What does design cost in Toronto?
Independent designers in the Toronto market generally work either at a day rate or on a fixed project fee. Fixed fees are usually better for both sides on defined work, because they price the outcome rather than the hours, and they force the scope to be written down.
Be suspicious of a quote given without a conversation. A logo can honestly cost a few hundred dollars or several tens of thousands, and the difference is not the drawing — it is how much research, testing, application and documentation surrounds it. Ask what is included and what a revision beyond the agreed rounds costs.
Who owns the artwork?
Under the Canadian Copyright Act, the creator of a work is the first owner of copyright unless the work was made in the course of employment, or copyright is assigned in writing. Commissioning and paying for a design does not by itself transfer copyright.
So the contract needs to say so explicitly. Two things to settle in writing:
- Assignment of copyright — what transfers to you, and when. Usually on final payment.
- Moral rights — in Canada these are separate from copyright, cannot be sold, and can only be waived. Without a waiver, the designer retains rights concerning the integrity of the work and attribution.
None of this is exotic; it is standard in any competent design agreement. It is worth reading before you sign rather than discovering during a dispute. For anything significant, have a lawyer look at it — this page is not legal advice.
What file formats should I receive?
| Use | Format |
|---|---|
| Web and screen | SVG for marks, PNG with transparency as fallback |
| Commercial print | Vector PDF or EPS, CMYK, fonts outlined |
| Office documents | PNG at a couple of sizes |
| Signage and large format | Vector, always |
| Future editing | Native source files (.ai, .indd, .fig) |
If a designer will not release vector source for an identity you have paid to own, ask why before the project starts rather than after.
Do I need my materials in French?
It depends what you are and where you sell. Federally regulated organisations have obligations under the Official Languages Act. Prepackaged consumer products sold in Canada generally require bilingual labelling under federal consumer packaging regulations. Businesses operating in Quebec face separate and stricter requirements under provincial language law, which has been tightened in recent years.
The design consequence is the same in every case: plan for it from the first layout. French text typically runs 15–20% longer than the same English copy. Retrofitting a second language into a layout designed for one is where budgets go.
Does my website have to be accessible?
In Ontario, under the AODA, public-sector organisations and larger private organisations are required to meet WCAG 2.0 Level AA on public-facing websites. Even where it is not legally required, it affects a meaningful share of your audience and overlaps almost entirely with good design practice: sufficient contrast, visible focus states, real text instead of text in images, and a sensible heading structure.
How many revisions are included?
Two consolidated rounds is the common standard. What matters more than the number is that comments arrive together rather than in a trickle, and that one person is empowered to give the final answer. Projects with five approvers and no decision-maker do not converge.
Can you work with our existing brand?
Usually the better option. If the identity is sound and only its application is inconsistent, an audit and a written guide costs a fraction of a rebrand and solves the actual problem. Rebranding a brand that is merely being used badly throws away recognition you already paid for.