Can this agreement be signed electronically?

Yes. Electronic signatures are generally enforceable under federal and state e‑signature laws such as ESIGN and UETA, provided intent, consent, attribution, and retention are documented.

Is notarization required for execution?

Not usually for commercial design agreements, but notarization or witnesses may be required for certain recorded instruments or by specific state rules; check jurisdictional requirements.

What if the client requests a change after signing?

Follow the contract's change‑order process. Document the change, obtain required approvals, adjust schedule and payment, and preserve the amendment record.

Who should sign on behalf of a company?

An authorized officer or agent with express authority should sign. Use full legal names and include signer titles to confirm authority for enforcement.

How long should I keep the executed agreement?

Retain the signed agreement for the active term plus several years; follow federal and industry retention standards for finance, tax, or healthcare records.

Which authentication methods are recommended for signing?

Use identity-confirming methods like email plus SMS, access codes, or higher-assurance verification when sensitive data or regulatory obligations exist.

Electronic Signature
Templates
Project Management
Project Management Design Project Agreement

Project Management Design Project Agreement

This template is fully customizable. Edit the text, fill out the fields, and send it for signature. Give it a try!

PROJECT MANAGEMENT DESIGN PROJECT AGREEMENT

Project Identification

Project Title

Project ID: Effective Date:

Client Name Client Address Service Provider Service Provider Address Project Manager (Service Provider)

Scope of Work

The Service Provider shall perform project management, design coordination, and delivery management services as described below. The scope below constitutes the agreement of the parties and governs allocation of responsibilities and deliverables.

Detailed Scope of Work Out of Scope Items (explicit exclusions)

Deliverables and Acceptance

The Service Provider shall produce the following deliverables. Each deliverable is subject to the acceptance procedure set forth below.

Deliverable 1 — Title Description Acceptance Criteria Deliverable 2 — Title Description Acceptance Criteria

Acceptance Procedure: Upon delivery the Client shall have calendar days to perform acceptance testing. If the Client notifies the Service Provider of non-conformities within that period, the Service Provider shall correct defects at no additional cost where defects are attributable to the Service Provider. Final acceptance occurs upon written confirmation of conformity or lapse of the acceptance period without timely written rejection.

Timeline & Milestones

Project Start Date: Project End Date:

Milestone 1 Milestone 2

Budget & Payment

Total Fixed Fee: $

Payment Schedule Deposit / Initial Payment Change Order / Variations Process

All change orders must be approved in writing by authorized representatives of both parties prior to implementation.

Confidentiality & Intellectual Property

Each party shall treat the other party's confidential information as confidential and shall not disclose such information except as required by law or with prior written consent. Confidential information excludes information that is publicly known through no breach by the receiving party or independently developed.

Intellectual Property: Unless otherwise agreed in writing, the Client shall own final design deliverables upon full payment. The Service Provider retains ownership of underlying methodologies, tools, templates and pre-existing materials and grants the Client a non-exclusive, perpetual license to use such materials contained within the final deliverables.

Liability, Indemnity & Insurance

Limitation of Liability: Except for willful misconduct or gross negligence, the Service Provider's aggregate liability for claims arising from this Agreement shall be limited to direct damages not exceeding the total fees paid under this Agreement. Neither party shall be liable for consequential, incidental or punitive damages.

Indemnity: Each party agrees to indemnify and hold the other harmless from third-party claims arising from the indemnifying party's breach of this Agreement, negligence, or willful misconduct.

Termination

Either party may terminate this Agreement for material breach if the breach is not cured within 30 days after written notice. On termination the Client shall pay the Service Provider for all work performed to the termination date, including reasonable wind-down costs, subject to setoff for proven defects or deficiencies.

Governing Law & Dispute Resolution

This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the state of without regard to its conflicts of law principles. The parties shall attempt to resolve disputes through good-faith negotiation prior to pursuing arbitration or litigation.

Notices

All notices required or permitted under this Agreement shall be in writing and delivered to the representatives below.

Client Notice Contact Service Provider Notice Contact

Miscellaneous

Entire Agreement: This document, together with any executed change orders, constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter and supersedes prior understandings. Amendments must be in writing and signed by authorized representatives of both parties.

