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Industry Overview
In 2020, the global design market faced a decline. However, due to the dynamic nature of the industry, it bounced back, registering a growth of 3.8% in 2023, reaching a valuation of $45 billion.
Zooming in on the US, the graphic design market has shown exceptional vigor. With a current worth exceeding $16 billion, the US has cemented its position in the design world.
The growth hasn’t been stagnant either. Since 2018, the graphic design market in the US has flourished at an average rate of 2.8% annually.
As of 2023, the graphic design sector holds the 22nd spot in the US Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services industry.
This robust growth underscores the importance of graphic design in the business landscape and the risks that come with such rapid expansion. Therefore, Founder Shield has come forward to help protect graphic designers from legal fees with their professional indemnity insurance.
Why Is Insurance for
Graphic Designers Important?
Graphic Designers can leverage insurance to be protected against several risks, improve the efficiency of their business processes, and position themselves as credible within the industry.
Graphic designers can be held liable for professional negligence, such as failure to meet deadlines, failure to deliver promised services, or failure to meet the client’s expectations. Graphic designers can also be held liable for errors and omissions in their work, such as copyright infringement, plagiarism, and trademark infringement.
Graphic designers can be held liable for infringing on the intellectual property rights of others. This includes liability for copyright infringement, trademark infringement, and trade dress infringement. For example, if a graphic designer uses a copyrighted image in their work without permission, the graphic designer could be held liable for copyright infringement.
Graphic designers are increasingly vulnerable to cyber risks, such as data breaches, ransomware attacks, and phishing attacks. These attacks can damage the graphic designer’s reputation, lead to lost revenue, and result in legal liability. For example, if a graphic designer’s customer database is hacked and customer data is stolen, the graphic designer could be held liable for the data breach.
An event such as a natural disaster, cyberattack, power outage, or equipment failure, can have a devastating impact on a graphic designer’s business. A business interruption can prevent graphic designers from meeting their deadlines and delivering work to their clients. This can lead to lost revenue and damage to the graphic designer’s reputation.
Graphic Designer Insurance
Coverage & Policies
These coverages form the foundation of any risk management program for graphic designer companies:
General Liability Insurance covers claims of bodily injuries or property damage resulting from a business’s operations or on its premises. For graphic designers, this is essential when meeting clients in a physical setting, attending workshops, or showcasing work at exhibitions. Even if most interactions are digital, the rare occasions when accidents happen in person, like a client tripping over a cord in your workspace, can result in unexpected financial repercussions. This insurance ensures that such unforeseen incidents don’t drain a designer’s finances.
Errors and Omissions (E&O) Insurance is tailored to protect professionals from claims arising out of negligence, mistakes, or omissions in the services provided. For graphic designers, a dissatisfied client might claim a project failed due to design errors, or there were significant delays affecting a launch. E&O insurance shields designers from the financial ramifications of such claims, allowing them to focus on their craft with peace of mind.
Given our digital era, Cyber Liability Insurance is becoming increasingly crucial. It offers protection against threats like data breaches or cyberattacks. Graphic designers, often dealing with client data and sharing files over the internet, are vulnerable to these cyber threats. Having this coverage ensures they’re safeguarded from the potential financial and reputational fallout of a cyber incident.
Graphic Designer Specific
Insurance Coverage
These policies are essential for or can be tailored to the needs of companies operating in the graphic design space:
Content Creator Insurance is a specialized coverage designed for individuals or entities producing and distributing content. A graphic designer, continually creating and sharing designs, might face claims related to copyright infringements, defamation, or other content-related disputes. This insurance ensures that their creative outputs don’t lead to unexpected legal quandaries.
Intellectual Property (IP) Insurance provides coverage in the realm of IP disputes, such as accusations of copyright, trademark, or patent infringements. Given the originality that graphic design demands, designers often produce unique pieces that can either infringe upon others’ IPs unintentionally or have their own creations infringed upon. IP insurance provides both defense against infringement allegations and recourse in case a designer’s work is copied.
Property Insurance protects against damage to or loss of physical assets like equipment or office spaces. For a graphic designer, tools like high-end computers, graphic tablets, and design software are crucial. Property insurance ensures that unforeseen events like theft, fire, or other damages don’t result in overwhelming financial losses, allowing the designer to quickly bounce back and resume work.
Graphic Designer Insurance Costs
Understanding insurance for graphic designers is crucial, especially when gauging costs. Factors such as policy limits, business size, annual revenue, monthly cash flow, and even the specifics of your design firm can influence these costs.
Some policies like workers’ compensation insurance or professional liability insurance policies might be required by the law, depending on the location of your business. Exploring various insurance policies with a specialist ensures you get the optimal coverage for your needs.
Our professional services ensure that your risk management plan is loophole-free, saving it from any financial losses and backed by adequate business insurance to help you stay compliant with the laws, too.
