maillayoutstudio
THOUGHTFUL DESIGN / BETTER NEWSLETTERS ● MORE CONSIDERED EMAILS ● INDEPENDENT ART DIRECTION ● INBOX EXPERIENCE AS ART ● THOUGHTFUL DESIGN / BETTER NEWSLETTERS ● MORE CONSIDERED EMAILS ● INDEPENDENT ART DIRECTION ● INBOX EXPERIENCE AS ART
INDEPENDENT EMAIL DESIGN STUDIO · EST. 2026
LESS NOISE. MORE MEANING.

Good emails
deserve better
design.

"We turn everyday emails into thoughtful brand experiences — through considered layouts, distinctive campaigns, and newsletters people actually want to read."

Studio editorial photography
FIG. 00 — STUDIO BERLIN · 2026
DISCIPLINE CREATIVE STUDIO

Rejecting standard automated SaaS templates in favor of bespoke Swiss graphic architecture.

Independent creative studio
Email design / Campaigns / Newsletters
Available for selected 2026 projects
EDITORIAL ARCHITECTURE ◆ TYPOGRAPHIC SYSTEMS ◆ CONVERSION RHYTHM ◆ BESPOKE TEMPLATES ◆ DELIVERABILITY DISCIPLINE ◆ CAMPAIGN ART DIRECTION ◆
Editorial team working on layouts
00.5 / STUDIO NOTES

We treat email like a printed page, not a broadcast.

Every campaign begins on paper — with type hierarchy, margins, and rhythm mapped before a single pixel is placed in the builder. The result is email that reads like a publication, not a promotion.

00 / ART OBJECT EXHIBIT

The Inbox as a Canvas

CLICK PREVIEWS TO VIEW INTERACTIVE CASE SPREADS

ISSUE #142 SUNDAY EDITIONS
ESSAY OF THE WEEK

Architectural Silence in Modern Spaces.

Architectural Minimalist Interior

How negative space shapes human psychology inside physical and digital environments.

Read full publication → 4 Min Read
High Fashion Model Editorial
CAMPAIGN / AUTUMN '26

Form & Field Studio Collection

Tactile garments constructed from raw organic linen and unbleached wool.

LIMITED DROP 08/10 REMAINING

Monochrome Ceramic Series

Hand-thrown matte vessels by Studio Koto.

$240
FIG 01.1 — 01.3 PRECISION GRAPHIC ART DIRECTION
DESIGNED FOR MAXIMUM INBOX IMPACT
THE MAILLAYOUTSTUDIO PHILOSOPHY

An email is a
small space.
Make it matter.

01 / PURPOSE

Every pixel has a purpose.

We remove excess visual clutter so your reader can absorb your narrative effortlessly.

02 / RHYTHM

Every message needs a rhythm.

Typographic scale and spatial padding create a harmonious cadence down the screen.

03 / CLARITY

Every reader deserves clarity.

Respecting inbox attention leads to higher subscriber retention and brand trust.

Editorial portrait of studio founder
FOUNDER PORTRAIT BERLIN · 2026
STUDIO VOICE
"The inbox is the last place on the internet where a brand can speak without being interrupted. We design for that privilege."
Mara Hoffmann
Founder & Creative Director
01 / OUR DISCIPLINES

Four ways we work

SELECTED ENGAGEMENT TYPES FOR 2026

01

Email Design Systems

Complete modular template architecture for brands that ship weekly campaigns. Typographic scales, spacing grids, and reusable sections — validated across 50+ email clients.

02

Campaign Art Direction

Editorial-grade campaign design for product launches, seasonal pushes, and editorial features — each treated as a designed object, not a bulk send.

03

Newsletter Systems

Recurring editorial publications with issue architecture, section rhythm, and reader retention flows — for teams publishing weekly or monthly.

04

Deliverability Consulting

Audits, authentication setup, and reputation management for teams that have outgrown ad-hoc sending — so every message lands where it should.

