would you take on another designers project after they split from the client?

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Welcome to an awkward but common moment in studio life. A client ends things with their first designer, then asks you to step in. The gossip itch is real, but the strategy is simple. Keep communications neutral, ask for proof of termination and clarity on IP, and decide if this is a rescue or a full reset. Draw a firm takeover line for liability, reset boundaries with one decision maker and one channel, and price for the extra risk, re-documentation, and speed they now want. If the vibe is off, walk. If you stay, you lead with ethics, clean paperwork, and clear expectations so the project stabilises fast. Sometimes that is all the client needed, not a “better” designer, just a steadier process.

Portfolio rights get tricky when you tweak rather than transform. Minor edits do not equal ownership. If you share, credit the original designer and position your role as development, not authorship. Never engage while an active contract is in place, and save a dated paper trail in case questions surface later. Meet trades early, triple-check everything, and keep your language factual. This episode is not legal or financial advice. It is a practical guide for staying calm, fair, and profitable when you inherit a half-done job. If you want help pricing a takeover or resetting scope, book a 90-minute strategy session or send a DM with your sticking point and I will map your next three moves.

Key takeaways
 Lead with ethics and neutral language
 Ask for termination proof and IP status before saying yes
 Decide rescue or reset, then set a takeover date for liability
 Price for risk, re-documentation, and speed, not for pity
 One decision maker, one channel, weekly status, no side chats with trades
 Minor tweaks do not grant portfolio rights, credit fairly or skip the share
 No active-contract poaching, keep a clean paper trail

Thanks for listening to this episode of "Designing Success: From Study to Studio"! Connect with me on social media for more business tips, and a real look behind the scenes of my own practicing design business.

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