Types of Graphic Designer Companies
That Need Insurance
Graphic Designer Insurance Frequently Asked
Questions (FAQ)
The cost of insurance for graphic designer companies will depend on several things, including the company’s size and development stage. Other factors include:
- Exposures: risks being insured
- Company practices: views on safety, compliance, and risk management
- Program structure: the amount of deductible and willingness for a company to assume more risk
- Claims history: the type and amount of past claims against the company
While graphic designer insurance is not universally mandated by law, it’s a prudent choice for professionals in the field. Given the unique risks associated with the industry—ranging from potential copyright infringements to claims of negligence or errors in work—it’s highly advisable to have protective coverage. Additionally, certain clients might require graphic designers to possess specific insurance types as a prerequisite for contractual engagements, ensuring both parties have reduced liabilities in their collaboration.
The amount of graphic designer insurance you need depends on various factors, including the scale of your operations, the type of clients you serve, and the nature of projects you undertake. A freelance designer taking on smaller gigs might need different coverage compared to a designer working on substantial corporate campaigns. It’s beneficial to undertake a risk assessment, possibly with the help of an insurance professional familiar with the creative sector, to determine the appropriate coverage levels and types to ensure comprehensive protection.
Securing graphic designer insurance typically starts with researching providers specializing in commercial or industry-specific coverages. You can reach out to these providers to discuss your needs, obtain quotes, and compare the offered terms. Engaging with an insurance broker or agent, especially one experienced in the nuances of the creative and design sector, can be invaluable. They can guide you through the available options, clarify terms, and help ensure you secure a policy that closely aligns with your professional risk profile.
Business liability insurance, often referred to as general liability insurance, is a foundational policy that protects businesses from financial fallout stemming from claims of bodily injury, property damage, or personal and advertising injuries tied to the company’s operations, products, or premises. This insurance is a cornerstone for most businesses, ensuring that potential legal claims or lawsuits don’t lead to crippling financial burdens.
Certainly. Insurance providers typically offer flexibility in tailoring policies to suit a business’s unique risk landscape. For graphic designers, this might mean adjusting coverage limits, adding specific endorsements or riders (like intellectual property protection), or excluding certain coverages that might not be relevant. Collaboration with your insurance provider or broker is crucial in this customization process, ensuring your policy provides comprehensive protection while also offering value for money.
Graphic Designer Insurance Quotes
Finding graphic designer policies doesn’t have to be painful. We aim to make the purchasing experience as streamlined and intuitive as possible
Use our custom-built digital platform to get quotes fast. We automate clerical tasks that plague traditional brokerages, giving us more time to be responsive and alert to your company’s needs.
No two organizations are the same. Our team of coverage experts partners with your team to engineer your risk management strategy, together. We take the time to understand the intricacies of your company to get you the best possible coverage.
To do better, you need to know better. With changing political, technological, legal, and economic landscapes, staying ahead of the curve is critical.
Our in-house team is tapped into the latest developments in your industry, proactively ensuring you’re covered.
Meet
Your Graphic Designer Insurance Specialist
Jonathan spent the first five years of his professional insurance career working as a generalist broker at a traditional firm on Long Island. Intrigued by how to leverage technology in the industry, he joined the Founder Shield team in 2016 and quickly grew into his current leadership role of General Manager. Jonathan works to oversee client strategy and communication, and has fostered a culture of providing unparalleled service and risk consulting for some of the fastest growing companies in the world. Outside of work, he can be found on the basketball court and chess board — but not at the same time.
Why Choose Founder Shield?
Founder Shield is a leading insurance provider that specializes in offering comprehensive coverage for Media companies, offering numerous benefits and advantages over traditional brokers. Here’s a breakdown of some of the key features and benefits that you’ll enjoy with us:
Founder Shield is focused on protecting rapidly evolving Media startups. We ensure that our products are tailored to meet the unique needs of graphic designer corporations.
Founder Shield offers bespoke policies that are designed specifically for each client’s needs, ensuring comprehensive coverage that addresses the unique risks associated with Media operations.
With Founder Shield’s streamlined quoting process, you can receive a personalized quote for your Media insurance quickly, allowing you to make informed decisions fast.
Founder Shield’s user-friendly digital platform makes it easy to manage your policy, submit claims, and access important documents whenever you need them.
Founder Shield provides exceptional customer service, with dedicated account managers who are always available to assist you with any questions or concerns you may have about your insurance policy.
As your graphic designer business grows, Founder Shield’s policies can grow with you, ensuring you always have the right level of coverage for your changing needs.
Founder Shield is a preferred choice for graphic designer businesses because of our specialization in the Media industry. We offer flexible and customized insurance policies, a speedy quoting process, and exceptional customer service with dedicated account managers.
Great service – proactive, responsive, go beyond what I have expected from previous providers. The team do a wonderful job
Amit PatelGeneral Counsel • Urbanstems