01.5 / SELECTED WORK

Recent campaign spreads

Campaign spread 1
APEX / LAUNCH →
Campaign spread 2
VERDE / WEEKLY →
Campaign spread 3
HALDEN / DROP →
Campaign spread 4
MARROW / DIGEST →
Campaign spread 5
FIELD / FORM →
Campaign spread 6
OSTARA / WIN-BACK →
02 / METHOD

A four-phase process,
no shortcuts.

PHASE 01

Discovery

We audit your existing email program — list health, deliverability history, design consistency, and engagement patterns.

PHASE 02

Architecture

We define the system: typographic scale, modular blocks, flow structure, and the editorial voice that anchors every send.

PHASE 03

Build

Production-ready templates, validated across 50+ clients, with accessibility and dark-mode support built in from day one.

PHASE 04

Iterate

Every campaign is instrumented. We measure, test, and refine the system with every send — so the program compounds over time.

37
Projects shipped
500K+
Emails designed
6
Industries served
99.98%
Deliverability
03 / CLIENT WORDS

What our clients say

"Our newsletter open rate went from 28% to 47% in one quarter. The layouts finally matched the quality of our writing."

EJ
Elena J.
Editor-in-Chief · Verde Journal

"We moved 14 client accounts over in one quarter. Everything that used to be a support ticket is now a template."

PR
Priya R.
Operations Lead · Northlight Agency
TRUSTED BY EDITORIAL TEAMS AT
VERDE APEX NORTHLIGHT ELEVATE FORM & FIELD MARROW
03.5 / CASE STUDIES

Measured outcomes

SaaS case study
SAAS

Elevate Platform

Trial-to-paid conversion up 142% after a full onboarding rebuild.

E-commerce case study
E-COMMERCE

Apex Goods

Recovered 14% of abandoned revenue with a rebuilt 3-touch sequence.

Publisher case study
PUBLISHERS

Verde Journal

90-day subscriber churn cut by 32% with a re-engagement system.

04 / THE DISPATCH

A monthly letter on
inbox craft.

One issue per month. Editorial essays, framework releases, and field notes from the studio. No noise, no filler — just the essential reads for teams that care about craft.

ISSUE #42 OCTOBER 2026

The Quiet Power of the Editorial Inbox

Why the best email programs of the next decade will be built like magazines, not marketing funnels — and how brands can start designing for attention rather than volume.

12 MIN READ Read article →
Studio desk and workspace
04.5 / THE STUDIO

A two-person studio with editorial discipline.

We keep our client list small. Every project is led by the same two people who designed the system — no handoff to account managers, no substitution of process for craft. If we take your project, you work with us directly.

05 / QUESTIONS

Frequently asked

ANSWERS FROM THE STUDIO

How long does a typical engagement take?

Design system engagements run 4–6 weeks. Full campaign programs run 8–12 weeks depending on scope. Newsletter systems are typically 3–4 weeks.

Do you work with our existing ESP?

Yes — we work inside your existing ESP (Klaviyo, Mailchimp, HubSpot, Braze, Salesforce Marketing Cloud, etc.) and deliver in the format your team uses.

Do you handle deliverability?

Yes. Authentication setup (SPF/DKIM/DMARC), reputation monitoring, and inbox placement testing are included in most engagements — or available as standalone consulting.

Can we request a custom project?

Yes — custom engagements are available. Tell us about your brand, your audience, and the inbox experience you want to create. We will come back with a considered plan.

05.5 / FROM THE JOURNAL

Recent writing

Article cover
STRATEGY

The Anatomy of an Email People Read

5 MIN READ
Article cover
AUTOMATION

Welcome Sequences That Feel Human

8 MIN READ
Article cover
DELIVERABILITY

The 2026 Deliverability Handbook

10 MIN READ
06 / START A PROJECT

Let's build
something considered.

We are available for selected 2026 projects. Tell us about your brand, your audience, and the inbox experience you want to create — we will come back with a plan, not a pitch.

02 / CAPABILITIES & FEES

Services & System Architecture

[ Bespoke Klaviyo / Mailchimp Systems ]

Every engagement is built around a single principle: email that reads like a publication, not a promotion. Below are the six disciplines we practice — each available as a standalone project or bundled into a comprehensive system.

We work in Klaviyo, Mailchimp, Braze, HubSpot, and Salesforce Marketing Cloud — or produce deliverable assets your internal team can implement inside whatever ESP you already use.

