omissions, or information provided by third-party collaborators (e.g. copywriters, printers).

10. Promotion & Portfolio Use

Design by Steph reserves the right to share completed work in our portfolio, social media, and marketing materials unless otherwise requested in writing prior to project start.

11. Confidentiality

If confidentiality is required, the Client must notify the Designer in writing before the project begins.

12. Availability & Office Hours

Design by Steph operates Monday–Friday, 8:30am to 4:00pm (SAST). Communication outside these hours may be delayed. All project requests, approvals, and revisions must be confirmed in writing.

13. Terms Acknowledgement

By paying your deposit, you agree to these Terms & Conditions. A signed Service Agreement will accompany each project outlining your specific deliverables, timeline, and payment plan.

Let’s make something incredible together!