Why We Don’t Hand Over Native Files (And why that’s a good thing for you, too.)
We create strategic, high-value work backed by decades of expertise. We deliver polished, functional designs, but one thing we don’t provide is native files.
Not because we want to make things difficult. Not because we’re trying to lock you into ongoing work. But because handing them over doesn’t actually serve you.
Native Files Aren’t the Product
A native file—like an InDesign, Figma, or Photoshop file—isn’t a ready-to-use asset. It’s a working document filled with technical layers, exploratory ideas, and elements designed for our process, not for easy handoff.
If your project needs updates, we make sure they’re handled properly. That doesn’t mean throwing a raw file your way and hoping for the best.
Decades Don’t Get Handed Off
When you ask for native files, you’re not just asking for a design asset. You’re asking for access to systems, techniques, and processes that have been built over years of experience.
We’ve seen what happens when these files get handed off. Someone picks them up and uses our work as a shortcut to bypass the investment in expertise. That’s not something we facilitate. Our value isn’t just in what we make, but in how we make it.
We’re Not Here to Lock You In
We don’t hold files hostage to force ongoing work. If you need regular updates, like swapping names on business cards, we’ll handle it.
If updates become unwieldy for us or too expensive for you, we’ll find ways to make that seamless. That might mean a structured process or a custom tool so you can handle changes yourself.
What we don’t do is hand over an InDesign file and send you off to figure it out on your own.
What if we part ways?
Even if our working relationship ends, our native file policy stays the same.
This isn’t about making transitions difficult, it’s about maintaining the integrity of the work and the expertise behind it.
What about templates?
If a project is meant to be a reusable template from the start, we’ll build it that way and provide the right files. But we don’t retroactively turn custom work into a “template” just because it seems convenient later. If you need a true template, that’s something we can plan for upfront. [Link to more on this.]
Need Native Files? There’s a Way.
For clients on an active agency maintenance agreement, we offer a Master File Access (MFA) plan, a premium add-on that grants access to native files created during its active period. This cost is in addition to your maintenance plan.
If native file access is critical to your workflow, we’re happy to discuss if the MFA Agreement is the right fit.
Need more flexibility?
Explore Our Master File Access Plan
For clients who need access to native files, we offer the Master File Access (MFA) Agreement. This agreement is available exclusively to clients with an active agency maintenance plan.
If native file access is critical to your workflow, let’s talk.