Studio workspace with email layouts
FIG. 02 — STUDIO BERLIN · 2026
01

Email Template Design

Custom, responsive email frameworks constructed around your brand guidelines. Bulletproof rendering across mobile and dark mode environments.

Klaviyo Ready Responsive HTML Dark Mode Compliant
02

Newsletter Art Direction

High-retention editorial newsletter layouts balancing curation, essay text, and product modules. Perfect for publishers and modern brands.

Substack Integration Editorial Grids Typography Pairing
03

Campaign Design

High-impact promotional drops, product release announcements, and seasonal storytelling campaigns structured to drive intentional conversion.

Launch Sequences High CTA Density Visual Storytelling
04

Email Design Systems

Modular Figma UI kits, reusable drag-and-drop components, and comprehensive spacing guidelines for your internal marketing team.

Figma Components Modular Blocks Brand Guidelines
05

Welcome & Onboarding Sequences

Multi-touch automated welcome journeys designed to introduce new subscribers to your brand ethos and core catalog.

06

Email Design Refresh

Comprehensive audit and modern redesign of legacy email templates, improving visual aesthetic, legibility, and engagement metrics.

INTERACTIVE PROJECT CALCULATOR

Build Your Custom Scope

Select your required deliverables below to formulate an estimated timeframe and creative budget scope.

ESTIMATED CREATIVE SCOPE: $0 USD
37
Projects shipped
500K+
Emails designed
6
Industries served
99.98%
Deliverability
02.5 / BOUNDARIES

What we don't do.

01

Bulk blast campaigns

We do not design one-off blast campaigns for cold lists. Every project assumes a subscriber relationship that has been earned — not purchased.

02

Template resale

We do not resell the same template to multiple clients. Every layout we produce is bespoke — designed for one brand, then maintained as that brand's system.

03

Volume-based pricing

We do not price by list size or send volume. Our rates reflect design effort, not how many people happen to be on your list this month.

03 / METHOD

A four-phase engagement.
No shortcuts.

PHASE 01

Discovery

We audit your existing email program — list health, deliverability history, design consistency, and engagement patterns. Two weeks.

PHASE 02

Architecture

We define the system: typographic scale, modular blocks, flow structure, and the editorial voice that anchors every send. Two weeks.

PHASE 03

Build

Production-ready templates, validated across 50+ clients, with accessibility and dark-mode support built in from day one. Two to four weeks.

PHASE 04

Iterate

Every campaign is instrumented. We measure, test, and refine the system with every send — so the program compounds over time. Ongoing.

04 / ON-GOING

Retainer engagements

MONTHLY RETAINERS STARTING AT $2,400

TIER 01

Essential

$2,400 /mo
  • — 4 campaign designs per month
  • — 1 newsletter layout per month
  • — Quarterly template refresh
  • — Email support (48h response)
Most popular TIER 02

Growth

$4,800 /mo
  • — 8 campaign designs per month
  • — 4 newsletter layouts per month
  • — Monthly strategy call
  • — A/B test support
  • — Priority support (24h response)
TIER 03

Full Studio

$8,400 /mo
  • — Unlimited campaign designs
  • — Unlimited newsletter layouts
  • — Weekly strategy call
  • — Full deliverability monitoring
  • — Dedicated project lead
05 / SELECTED WORK

Recent spreads

Campaign spread 1
LAUNCH

Apex Goods — Product Drop

High-impact 5-email launch sequence.

Campaign spread 2
NEWSLETTER

Verde Journal — Weekly

Editorial grid system for a paid newsletter.

Campaign spread 3
SYSTEM

Halden & Co. — Design System

Full modular template architecture.

06 / CLIENT VOICE
"The email system they built for us is now the single most valuable asset in our marketing stack. It's not a template — it's infrastructure."
TJ
Theo J.
CMO · Halden & Co.
07 / QUESTIONS

Frequently asked

ANSWERS FROM THE STUDIO

What do you need from us to start?

Brand guidelines, existing templates (if any), access to your ESP, and a 30-minute call to understand your audience and campaign cadence. That is enough to begin phase one.

