Client Guidelines

Client Guidelines

These guidelines apply to all Clients using the Designs Orbit platform. They explain what we expect from you when running a design contest or working with a Designer. By using the platform, you agree to follow these guidelines alongside our Terms and Conditions.

I. CREATING A BRIEF

1. Be clear and specific

Your brief is the foundation of the work. A good brief includes:

• What your business does and who your audience is.

• What you need designed (logo, website, packaging, etc.).

• Style preferences — colours, fonts, examples of designs you like.

• File formats and sizes you need for the final delivery.

• Any mandatory elements (existing brand assets, legal text, specific imagery).

The more detail you provide, the better the results. Vague briefs lead to mismatched submissions and wasted time for both you and the Designers.

2. Set a realistic budget

All contest prizes are displayed in pounds sterling (£) inclusive of VAT where applicable. Higher prizes attract more experienced Designers and more submissions. Choose a budget that reflects the complexity and commercial value of the work you need.

3. Do not post briefs for illegal or harmful purposes

You must not use the platform to commission designs that:

• Infringe any third party’s intellectual property rights.

• Promote illegal activities, hate speech, or discrimination.

• Are misleading, fraudulent, or intended to deceive consumers.

• Contain or promote obscene, offensive, or harmful content.

II. WORKING WITH DESIGNERS

1. Provide constructive feedback

Designers invest time and skill in every submission. When reviewing design concepts:

• Rate and comment on submissions — silence is unhelpful.

• Be specific about what you like and what you want changed.

• Avoid personal criticism. Focus on the work, not the person.

2. Respond in a reasonable timeframe

Designers are working to your deadlines. If they ask questions or submit revisions, respond promptly. Prolonged silence delays the project and is unfair to Designers who have committed their time.

3. Respect the Designer’s expertise

You are hiring a professional. Be open to creative suggestions that differ from your initial idea — that is often where the best work comes from. If you disagree, explain why clearly rather than simply rejecting the concept.

4. Do not ask for speculative work outside the contest

The contest structure is the agreed format. You must not ask Designers to produce additional work, revisions, or alternative concepts outside the scope of the brief without agreeing additional payment through the platform.

III. PAYMENTS AND OWNERSHIP

1. Pay through the platform only

All payments must go through VINTA LIMITED. You must not arrange direct payments with a Designer to avoid platform fees. If a Designer asks you to pay off-platform, decline and report it to us.

2. Select a winner fairly

Choose the design that best meets your brief. You must not:

• Collude with a Designer to rig a contest outcome.

• Select your own account or an associate’s account as the winner.

• Use the contest process to collect free design ideas with no intention of selecting a winner.

3. Intellectual property transfers on completion

You acquire rights to the winning design only — not to any other submissions. Ownership transfers through the Design Transfer Agreement once the contest concludes and payment is confirmed. Until that point, the Designer retains all rights.

You may not use, reproduce, or distribute any non-winning design concepts. They remain the property of the Designers who created them.

4. Understand your responsibilities

Once you own a design, it is your responsibility to:

• Conduct any trademark searches or clearances before using the design commercially.

• Ensure the design is suitable for your intended use.

• Comply with any licence conditions attached to third-party elements (stock images, fonts) that the Designer has declared.

We do not perform trademark clearances or legal reviews of designs on your behalf.

IV. CANCELLATIONS AND REFUNDS

• Standard contests may be cancelled and refunded if no finalists have been selected and the request is made within 60 days of payment.

• Guaranteed contests cannot be cancelled. You must select a winner.

• Refund requests are handled in accordance with our Terms and Conditions and your statutory rights under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 and the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013.

If you are unhappy with the submissions you have received, contact our support team before cancelling. We may be able to help improve the brief or extend the contest.

V. CONFIDENTIALITY

If your project involves sensitive business information, you may mark your contest as confidential or request an NDA. Designers who enter a confidential contest agree not to share or publish any work from it. You must clearly indicate confidentiality requirements in your brief — do not assume Designers will treat all work as confidential by default.

VI. REPORTING CONCERNS

If you believe a Designer has breached the Designer Code of Conduct or submitted work that infringes a third party’s rights, contact us at [email protected]. Include the contest reference, the submission in question, and any supporting evidence. We will review all reports and respond within 10 working days.