WHAT IS A PROFESSIONAL DESIGNER?
The designer designs by design. A professional designer has a high level of artistic and technical education and upholds a professional ethic. He or she has a capacity for analysis and for advising clients, the ability to follow a project from conception to realization and the imagination and expertise to propose solutions in all sectors of economic, social and cultural life.
The graphic designer conceives and designs within a process of communication. He or she translates a message into visual form, and organizes the information that is aimed at different sectors of society. The graphic designer masters meaning in images, codes, symbols and colors, knows page layout and typography β whether reproduced in printed or digital media.
The designer of spaces or interior designer conceives and designs the interiors of stores, stands, fairs or exhibitions. He or she organizes spaces and flux in order to attract, inform and involve the public, and knows how to accurately prioritize information, objects and products.
The illustrator conceives and creates original designs to be reproduced in all types of publication, press, and advertising. He or she has command of different techniques for print and/or digital media and may be chosen for a personal style.
The fashion designer conceives and designs clothing, accessories, shoes and other items for wear. He or she knows how clothing is structured, has knowledge of historical development, styles, techniques and manufacturing processes, and takes into account financial criteria.
The photographer conceives and designs original photographs for reproduction in all types of publication, press and advertising. He or she masters both silver print and digital techniques and may be sought out for a personal style or specialty.
The product designer or Industrial designer conceives and designs objects to be reproduced in multiple copies. He takes into account the attractiveness, the functionality and the ergonomics of a product, and masters technical and economic constraints.
The copywriter conceives and writes messages that are read or heard. He or she organizes and prepares the information to be communicated to different publics. He or she masters the construction, language and the readability of texts that are to be reproduced or disseminated on all kinds of visual and audiovisual media.
The textile designer conceives and designs motifs that are woven or printed on all types of surfaces. He or she researches new materials, works with the structure of the cloth and its color, masters manufacturing techniques and financial criteria for all types of textiles such as for clothing, furniture and habitation.
THE CALKULATOR DATABASE
Pre-established
The CalKulator displays an billable hourly rate for design creations. The hourly base rate is multiplied by an average time limit divided into three stages. The total falls within a given price range.
Adjustments
The subscriber is able to personalize the hourly rate. As well, the subscriber can adjust the time needed for each phase of work according to the nature of the project.
Variations in price
The fees for creation vary according to such factors as:
β deadlines for the project (whether normal or rush)
β the costs of the designer's working structure, depending upon where and how the activity takes place (e.g. in a home, studio or agency, with others, alone, etc.)
β social dues according to the designer's situation
β the years experience as a designer
β geographical location
Not included
β additional production or travel expenses
β additional services (e.g. supervising fabrication, manufacturing, etc.)
Related or complementary disciplines
Some projects involve several fields of activity. Search keywords on the home page to display them and their classifications.
To compare with 45 countries
The CalKulator presetting displays an average hourly rate (and working schedule) for the chosen country. You can compare these figures with those of 45 countries, classified in 6 groups.
The CalKulator uses rates recommended by professionals organization and the producer price index for industrial production, commerce and services. The price index, an indicator of economic fluctuations, shows the monthly evolution of the prices of transactions of economic activities. This index is the measure of the evolution of average prices of all merchandise and related services resulting from this activity and sold on the domestic market.
TO CALCULATE FEE FOR CREATION
What do they pay for?
The designer's fees pay for the work done: research, conception through completion of the artwork.
Why there are three phases in the CalKulator
The creative process for a design project is progressive. The research and the preliminary conception (phase 1) and the finalization of the accepted project (phase 2) necessitate discussion between the designer and the client. The execution of the creation (phase 3) is the action of passing from the conception of the design to its completion. This is not to be confused with additional production costs, on which there are no rights of reproduction.
If the project is developed on a long-term basis, calculating the fee for each phase may facilitate their successive billing. If a project is cancelled at any point, in accordance with recommendations of professional organizations, payment is due by the client for any phase that has been undertaken.
The CalKulator calculating method
The CalKulator projects a number of billable hours in actual time to be used specifically for the project along with a time frame (a schedule in elapsed time). This must not be confused with a salary.
Can the CalKulator schedule be modified?
The time CalKulator allots for each phase can be modified for any project. For example, the number of proposals to be furnished during research and preliminary conception (phase 1) may necessitate modifying the schedule or the execution of the creation (phase 3) might take more time than the finalization of the chosen project (phase 2).
Can several examples be accumulated?
Certain examples correspond to the whole project (e.g.) while individual examples can be modified or adjusted and added up to refine the subscriber's research.
TO CALCULATE RIGHTS OF AUTHOR
Intellectual property standards used by the Calkulator
The designer, in any discipline, creates an artwork on commission. As for any creative work, the artwork falls under the legislation concerning intellectual property. The designer holds the copyright. No one can use the artwork without specific permission. It is not the work that is sold but the right to use it. The right to reproduce the work must be negotiated with the designer for specific use within a specific time period. The negotiated agreement must be confirmed by written contract. This means that a client cannot reproduce an artwork (an image or a three-dimensional object) without preliminary agreement with the designer. In order to transfer the right to reproduce the artwork, the designer must draw up a written "transfer of rights" that stipulates the duration and the extent of the kind of rights that are to be transferred. The conditions are identical for the right of representation, which consists in the dissemination of the artwork in public, through any reproduction process (including the internet or any electronic media).