How do payments work?

Fifty percent upfront, fifty percent on delivery. Retainers are billed on the first of each month. We accept direct bank transfer and all major credit cards.

Do you offer revisions?

Yes — every project includes up to two rounds of revisions. Additional rounds are billed hourly. Most clients complete within the first round.

Can you work with our in-house team?

Yes — many projects are collaborative. We often produce design assets in Figma and hand off to internal developers for final build. We can also provide implementation support.

What about ownership of the design?

Full ownership transfers to you on final payment. You retain all rights to the templates, Figma files, and documentation we produce.

Do you sign NDAs?

Yes — happy to sign an NDA before any discovery conversation. Send yours over and we will return it within 24 hours.

08 / START A PROJECT

Ready to build
the system?

Tell us about your brand, your audience, and the inbox experience you want to create. We will come back with a scope and timeline — not a pitch.

SELECTED PROJECTS / 2026

Editorial Case Studies

[ Illustrative Concept Art Direction ]

Each project below represents a distinct editorial system — designed for a specific brand, audience, and rhythm. Not a template. Not a modified theme. A complete architecture, produced from first principles.

Click any case study to explore the full design spread, process notes, and performance outcomes.

Editorial case study spread
FIG. 03 — WORK 2026 ARCHIVE
Sunday Editions
SUNDAY EDITIONS VOL. 88 CONCEPT NO. 01
01 / EDITORIAL NEWSLETTER

Sunday Editions

A weekly publication layout designed around large display headlines, warm butter-yellow accents, and deliberate editorial whitespace. Created to feel like reading a printed weekend magazine.

02 / LIFESTYLE CAMPAIGN

Form & Field

Autumn launch campaign combining ice-blue canvas backgrounds, olive green labeling, and high-fashion editorial imagery. Optimized for mobile click-through rates.

Form and Field
FORM & FIELD FW26 CONCEPT NO. 02
Objects in Colour
OBJECTS IN COLOUR VOL. III CONCEPT NO. 03
03 / PRODUCT LAUNCH

Objects in Colour

Experimental typographic launch campaign for a ceramic art brand featuring vibrant pink interventions, mint status markers, and interactive module components.

37
Projects delivered
500K+
Emails designed
6
Industries
99.98%
Deliverability
MORE PROJECTS

Additional work

ARCHIVE 2024 — 2025

Apex Goods
E-COMMERCE 2025

Apex Goods — Product Launch

5-email launch campaign that drove 3x typical day-one revenue.

Verde Journal
PUBLISHER 2025

Verde Journal — Weekly System

Full editorial grid system for a paid newsletter with 12,000 subscribers.

Halden & Co.
SYSTEM 2024

Halden & Co. — Design System

Modular template system with 24 reusable blocks and full documentation.

FEATURED DEEP DIVE

Sunday Editions

CASE STUDY · 2026
Sunday Editions full spread
THE PROBLEM

A weekly publication with strong writing but no visual identity. Open rates were collapsing because subscribers could not distinguish their emails from generic marketing blasts.

THE APPROACH

We built a magazine-style layout with oversized display headlines, butter-yellow accent blocks, and deliberate whitespace — designed to feel like reading a printed weekend magazine, not a promotional email.

THE RESULT

Open rate increased from 28% to 47% in one quarter. Subscriber churn fell by 22%, and the publication crossed 10,000 paid subscribers within six months.

+68%
Opens
−22%
Churn
10K
Subscribers
OUR APPROACH
"Every case study here began on paper. Typography, margins, and hierarchy mapped before a single pixel was placed in the builder."

That is why our campaigns read like publications rather than promotions. We do not start in Figma, and we do not start in the ESP. We start with the page.

CLIENT VOICE
"They didn't just redesign our emails — they redesigned the way our readers experience our brand. Every issue now feels like an editorial object."
EJ
Elena J.
Editor-in-Chief · Sunday Editions
START A PROJECT

Your project
could be next.

We accept a small number of projects each quarter. Tell us about your brand, your audience, and the inbox experience you want to create.

