Building a website with a designer partner — who should keep the Figma file and the IP rights?

Make a clean duplicate right away. Detach any links to UI kits or global libraries the designer uses across projects from the main file. Hand over a standalone copy to the client that only contains components specific to their project. The designer protects their master library and the client gets what they need.

At our agency, we've done over 20 similar projects in the last 3 years. Almost every corporate client in the market now makes source files a hard requirement. The cost of losing a client over a designer refusing to hand over files is way higher. Demanding an extra 30.000 TL is going to drag you straight into legal trouble with the client.

The whole "the working file is my artwork and can't be shared" attitude is super common among freelancers, but completely unrealistic in the corporate world. A client paying good money doesn't want to be tied to the exact same designer every time they need to tweak an image or change a button color. If it wasn't discussed upfront, the fault isn't the client's—it's on you for not setting clear boundaries.

Went through the exact same thing with my partner last year, we almost had a falling out over it. We sat down and had an honest chat; if the client walked, we were both losing money. In the end, we handed over an unlinked standalone copy, I gave my designer partner a little extra out of my cut as a goodwill gesture, and we resolved it amicably.

edit: I wrote something wrong above, sorry about that.

For your future contracts, definitely add these 3 clauses to your template: 1) Source file delivery terms (transferring the working file to the client's account). 2) Protection of the designer's general assets (detaching global master libraries). 3) Assignment of economic IP rights (limiting modification and reproduction rights strictly to that specific domain and brand).

note: I wrote this based on my own experience, it might not apply to everyone.

just sending a view-only link is old news everyone expects edit access now then your partner should've brought this up from day one asking for extra cash at the last minute goes against partnership ethics tbh.

How exactly was the scope of deliverables worded in your initial proposal or invoice to the client? If it just stated "website UI design and development" and didn't clearly carve out source files as an exception, it's completely reasonable from a legal standpoint for the client to expect full delivery.

I disagree with you on this point. like hasty decisions become decisions you have to fix six months later.

It's rare to find an explanation this clear.

Thanks, that was the answer I was looking for. Just because everyone does it doesn't mean it's right.

Most time waste accumulates in tasks waiting for approval. Of course, it varies if your situation is different.

Let me share what happened to me; it might be useful. When making a decision, first look at what data you have on hand.

Trying to do this alone is the most expensive way. If you post the result here, it will help others too.

I'm a small business, let me explain from my side. The real issue isn't the number, but what it's based on.

When making decisions, write down the worst-case scenario too, not just the best. If you post the result here, it will help others too.

Thanks for posting.

We got stuck at the same point for a while. People defend habits, not processes. Resistance comes from there.

Everything goes well for the first three months; problems arise in the fourth. Of course, it varies if your situation is different.

if I understood correctly you're saying: Solutions that work at a small scale collapse when you grow; I learned this late.

partnership isn't a decision to make without working togeher first and hope this helps.

We experienced almost the exact same thing last year. The real issue isn't the number, but what it's based on.

Valuation methods for exits must be defined by formula; "market value" isn't enough.

i partly agree partly disagree. any unwritten clause becomes a point of disagreement later, as both sides remember it differently.

give trial work but pay for it; free trials dont bind anyone... if I were you, Id go this route.

The discussion got scattered, let me summarize. The only thing separating friendship from partnership is a written contract.

If you have questions, write them; I'll answer as best I can.