What do they pay for?
Rights of reproduction pay for commercial use of the artwork. According to the way the artwork is used, the cost of rights of reproduction may be higher that the fees for creating the artwork. CalKulator highly recommends negotiating rights of reproduction, as they are a major source of an artist's earnings.
Methods of calculation
The transferal of rights of reproduction of the artwork can be estimated as a fixed fee or in proportion to its use. The CalKulator applies this latter method. Four coefficients corresponding to four types of limitations provided for by law are established (whether or not use is exclusive, the geographical zone, the duration of use, and the scope of the medium). The total design fees are multiplied by the total of the coefficients to determine the cost of rights of reproduction.
Rights in proportion to use
β Exclusivity (phase 4): the artwork is used by a single client (e.g. a logotype) or a single object (e.g. a piece of furniture designed for a well-known brand)
β Non-exclusivity (phase 4): several clients may use the artwork simultaneously or in succession (e.g. a photograph) or the work may be declined on several objects for one project (e.g. an illustration used for a poster, a brochure, an internet site)
β Area of distribution (phase 5): the geographical zones where the artwork will be used (i.e. regional, national, international)
β Duration (phase 6): rights of reproduction vary; the longer the period the artwork is used, the higher the rights of reproduction.
The time span of transferring rights of reproduction is established taking into account the expected use of an artwork: short, medium or long-term. Artwork may become obsolete and need to be redesigned. When the artwork is reused, it is in both the client's and the designer's interest to renew the contract for the transferal of rights of reproduction rather than negotiating a single definitive transferal. In certain cases, a contract for royalties can be an option.
β Scope of use (phase 7): evaluation of the number of different objects on which the artwork is reproduced and the quantities produced; evaluation of the public attendance (example: whether the artwork is for a small gallery or a national museum; for a local shop or an international brand); evaluation of the number of consultations of an internet site (e.g. .fr or .com); evaluation of the audience of a television show (e.g. specialized public or prime time).
* In Europe the maximum legal duration provided for by law is 70 years after the death of the author. This is equivalent to a definitive transferal of the rights of author.
Contracts for royalties
For artwork commissioned for a publication or for merchandise, contracts for royalties may be established. This alternative consists of remunerating author's rights on the calculated return on sales of the model. This is a common practice in publishing, manufacturing or the music industry. The phasing of payment of rights of reproduction facilitates the agreement between designers and clients (see Forward).
Rights of reproduction paid in the form of royalties can be calculated on the basis of the amount proposed by the CalKulator, based on the objectives and the duration of the use of the artwork. It is possible to calculate rights of reproduction initially as a fixed price for a short time span, and following that as royalties. (Consult a lawyer.)
Detailed description of the project and its use
To avoid any ambiguity concerning the commissioned artwork and its use, it is important that the services included are described on the basis of the client's brief.
Alternate methode of estimate: the use (exclusivity, extent, duration, and scope) must be described in the initial paragraph of the project description.
Fees and deadlines
The CalKulator rounds out hours as days (office hours, weekdays). This is a realistic way of managing a normal deadline, especially when a designer works on several projects simultaneously.
Alternate methode of estimate: the right of author cost is distributed in design fees.
Rights of author
The transferal of rights must indicate the limits for use of the artwork. Details of the cost of reproduction rights are not obligatory; it is sufficient to indicate the total.
Alternate methode of estimate: the sentence βRights of author included for the project as discribed aboveβ refere to the use described in the initial paragraph of the project description.
Total estimate, recommended method
The cost of the rights of reproduction is indicated separately from the cost for the artwork. The estimate includes cost of the artwork to be done, plus rights of reproduction, both add up to the total amount projected. (Note that out-of-pocket expenses may or may not be added to the estimate).
Total estimate, alternate method
The estimate is presented as a single cost. It incorporates both cost of the artwork to be done and cost of rights of reproduction without a breakdown of these costs. The use (exclusivity, extent, duration, and scope) must be clearly described in the initial paragraph of the project description.
Additional expenses
Do not forget to include, for example:
β Technical fees specific to the project, like the furnishing of supplies, wood, metal, plastic.
β Traveling expenses.
β Modifications asked for by the client during the realization, which necessitates reorganizing the project (client's corrections).
β Other services, such as art direction or production follow-up.
Note that no reproduction rights are calculated on the above.
General contractual conditions
The designer specifically indicates the modalities concerning:
β Modification or interpretation of the artwork by the client
β Signature of the artwork
β Remittal of the commission (a purchase order) written in conformity with the terms of the estimate
β In the case of a competition, the designer must be informed at the outset
β Payment for research
β Billing client's corrections
β Payment of fees and rights of reproduction
β Payment in the case of cancellation of the project
β Ownership of the project
β Jurisdiction in case of litigation
For further information, please contact a professional organization.
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