04 / PUBLICATIONS

Journal & Editorial Essays

[ NOTES FROM THE INBOX ]

Long-form essays on email design, editorial craft, and the mechanics of attention. Written by the same team that builds the studio's client work — no ghostwriters, no content farms, no listicle filler.

Everything here is published monthly, in conjunction with The Dispatch — our editorial newsletter for design-minded email teams.

Editorial writing desk
FIG. 04 — JOURNAL BERLIN · 2026
Featured article
Featured STRATEGY

The anatomy of an email people actually read

Breaking down headline ratios, preview text psychology, and the micro-copy details that separate emails people open from emails people archive. A complete teardown of six high-performing layouts.

7 MIN READ · OCTOBER 2026 Read →

Recent articles

Journal Reading Desk
Design Notes 5 min read

Why your newsletter needs more whitespace

An examination of visual breathing room and how whitespace increases reader comprehension and click engagement.

Read Article →
Writing Journal Notes
Strategy 7 min read

The anatomy of an email people actually read

Breaking down headline ratios, preview text psychology, and micro-copy details that create irresistible emails.

Read Article →
Creative Studio Identity
Identity 4 min read

Beyond the template: building an email identity

How to establish a recognizable visual footprint in the inbox that aligns seamlessly with your primary website.

Read Article →
MORE ARTICLES

From the archive

PUBLISHED 2025

Article cover
DELIVERABILITY 10 MIN READ

The 2026 Deliverability Handbook

Mastering DMARC, BIMI, and the new ISP sender reputation rules that reshaped deliverability this year.

Article cover
DESIGN 6 MIN READ

Designing email for dark mode

A practical guide to building templates that look intentional in both light and dark inboxes.

Article cover
IDENTITY 8 MIN READ

Typography systems for editorial email

How to build a typographic scale that holds across 50+ email clients without breaking structure.

READING PATHS

Curated learning tracks

FOLLOW IN SEQUENCE

PATH 01

Deliverability Foundations

  1. 1. The 2026 Deliverability Handbook
  2. 2. IP Warm-Up Playbook
  3. 3. Compliance Checklist
  4. 4. Rendering QA Guide
4 resources · ~6 hours
PATH 02

Lifecycle Architecture

  1. 1. The anatomy of an email people actually read
  2. 2. Welcome Sequences That Feel Human
  3. 3. Cart Recovery Guide
  4. 4. Re-Engagement Flows
4 resources · ~5 hours
PATH 03

Editorial Design Systems

  1. 1. Typography systems for editorial email
  2. 2. Designing email for dark mode
  3. 3. Beyond the template: building an email identity
  4. 4. Why your newsletter needs more whitespace
4 resources · ~4 hours
MOST READ THIS QUARTER

What everyone is reading

01

The anatomy of an email people actually read

6,100+ reads
02

The 2026 Deliverability Handbook

8,400+ reads
03

Designing email for dark mode

5,200+ reads
THE DISPATCH

One letter. Once a month.

Editorial essays, framework releases, and field notes from the studio. No noise, no filler — just the essential reads for teams that care about inbox craft.

QUESTIONS

About the journal

ANSWERS FROM THE STUDIO

How often do you publish?

One or two long-form articles per month, in sync with The Dispatch newsletter. Quality over quantity — we do not publish filler.

Do you accept guest contributions?

Occasionally. If you have a specific angle on email design, deliverability, or editorial craft, send us an outline. We respond within two weeks.

Can I republish an article?

Yes — with attribution and a link back to the original. Please email us first so we can coordinate timing and tracking.

Are there transcripts or audio versions?

Not currently. Some essays are adapted into The Dispatch each month, but the full article is always text-first.

STAY IN TOUCH

Read more,
or write with us.

If you want to build a project with us — or just talk about a topic we have covered — the studio door is open.

05 / METHODOLOGY

Process & Strategic Timeline

[ 05 PHASE EXECUTION ]

Every project follows the same five-phase sequence — not because process is sacred, but because it produces consistent quality. Each phase has a clear deliverable, a defined duration, and a sign-off gate before we move forward.

Engagements typically run 6–10 weeks for a single campaign system, or 10–14 weeks for a full editorial infrastructure build. Retainers follow a monthly cadence after the initial system is delivered.

