DESIGN PARTNERSHIP PROPOSAL
Prepared for [Customer] by [Company]
[Date]
Proposal for discussion. Not a binding agreement.
A design partnership is a paid, time-limited project in which a customer shapes the product in exchange for early access and better terms. Agree in advance what success looks like and what happens when it is reached, so the partnership turns into a customer contract instead of an endless pilot.
1. Summary
[Company] proposes a [six]-month design partnership with [Customer's team or business unit] to [the outcome, for example: cut the time to assemble a clinical study report from six weeks to two]. If the success criteria below are met, the partnership converts into a [12]-month subscription at the pre-agreed price in Section 6.
2. The Problem We Will Work On
[Customer's problem in their own words, with the numbers they gave you: time spent, cost, error rate, or the risk it creates.]
3. Scope
In scope | [The workflows, teams, sites and data the partnership covers] |
Out of scope | [What it does not cover, such as other business units or production use with patient data] |
What [Company] provides | [Product access, configuration, a named contact, and a fixed number of feature changes based on Customer feedback] |
What [Customer] provides | [A named sponsor, a set number of subject-matter expert hours each month, sample data or a test environment, and feedback sessions] |
4. Success Criteria
Choose two to four measures the customer's sponsor already cares about, with a baseline and a target. They decide whether the partnership converts, so agree them in writing now.
Measure | Today | Target | How it is measured |
|---|---|---|---|
[Time to complete the task] | [6 weeks] | [2 weeks] | [Average of the last three reports in the pilot] |
[Quality measure] | [ ] | [ ] | [ ] |
[Adoption measure] | [ ] | [ ] | [ ] |
5. Timeline
Phase | Dates | What happens |
|---|---|---|
Set up | [weeks 1 to 4] | [Security review, data access, configuration] |
Build together | [months 2 to 4] | [Biweekly working sessions and product changes] |
Measure | [months 5 to 6] | [Run on real work and measure against Section 4] |
Decide | [by date] | Joint review of results and the conversion decision |
6. Commercial Terms
Partnership fee | [$ total, invoiced as agreed] |
Credit on conversion | [For example: 100% of the partnership fee is credited against the first year of the subscription] |
Subscription price after conversion | [$ per year for the scope above, a design partner discount of X% off list, held for Y years] |
Expansion pricing | [Price for additional teams, sites or users] |
A paid partnership gets more attention from both sides than a free one. If the customer cannot pay, trade the fee for something with real value: a signed conversion commitment, a named reference, or a case study.
7. Converting to a Customer Contract
If the success criteria in Section 4 are met by [date], [Customer] [will enter into / may choose to enter into] a subscription agreement for the scope and price in Section 6, to begin on [date]. Either party may give notice by [date] that it will not convert, with the reason. If the criteria are partly met, both parties will meet within [10 business days] to agree a revised scope or an extension of no more than [60 days].
“Will enter into” is a commitment; “may choose to” is an option. Say which you are proposing. Large companies often need procurement to approve a committed conversion, so raise it with your sponsor early.
8. Intellectual Property and Data
[Company] owns its product, including improvements made during the partnership.
[Customer] owns its data and any content it provides.
[Customer] allows [Company] to use its feedback to improve the product, without naming [Customer].
[Any custom work that Customer will own, if agreed]
9. Security, Compliance and Procurement
[What Customer requires before starting: security questionnaire, data processing agreement, vendor onboarding, insurance, and any regulated-industry requirements such as quality or validation standards. List what you have ready and what is in progress.]
10. Publicity
[Whether Company may name Customer as a design partner, in a case study, or to investors, and whose approval is needed.]
11. Next Steps
[Customer] sponsor reviews this proposal by [date]
Agree success criteria and the conversion terms
Put the agreed terms into a signed design partner agreement
Start set up on [date]
This proposal is for discussion only. It does not bind either party until both sign a design partner agreement.
SUBMITTED BY:
[Company]
By: ______________________________
Name: [Name]
Title: [Title]
Date: ____________________
Email: [email]
RECEIVED FOR DISCUSSION:
[Customer]
By: ______________________________
Name: [Sponsor name]
Title: [Sponsor title]
Date: ____________________