Force Majeure: Neither party shall be liable for delay or failure to perform caused by events beyond reasonable control, including acts of God, strikes, pandemics, fire, flood, war, or governmental action.

Client

Printed Name:

By:

Date:

Service Provider

Printed Name:

By:

Date:

What the Project Management Design Project Agreement Is

A Project Management Design Project Agreement is a written contract that defines the scope, deliverables, schedule, payment terms, roles, and responsibilities for a design-focused project managed by a project manager or design firm. It sets expectations between the client and the design team, documents milestones and acceptance criteria, explains change-order procedures, and assigns intellectual property and licensing rights. The agreement also addresses dispute resolution, confidentiality, and termination conditions so both parties understand obligations and remedies throughout the project lifecycle.

Why this Agreement Matters for Project Outcomes

A clear Project Management Design Project Agreement reduces misunderstandings, sets measurable milestones, and protects each party’s rights in scope, payment, and IP. It supports on-time completion, simplifies approvals, and provides a written basis for resolving disputes or changes.

Typical Parties Who Use this Agreement

This agreement is used by organizations and individuals who need a formal structure for design work delivered under project management oversight.

Project managers and PMOs coordinating multi-discipline design, procurement, and delivery across stakeholders.
Design firms and creative agencies documenting deliverables, reviews, and payment schedules with clients.
Owners, developers, and internal clients formalizing scope, acceptance criteria, and change control procedures.

Use the appropriate signer roles and attachments to reflect whether this is a one-off project, series engagement, or master services arrangement.

Core Sections to Include in a Professional Agreement

A well-formed Project Management Design Project Agreement organizes the relationship and risk. Include sections that make scope, timing, payment, and responsibilities explicit and enforceable.

Scope

Define services, excluded work, and deliverable formats to avoid scope creep and align expectations.

Deliverables

List deliverables, acceptance criteria, and delivery formats with revision limits and approval steps.

Schedule

Specify milestone dates, review windows, and dependencies that trigger subsequent work or payments.

Change Orders

Describe the process, required approvals, and rate structure for scope changes and additional work.

Payment Terms

State fees, invoicing cadence, retainers, late fees, and remedies for nonpayment.

Intellectual Property

Allocate ownership, licensing, and permitted reuse of designs, source files, and documentation.

Step-by-Step: How to Complete and Execute This Agreement

Follow these core steps to prepare, review, and finalize a Project Management Design Project Agreement efficiently and defensibly.

01

Prepare Draft: Populate parties, scope, milestones, and payment details.
02

Internal Review: Have legal and finance validate liability and invoicing terms.
03

Client Review: Share draft for comments and confirm acceptance of milestones.
04

Execute: Collect signatures and store executed copy with audit trail.

Typical Workflow for Routing and Signing

A repeatable routing workflow prevents missed approvals and records every step for accountability.

Upload Document: Import final PDF or DOCX to your signing platform.
Place Fields: Add signature, date, and initials where needed.
Assign Signers: Set signing order or allow parallel signing.
Collect Audit Trail: Capture timestamps, IP, and authentication events.

Recommended Digital Workflow Settings

Configure these workflow settings to reduce friction and ensure legal validity when using an eSignature service.

Field	Configuration
Authentication	Email link plus optional SMS code
Field Validation	Use MM/DD/YYYY and numeric checks for amounts
Signing Order	Choose sequential for approvals by role
Notifications	Set reminders at configurable intervals

Technical Requirements and Supported Formats

Confirm platform compatibility, authentication options, and storage before eSigning or sharing the agreement.

File Types: PDF and DOCX supported
Integrations: Works with CRM and cloud storage
Browsers/Devices: Desktop and mobile compatible

Security and Compliance Points to Note

Encryption: TLS 1.2/1.3; AES-256 at rest

Audit Trail: Signed record with timestamps

HIPAA: BAA available where required

21 CFR Part 11: Controls for regulated records

Certifications: SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001

Access Control: Role-based permissions and SSO

Key Dates and Timing Expectations to Include

Define concrete dates and response windows so milestone acceptance and payment flow predictably.