Studio process planning
FIG. 05 — PROCESS BERLIN · 2026
01

Discover

Audience research, brand voice alignment, newsletter goal mapping, and asset collection.

02

Define

Structural wireframes, visual direction exploration, and layout grid architectural planning.

03

Design

Swiss graphic typography layout, responsive component creation, and custom HTML build.

04

Refine

Comprehensive testing across 40+ email clients (Litmus / Email on Acid verification).

05

Deliver

Integration into Klaviyo/Mailchimp, team onboarding, and launch support.

05.5 / IN DETAIL

Each phase, expanded

DELIVERABLES · DURATION · SIGN-OFF GATE

01

Discover

WEEK 1–2 · 2 WEEKS

We audit your existing email program — list health, deliverability history, design consistency, engagement patterns. We conduct 2–3 structured interviews with your team, review competitor campaigns, and analyze the current performance baseline.

Deliverables
  • — Audit document
  • — Baseline metrics report
  • — Brand voice brief
02

Define

WEEK 3–4 · 2 WEEKS

We translate the audit into architecture. Typographic scale, spacing system, modular block library, flow structure, and editorial voice are all defined in written form — before we design a single screen.

Deliverables
  • — Design system spec
  • — Typographic scale
  • — Wireframe set
03

Design

WEEK 5–7 · 3 WEEKS

We produce the full visual layer: editorial layouts, campaign spreads, modular components, and the production HTML. Every screen is designed at both desktop and mobile widths, with dark-mode variants.

Deliverables
  • — Figma design system
  • — Production HTML templates
  • — Dark-mode variants
04

Refine

WEEK 8 · 1 WEEK

Comprehensive QA across 40+ email clients via Litmus and Email on Acid. Accessibility audit, contrast validation, alt-text verification, link testing, and pre-send deliverability checks.

Deliverables
  • — QA report
  • — Accessibility checklist
  • — Rendering matrix
05

Deliver

WEEK 9–10 · 1–2 WEEKS

Integration into your ESP (Klaviyo, Mailchimp, Braze, HubSpot), team training session, and a 30-day post-launch support window. We stay close through the first send.

Deliverables
  • — ESP integration
  • — Team training session
  • — Launch support (30 days)
05.6 / PHILOSOPHY

Three principles
that shape everything.

01 / PURPOSE

Every element earns its place.

We do not add elements because they are standard. We add them because they serve a specific function in the layout. If a hero image does not earn the scroll, it becomes whitespace. If a CTA does not clarify the next action, it becomes clutter.

02 / RHYTHM

Every message needs cadence.

Typography, spacing, and hierarchy combine into a rhythm — a pacing that moves the reader down the page at the speed the content requires. Dense essays need slower pacing. Launch announcements need momentum. Both are rhythms, not layouts.

03 / CLARITY

Every reader deserves respect.

The reader's time is the scarcest resource in the inbox. Every design decision should honor that — no inflated copy, no padded content, no visual flourishes that consume attention without returning value.

05.7 / TIMELINE

Typical 10-week engagement

AVERAGE FOR A FULL SYSTEM BUILD

Week 1
Discovery — audit, interviews, baseline
Week 2
Discovery — brand voice brief, competitor review
Week 3
Define — architecture spec, typography
Week 4
Define — wireframes, sign-off gate
Week 5
Design — first layouts, initial feedback
Week 6
Design — component library, refinement
Week 7
Design — production HTML, dark-mode build
Week 8
Refine — QA across 40+ clients, accessibility
Week 9
Deliver — ESP integration, team training
Week 10
Deliver — launch support, post-launch review
10
Weeks average engagement
5
Phases
40+
Email clients tested
2
Revision rounds included
05.8 / DELIVERABLES

What you actually receive

EVERY FILE · EVERY DOCUMENT

✓

Production HTML Templates

Fully responsive HTML files, tested across 40+ clients, ready to upload into your ESP.

✓

Figma Design System

Complete Figma file with reusable components, typography scales, and spacing tokens.

✓

Design Documentation

Written spec explaining the system: type scale, block library, color roles, editorial voice.

