COPYRIGHT & USAGE

I’m so excited to create something beautiful and unique for your brand! Before we get started, here’s a quick note about copyright and how it works with my design and illustration services.

What is Copyright?
Copyright simply means the creator (that’s me!) legally owns the rights to the original artwork they create. It protects the work from being copied, altered, or resold without permission. Think of it like an artist’s signature—it's part of what makes each piece one-of-a-kind.

Who Owns the Artwork?

As the designer and illustrator, I retain the copyright to all work I create, unless we've agreed in writing to transfer those rights. This means you can use the final design(s) as outlined in your project agreement—like on your website, social media, print materials, etc.—but you don’t own the artwork itself.

In creative work, copyright automatically belongs to the artist who created it. It’s a bundle of rights that includes copying, reproducing, displaying, and creating new versions of the work. These rights can only be transferred through a written agreement.

Owning the copyright to a piece means you have full control — you can reproduce, edit, or sell it however you like. However, it also means the artist can no longer showcase or claim the work as their own.

Because of this, I license my work rather than transfer full copyright. Licensing gives you the rights you need to use the design for your project, while allowing me to keep authorship and include the work in my portfolio. It’s a fair balance that respects both your needs and the creative process.

Usage Rights – What You Do Get:

When you hire me, you're purchasing a license to use the final design or illustration for your brand, based on what we agree to in your project. This usually includes:

Personal or business use
Commercial use for marketing, packaging, branding and merchandise
File formats and sizes that suit your needs

I rarely sell the full copyright to my artwork. This helps protect my creative rights and ensures the work isn’t altered or reused in ways that don’t align with the original intent. If you’re interested in full ownership or resale rights, I’m happy to discuss it, this would require a separate agreement and additional fee.

TL;DR: You get full rights to use the final designs as agreed in our contract, but I keep the copyright unless we make a special arrangement to transfer the rights.