non boring.ggdesign studio

guide · updated 2026-09-28

25 questions to ask a design agency before you sign

Every agency call sounds good. These questions separate the ones that will still sound good in week six.

Team

  1. Who exactly will do the work, and can I meet them before signing?
  2. How many other clients will they be on at the same time?
  3. What happens if that person leaves mid-project?
  4. Is any of the work subcontracted or offshored — and to whom?

Process

  1. Walk me through your last project like this, week by week.
  2. How often will I see work, and in what form?
  3. How many revision rounds are included, and what counts as a round?
  4. What do you need from us, and by when?
  5. How do you handle a change in scope?

Pricing

  1. Fixed price or hourly — and what's the trigger for extra cost?
  2. What's the payment schedule?
  3. What's the cancellation policy?
  4. What's not included that I'll probably need (copy, illustration, platform fees)?

Ownership and handoff

  1. Do we own the Figma source, fonts and code outright?
  2. When does IP transfer?
  3. How do you hand off to engineers — tokens, components, documentation?
  4. Will you review the build, and for how long after handoff?

Fit

  1. Which project of yours is closest to ours, and what would you do differently now?
  2. What's a project you turned down, and why?
  3. What time zone will the work happen in, and what's our live overlap?
  4. Can I speak to two clients from the last year?
  5. What metric did your last three projects move, and by how much?

Red flags

  1. They never push back on anything you say.
  2. The team on the pitch isn't the team on the work.
  3. No public proof of results — only screenshots.

What good answers sound like

Specific. Named people, a real week-by-week, a number for revisions, an IP clause they've used before, and a reference who will pick up the phone. Vague answers to questions 1, 10 and 14 are the ones that cost you later.

Questions

What's the single most important question?

Who exactly does the work. Most agency disappointments are a senior pitch and a junior delivery.

Should I ask for a paid test project?

Yes, if you're unsure: one screen or one page, paid. Several studios offer free 3–5 day trials (Eleken, UX Studio, Glow); a paid test is a fairer signal.

How do I check references?

Ask for two from the last year, then ask them one question: would you hire them again for something bigger?

Is Clutch reliable?

Verified reviews are interview-based and show project size, so they're a reasonable signal; treat ratings without review counts with caution.

Sources

Prices checked 2026-09-28. Vendor prices change; treat ranges as of that date.

Building something people should remember?

non boring.gg is a product and brand design studio in Bangalore, India, working with startups and tech companies across the US, Europe and Australia. Average engagement around $20,000. atul@nonboring.gg