✓

QA Report

Detailed rendering matrix and accessibility audit — every client tested, every issue documented.

✓

ESP Integration Session

90-minute live session walking your team through the system inside your ESP account.

✓

30-Day Launch Support

Direct Slack or email access for 30 days after launch — bug fixes and adjustments included.

CLIENT VOICE
"The process was clear from day one. Every phase had a deadline and a deliverable — no ambiguity, no scope creep. It is how design should be done."
MT
Marcus T.
Head of Growth · Elevate Platform
05.9 / QUESTIONS

About the process

ANSWERS FROM THE STUDIO

What if we need to move faster?

We can compress to a six-week engagement with a phased overlap. It requires more decision-making from your side — fewer approval cycles, more synchronous collaboration — but it is possible for teams that can move quickly.

What if we only need one phase?

We do offer standalone engagements — for example, a design refresh without the full system build, or an audit without design implementation. Scope is flexible.

Who is our main contact during the process?

You work directly with the two people who designed the system — no account manager handoff. All communication is with the same two people from discovery through delivery.

What happens after delivery?

You have full ownership of all files and documentation. If you want ongoing support — monthly campaigns, quarterly refreshes, deliverability monitoring — we offer retainers starting at $2,400 per month.

START A PROJECT

Ready to
begin?

Tell us about your brand, your audience, and the inbox experience you want to create. We will come back with a scope, a timeline, and a clear plan.

LEGAL / TERMS

Terms of Engagement

[ EFFECTIVE 15 JULY 2026 ]

Last updated: 15 July 2026 · Version 1.0

These terms govern the relationship between MailLayoutStudio ("the studio", "we", "us") and any client engaging our design services. By signing a project scope or statement of work, you accept these terms as part of the engagement.

These terms are written to be read — not to hide behind legal language. If something is unclear, email us before signing.

01

Scope of work

Each engagement is defined by a written scope document agreed upon before work begins. The scope document specifies deliverables, timeline, milestones, and fees.

Work outside the agreed scope — additional campaigns, expanded templates, new rounds of revisions — requires a written change order before proceeding. We do not bill for scope creep without your prior approval.

02

Fees and payment

Unless otherwise specified in the scope document, fees are invoiced as follows:

  • Project engagements: 50% deposit at kickoff, 50% on final delivery
  • Monthly retainers: billed on the first of each month, in advance
  • Change orders: billed separately on completion

Invoices are due within 14 days of issuance. Late payments may incur a 1.5% monthly service charge. We reserve the right to pause work if an invoice remains unpaid for more than 30 days.

03

Revisions

Every project scope includes a specified number of revision rounds — typically two per deliverable. A "round" is defined as a single consolidated set of written feedback submitted after a design review.

Additional rounds or post-delivery edits are billed at our standard hourly rate, quoted in advance. Once a deliverable has been signed off, further changes constitute new work.

04

Timelines and delays

Timelines in the scope document assume timely feedback from the client at each milestone. If feedback is delayed by more than five business days, the delivery date shifts by the same amount.

If a project is paused at the client's request for more than 30 days, we may invoice for work completed to date and re-scope remaining deliverables when the project resumes.

05

Intellectual property

Upon receipt of final payment, all deliverables — HTML templates, Figma files, documentation, and design assets — become the property of the client. The client retains full ownership and may use, modify, and distribute these assets without restriction.

The studio retains:

  • The right to display the work in our portfolio (unless an NDA specifies otherwise)
  • Ownership of any underlying design frameworks, tools, or methodologies not specific to the client
  • The right to describe the project at a high level in public marketing materials

Client-supplied brand assets (logos, fonts, imagery) remain the property of the client and are used only within the scope of the agreed engagement.

06

Confidentiality

We will sign an NDA on request before any discovery conversation. Even without a formal NDA, we treat all client information as confidential — including brand guidelines, audience data, campaign performance, and internal communications. We do not share client information with third parties without written consent.

07

Warranties and limitations

We warrant that all deliverables will be original work, produced to professional standards, and free from third-party IP claims to the best of our knowledge.

We do not warrant specific commercial outcomes — open rates, click rates, revenue lift — as those depend on factors outside our control, including list quality, send cadence, brand reputation, and market conditions.

