Illustration Glossary: “Deliverables”

Deliverables / Key Deliverables

In design, deliverables are typically tangible items: files. They can be the final files, sketches or process imagery.

Deliverables can be big or small. There may be one deliverable on a project or many. 
Key deliverables are the main files, and a project is not complete until all deliverables have been, well...delivered.

Sample list of Deliverables: 

3 full-color, layered Photoshop files (1 file per variant*)

3 final PDF files (1 file per variant)

5 in-progress images (jpeg or tiff)

It is important to outline deliverables at the beginning of a project. They should be included in your initial agreement / contract and signed off by both parties. If your client doesn’t give you a list of deliverables, you need to create one. (I know, ANOTHER thing in the way of you starting the project!) But why? Because it’s advantageous to be on the same page with your client from the get-go. It’s great for both of you. They can be certain you will provide them with exactly what they want, and you are protected in case the scope of the project changes. It is widely understood that any added deliverables after the ones you all agreed to will incur an additional fee. 

Deliverables are often paired with a timeline, which can be called a Schedule of Deliverables. 

Sample Schedule of Deliverables: 

June 1: Initial Sketches (3-5 unique concepts) 

June 7: Line Art due

June 16: Check-in

June 20: Final Artwork due (all items on list of Deliverables)

A Schedule of Deliverables can also be referred to as Timings, Stages or Deadlines.

Each of the dates and items listed on a Schedule of Deliverables requires the artist to submit in-progress or final files. You should always submit your in-progress files in a Presentation Document that is named and dated appropriately. That way you can find it easily when you need to, and there will be no confusion between outdated files and new files. 

We’ll talk about Presentation Documents soon!

*A variant is an alternate form of your file. It can be a different flavor, scent or colorway. Usually a different sized file is not referred to as a variant, but would instead be listed as a separate deliverable.