THE INSPIRATION WINDOW

A disruptive visual sequence that perfectly encapsulates your brand’s core DNA cannot be rushed, mass-produced, or forced into a predetermined creative formula.
True creative sight operates on depth, not on a corporate calendar.
We therefore protect the creative breathing room required for each project to develop properly.
This does not mean that your project has no timeline.
It means that the timeline allows the vision to be developed without sacrificing the quality of the work.

HOW THE TIMELINE WORKS
1. THE VETTING STAGE

You submit your application, comprehensive brief and relevant brand assets through our secure application process.
We review the information provided to determine whether your project is compatible with the IN · SPARK · OUT creative environment and whether the visual signal aligns with our studio.
If questions arise during the review, we may contact you for clarification.

2. THE ACCEPTANCE NOTIFICATION

If the visual spark clicks, your project is officially accepted.
If the project is not accepted because the visual direction does not align with our studio, the €1,000 deposit is fully refunded.
Acceptance means that your project enters our creative system.

3. THE PROBABLE WINDOW

Upon acceptance, you will receive a notification containing a probable delivery window for your custom vision.
This window is established according to the current queue, the complexity of the project and the creative breathing room required.
The date is therefore a probable window, not an artificial promise that forces the creative process into a predetermined result.
If you require an instant, rigid turnaround time, we kindly ask you to use a standard production agency.

THE €1,000 DEPOSIT

A €1,000 deposit is required for the application process.
If your application is rejected during the vetting stage because the project is not aligned with the  IN · SPARK · OUT creative environment, the full €1,000 is refunded.
Once the project is accepted, the deposit becomes part of the project investment and the project enters the active queue.
From that point onward, the cancellation, phase, change and rework provisions of this Policy apply.

PROJECT PHASES

Each project progresses through defined creative phases.
The purpose of the phases is to allow the vision to develop progressively while giving both sides a clear point at which the project advances.
When a project is ready to move into its next phase, you will receive a notification.
Your approval may be recorded electronically through the agreed communication or approval system.
A formal digital signature is not required for every ordinary phase approval.
Formal digital signatures are reserved for changes, exceptions, rework or other circumstances where a new agreement needs to be explicitly acknowledged.
Once you have been notified that the project is advancing to the next phase, the corresponding stage is considered to have progressed and the cancellation provisions applicable to the previous stage no longer apply.

CLIENT WITHDRAWAL

• BEFORE CREATIVE WORK BEGINS

If you withdraw after paying the €1,000 deposit but before creative work begins, **50% of the deposit will be refunded**.
The remaining 50% is retained in recognition of the application, vetting, preparation and allocation of creative capacity associated with your project.

• AFTER THE PROJECT HAS ADVANCED

Once you have been notified that the project is advancing to the next phase, the deposit is non-refundable.
If you decide to discontinue the project during a subsequent phase, no refund will be issued.
This also applies where work has already been developed and you subsequently decide not to continue.

• STAND-BY & WAITING LIST

Creative work requires participation from both sides.
If we require information, approval, clarification or another action from you and you become unresponsive, the project will initially remain on **stand-by for two weeks**.
If there is still no response after those two weeks, a further **two-week waiting period** will apply.
If you remain unresponsive after the full four-week period, the project will be moved to the **end of the waiting list**.
No refund will be issued as a result of client inactivity.
When the project returns from the waiting list, its new position will depend on the queue existing at that time.

CHANGES TO THE BRIEF

The project begins from the brief, information and objectives submitted and accepted during the application process.
A change to the original goal, creative direction or agreed brief is therefore treated as a change to the project.

• CHANGES DURING PHASE 1

If you introduce a new goal or substantially change the original brief during Phase 1, the work may be redone according to the new direction.
The project will then continue under the revised brief.

• CHANGES DURING PHASE 2

If a new goal or substantially changed brief is introduced during Phase 2, the work may be redone.
Because this requires additional creative development after the project has already progressed, an additional charge equivalent to **50% of the service price** applies.
For a €7,000 service, this represents €3,500.
As the €1,000 deposit has already been paid, the additional payment required would therefore be **€2,500**.
Before the new work begins, the revised brief and additional charge must be digitally acknowledged.

• NEW ADDITIONS OR CHANGES AFTER APPROVAL

Once a creative element has been approved, subsequent requests for new additions, alterations or changes are not considered part of the original scope.
No refund will be issued.
The requested work may be redone or modified where feasible.
Before the additional work begins, the requested changes must be digitally acknowledged.
The project will then move to the **waiting list** before the additional work begins.
This protects the original position of projects already waiting while allowing the additional creative work to be properly scheduled.

• SUBSTANTIAL NON-CONFORMITY

If you believe that the delivered work substantially fails to follow the agreed brief, the matter must first be identified against the original approved brief.
A genuine failure by IN · SPARK · OUT to follow the agreed brief is treated as a correction of our own work and is not presented as a client-requested change.
However, where a request described as a “non-conformity” is determined to constitute a change, reinterpretation or addition to the originally agreed brief, it will be treated as a change to the project.
In that circumstance, the applicable rework charge is **30% of the service price**.
Before any such rework begins, you will be required to digitally sign a declaration confirming the revised scope and applicable charge.
For a €7,000 service, 30% represents €2,100.
As the €1,000 deposit has already been paid, the additional payment required would therefore be **€1,100**.

FINAL DELIVERY & PAYMENT

When the agreed work is ready for final delivery, you will receive a notification.
The remaining project balance becomes due at that point.
Payment instructions, including the applicable PayPal payment link, will be provided in the delivery notification.
Final delivery will proceed according to the agreed service terms once the outstanding balance has been received.

CREATIVE INTEGRITY

IN · SPARK · OUT does not design by committee.

We do not chase trends simply because they are currently visible.
The market may inform the signal.
It does not dictate the vision.
The purpose of this Policy is therefore not to create unnecessary bureaucracy around the creative process.
It is to establish clear boundaries around the conditions under which the work can remain focused, original and protected from uncontrolled changes.

PRIVACY & CONFIDENTIALITY

Information, brand material, creative briefs and other proprietary material submitted to IN · SPARK · OUT will be handled confidentially and according to the applicable privacy, security and data-retention procedures governing the service.
Your proprietary information and the resulting creative work are treated as confidential project material.
Specific technical or legal guarantees concerning storage, deletion or server security apply only to the extent supported by the actual systems and procedures in use.

THE BLACK BOX

Once accepted into the creative environment, your project enters the Black Box.
Outside noise falls silent.
The signal is understood.
The vision is developed.
And the work is allowed to become what it needs to become.

You bring the signal. We give it form.