Today, almost every business entity has a website, and many also have their own application or online system. As a result, UX (user experience) and UI (user interface) are playing an increasingly important role, as they concern the design of user experiences and the appearance of interfaces (for example, the ease of navigating a website or the logic behind an application’s functionality). Therefore, when entering into a contract with a UX or UI designer, it is worth paying attention to several details that can significantly improve the efficiency of the cooperation.
What Is UX/UI?
First, it is worth explaining what UX and UI services actually are. The abbreviation UX comes from the English term User Experience. UX designers analyze, among other things, whether navigating a website is intuitive for users and whether using the product causes them any difficulties. UI, on the other hand, stands for User Interface and refers to the appearance of the interface — such as colors, button layouts, fonts, and graphics on a website or in an application.
It can therefore be said that a UX designer is responsible for the usability and convenience of a product, while a UI designer is responsible for its aesthetics and presentation. In practice, this means creating digital solutions that are visually appealing, intuitive, and easy to use. Consequently, any entity that communicates with customers through digital tools (for example, an online store, a bank, or a ticket reservation system) may require UX/UI services.
Contract with a UX/UI Designer – how is it legally classified?
A contract with a UX/UI designer usually has the characteristics of a contract for specific work (contract for services resulting in a specific deliverable). Therefore, it should traditionally specify the scope of work to be performed, the completion deadline, and the amount of remuneration. In the case of this type of agreement, additional provisions are also important, as discussed below.
With regard to the scope of work, it is advisable already at the contract drafting stage to specify the exact activities expected by the client (for example, creating the graphic design of an application, designing the user journey, or preparing wireframes and prototypes of a website). In practice, an important preliminary step before cooperating with a UX/UI designer is defining the basic business or functional requirements for the future website or application.
Copyright in a Contract with a UX/UI Designer – how to protect oit?
One of the most important issues in a contract with a UX/UI designer concerns copyright. UX/UI projects are almost always creative in nature and are therefore protected under copyright law. If the agreement does not regulate this matter, it may turn out that the ordering party (the client) will not obtain the full right to use the project, even though they have paid for it.
For this reason, the contract should include appropriate provisions regarding the transfer of economic copyrights (as well as, for example, the right to exercise derivative rights, i.e. the possibility of independently modifying the project). This allows the client to legally use, develop, and publish the project without restrictions.
Confidentiality in a Contract with a UX/UI Designer – is it worth protecting?
The issue of confidentiality is also of significant importance. A UX/UI designer often gains access to information concerning the company’s business operations, business plans, or customer data — even before such information is publicly disclosed.
It is therefore in the client’s interest to protect such information from being disclosed by the UX/UI designer. For this reason, it is advisable to include appropriate confidentiality clauses obliging the designer to keep such information secret, as well as contractual penalties for any unauthorized disclosure.
What rules apply to the acceptance of UX/UI design work?
A well-prepared contract with a UX/UI designer should also specify the procedure for accepting the completed work. This makes it possible to determine when the project is considered properly completed and what happens if corrections are required.
The parties often agree on a deadline for the client to submit comments, as well as the number of permissible changes to the project that will not result in an increase in remuneration. Such clear rules help avoid conflicts and delays in the completion of the work.
It is also common for a work schedule to be attached to the contract with a UX/UI designer. Such a schedule often provides that the work will be delivered and accepted in stages.
In summary, the work of a UX/UI designer is a very important element of digital projects. It is worth ensuring that the rules of cooperation with such a designer are clearly organized, that the transfer of copyright is properly secured, and that the risk of disputes is minimized. Although for many people this may seem like an unnecessary formality, in practice it constitutes a fundamental tool for protecting the interests of both the client and the UX/UI designer.
Do you design logos, create websites, or write computer programs? Do you spend at least a dozen hours on a project, send the finished design along with an invoice, and not get paid? What legal mechanisms included in the contract can increase your chances of getting paid for your work? And do all the ways of securing payment actually stem directly from the regulations?
In the practice of law firms, agreements concerning the use of clients’ creative works (such as advertising films, marketing slogans, or mobile or web applications) are becoming increasingly common. The main issue in each case is determining how and to what extent the creator of these slogans, films, or applications allows others to use them.