Our total liability for any claim arising from an engagement is limited to the fees paid for that engagement. We are not liable for indirect, incidental, or consequential damages.

08

Termination

Either party may terminate an engagement with 30 days' written notice. On termination:

  • The client pays for work completed to date
  • The studio delivers all in-progress files and documentation
  • Ownership of completed (but unpaid) deliverables remains with the studio until invoiced amounts are settled

We reserve the right to terminate immediately for non-payment, breach of confidentiality, or abusive conduct toward studio staff.

09

Governing law

These terms are governed by the laws of Germany. Any dispute arising from an engagement shall be resolved through good-faith negotiation first, and — if necessary — through binding arbitration in Berlin. Both parties agree to attempt amicable resolution for 30 days before pursuing formal proceedings.

10

Contact

Questions about these terms can be directed to legal@maillayoutstudio.com.

These terms are provided as a starting framework and do not constitute legal advice. For binding engagements, consult a qualified attorney familiar with your jurisdiction.

LEGAL / PRIVACY

Privacy Policy

[ EFFECTIVE 15 JULY 2026 ]

Last updated: 15 July 2026 · Version 1.0

MailLayoutStudio is an independent editorial design studio. This policy explains what information we collect when you visit this website or engage our services, how we use it, and the rights you hold over your own data.

We keep our data handling minimal by design. We do not track visitors, sell data to third parties, or operate advertising networks. This document explains exactly what we collect and why.

01

What we collect

We collect two categories of information:

Information you provide voluntarily. When you submit a contact form, subscribe to The Dispatch, or request a project scope, you may provide your name, email address, company, and a description of your project. We use this information solely to respond to your inquiry or send the newsletter you asked for.

Information collected automatically. Our hosting provider logs standard server requests — IP address, browser user agent, referring page, and timestamp. These logs are used for security monitoring and aggregate traffic analysis, retained for 30 days, and never used for tracking or profiling.

This website does not use cookies, analytics scripts, pixels, or fingerprinting technologies of any kind.

02

How we use your data

We use the information you provide for three purposes only:

  • To respond to project inquiries and scope requests
  • To send The Dispatch newsletter, if you subscribed
  • To communicate about active engagements

We do not sell, rent, share, or transfer your information to any third party for marketing purposes. We do not use your information to train machine learning models or to build advertising profiles.

03

Third-party services

We use a small number of trusted services to operate this website:

  • Newsletter delivery: The Dispatch is delivered via a third-party ESP. Their privacy policy applies to stored subscriber data.
  • Hosting: Our site runs on a managed hosting provider with standard data-processing agreements in place.
  • Fonts and images: Some pages reference web fonts and stock images from third-party CDNs. These requests may expose your IP address to those providers.

We do not use Google Analytics, Meta Pixel, or any equivalent tracking services.

04

Data retention

Project inquiry data is retained for two years after our last correspondence, unless you request earlier deletion. Newsletter subscriptions are retained until you unsubscribe. Server logs are retained for 30 days. LocalStorage data — if any exists in demo features — persists until you clear your browser.

05

Your rights

Under applicable privacy regulations (GDPR, CCPA, and equivalents), you have the right to:

  • Request a copy of any information we hold about you
  • Request correction of inaccurate information
  • Request deletion of your information
  • Unsubscribe from any communications at any time
  • Lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority

To exercise any of these rights, email privacy@maillayoutstudio.com. We respond within 30 days.

06

Security

All traffic to this site is encrypted via TLS 1.3. Stored subscriber data is encrypted at rest. Access is limited to the two studio founders. We do not store payment information on our servers — all financial transactions run through a PCI-compliant payment processor.

07

Changes to this policy

This policy may be updated as the studio's practices evolve. Any material change will update the effective date at the top of this page. Continued use of the site after such changes constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.

08

Contact

Questions about this policy can be directed to privacy@maillayoutstudio.com or by post to: MailLayoutStudio, c/o Creative Studio, Berlin, Germany.

This document is provided for general information. It does not constitute legal advice. For specific concerns, consult a qualified privacy attorney.

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