Effective Date:

Date when obligations and timelines begin

Work Start:

First business day for project activities

Milestone Reviews:

Client review period for each deliverable

Final Delivery:

Date for final files and archive transfer

Payment Due:

Days after invoice when payment is due

Milestone Sequence from Kickoff to Closeout

Use a numbered milestone sequence to track critical path items and link payments to deliverable acceptance.

01

Proposal Acceptance

Client approval of scope and initial deposit

02

Kickoff and Mobilization

Project initiation activities and resources assigned

03

Design Review

Stakeholder review and consolidated feedback cycle

04

Final Closeout

Handover of final deliverables and final payment

Common Preparation Mistakes to Avoid

Vague scope language that allows scope creep and later disputes over deliverables and fees.
Missing milestone acceptance criteria, which causes delays in sign‑offs and withheld payment.
Unclear IP language leading to ownership disputes over source files and licensing for reuse.
No change‑order process, producing informal approvals that are hard to quantify or bill.

Consequences of an Incomplete or Incorrect Agreement

Missed Milestones: Delay penalties or liquidated damages

Payment Disputes: Withheld fees or collections actions

IP Exposure: Ambiguous ownership can cause litigation

Termination Costs: Early exit fees or remediation obligations

Regulatory Risk: Noncompliance for healthcare or financial data

Reputational Harm: Client relationship damage and lost referrals

eSignature Vendor Comparison for Agreement Execution

Compare common vendor pricing and feature considerations for signing and managing Project Management Design Project Agreements without reference to dated announcements.

	signNow	DocuSign	Adobe Sign	PandaDoc	HelloSign
Starting Price	$8/user/mo	$15/user/mo	$14/user/mo	$19/user/mo	$15/user/mo
Free Trial	7-day free trial	Varies by vendor	Varies by vendor	Varies by vendor	Varies by vendor
Bulk Send	Available on select plans	Available on select plans	Available on select plans	Available on select plans	Varies
Audit Trail	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
HIPAA Compliant	Yes (BAA)	Varies by plan	Varies by plan	Varies by plan	Varies by plan
Envelope Cap	No envelope cap	100 envelopes/user/year	Varies by plan	Varies by plan	Varies by plan

Representative Use Cases and Customer Examples

Real organizations use formal design project agreements to speed approvals, document scope, and reduce rework on complex engagements.

Optica Ventures LLC

Project management tightened approvals and delivery

Faster client sign‑off of design milestones
The COO reported simpler handoffs and clearer responsibility, reducing approval cycles and rework on multi-site projects.

Martin Properties

Switched to online execution for leases and design work

Eliminated in-person signings
The founder noted consistent compliance and the ability to process documents remotely without sacrificing auditability.

How This Agreement Differs from a Master Services Agreement

Compare the focused Project Management Design Project Agreement against a broader Master Services Agreement to choose the right format for your engagement.

Criteria	Project Agreement	Master Services Agreement
Scope Specificity	high	broad
Duration	single project	ongoing umbrella
Change Control	project-level process	framework-level process
Payment Structure	milestone or fixed	task orders or statements

Frequently Asked Questions and Practical Answers

Answers to common practical questions about preparing, signing, and managing a Project Management Design Project Agreement.

Need help? Contact support

Can this agreement be signed electronically?
Yes. Electronic signatures are generally enforceable under federal and state e‑signature laws such as ESIGN and UETA, provided intent, consent, attribution, and retention are documented.
Is notarization required for execution?
Not usually for commercial design agreements, but notarization or witnesses may be required for certain recorded instruments or by specific state rules; check jurisdictional requirements.
What if the client requests a change after signing?
Follow the contract's change‑order process. Document the change, obtain required approvals, adjust schedule and payment, and preserve the amendment record.
Who should sign on behalf of a company?
An authorized officer or agent with express authority should sign. Use full legal names and include signer titles to confirm authority for enforcement.
How long should I keep the executed agreement?
Retain the signed agreement for the active term plus several years; follow federal and industry retention standards for finance, tax, or healthcare records.
Which authentication methods are recommended for signing?
Use identity-confirming methods like email plus SMS, access codes, or higher-assurance verification when sensitive data or regulatory obligations exist.

be ready to get more

Join over 28 million airSlate SignNow users

Sign Now