What is the Design Retainer?

The Design Retainer is a nonrefundable fee that kickstarts the creative process, covering the initial steps in crafting your custom mural and compensating for the time and expertise involved in developing your custom mural design. This fee is applied toward the final cost of the artwork, which includes every step of the mural process, from the initial design to the final installation.

Using your ideas, photos, inspiration, and space measurements, Alysia will bring your vision to life with a unique, custom design created specifically for your project. The design phase is the cornerstone of the mural process, truly one of the most important parts. It requires much more time than most people realize, but it is essential for creating a stunning final result.

During this collaborative process, we will refine the design together, ensuring the artwork feels aligned with your vision before painting begins. You’ll receive a detailed mock-up, giving you a clear preview of your artwork in the space before it is painted. Here you can see examples of designs and their completed murals.
What will be included with your design?

You will receive a complete, refined, full-color mural design tailored to your ideas, inspiration, and space. This includes one round of revisions to refine the design further, along with minor adjustments such as color changes or repositioning.

Additional revisions beyond the first round may incur an extra fee based on the complexity of the request. Smaller adjustments are typically minimal, while major redesigns, new concepts, or significant changes to the approved direction may require a larger additional design fee.

The Design Retainer initiates the design process and is credited toward the final cost of your artwork. While it allows the creative work to begin, it does not represent the full value of the time, planning, and expertise that go into creating a custom mural design. The final mural cost includes both the design and the installation, and will depend on the complexity, scale, and square footage of the project.  Here you can see the Mural Pricing Chart.

If you choose not to proceed with the mural installation, the design remains the intellectual property of Art By Alysia. The Design Retainer does not include ownership of the design or permission to use it for another purpose. Any use of the design outside of the mural project, including reproductions, merchandise, signage, branding, or having the design painted or produced by someone else, would require a separate written agreement and additional fee.
​What will we ask for prior to starting your design?
  
​Before the design process begins, Alysia will gather a few key details so the artwork can be created thoughtfully, accurately, and specifically for your space.
Photos
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Clear, unobstructed photos help Alysia see the wall itself, any access obstacles, and the overall vibe of the space. They also help show the surrounding area so the design can feel connected to the room, building, or environment around it.
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Photos are also used to create the digital mock-up, giving you a clear preview of how the artwork will look in the space before it is painted.
Measurements
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Accurate measurements help determine pricing and allow the design to be created in the right proportions. We will ask for the overall height and width of the mural area, along with any important features such as doors, windows, furniture, or other details that affect the space.

​These measurements are also used to plan the overall composition and prepare the design for transfer onto the wall.
Inspiration
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Inspiration helps Alysia understand what you are drawn to, especially when it is hard to explain exactly what you are envisioning. This can include words, colors, photos, artwork, themes, or examples of murals you love.
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Each mural is completely original and created specifically for your space, so inspiration is used as a creative starting point rather than something to copy.
Design ownership and usage

All mural concepts, sketches, mock-ups, and designs created by Art By Alysia are created specifically for murals painted by Art By Alysia, unless a separate written agreement is made.

The Design Retainer does not include a finished vector file, logo file, production file, or reproduction-ready artwork. It also does not grant permission to use the design for merchandise, prints, signage, branding, digital graphics, reproductions, or to have the design painted, printed, or produced by another artist, vendor, or company.
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If you are interested in purchasing additional usage rights, licensing, or a finalized file for another purpose, that can be discussed separately.