Graphic Design Tenders and Contracts

Graphic design tenders cover far more than logos. The work splits into design service frameworks, applied graphics such as vehicle liveries and window or display panels, and exhibition and interpretation graphics for museums and visitor sites. Much of it is bundled with print management, so read the lot structure before assuming which part you can bid for.

Stotles brings together graphic design tenders and contracts from 100+ portals into one search, so you do not have to check each portal separately, and you can set alerts for new opportunities across the UK and Ireland.

If you want to search the government portals directly, Find a Tender carries higher-value contracts across the UK and Contracts Finder carries lower-value contracts in England. Public Contracts Scotland, Sell2Wales and eTendersNI cover Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, Ireland's eTenders covers Irish public bodies, and many councils, NHS bodies and housing associations publish on their own e-tendering portals such as ProContract. Universities and councils often appoint design rosters through multi-supplier agreements, so smaller briefs then go only to agencies on the roster.

Graphic design tenders are scored on portfolio and creative response, understanding of the brief and brand, process and turnaround, and price, often by day rate or per project. Many buyers appoint a roster of agencies, so getting onto the roster is the main way into repeat work.

Design tenders usually set minimum insurance cover, check financial standing and ask for portfolios and evidence of similar projects at selection stage, and public sector digital work must meet accessibility requirements. Under the Procurement Act 2023, suppliers can be excluded for certain criminal convictions, insolvency or failure to pay tax.

Councils, universities, museums and central government departments buy graphic design, mostly through their communications and marketing teams. Design frameworks and design-and-print lots dominate.

Read communications strategies, campaign calendars, event programmes and framework renewal dates, which show graphic design work coming due ahead of a notice. On Stotles you can track those signals and the communications teams behind them, then follow a notice from pre-tender through to award.

The main one is 79822500 (Graphic design services). Two others turn up regularly: 79415200 (Design consultancy services) and 79930000 (Specialty design services). Buyers tag inconsistently, and plenty of on-intent notices carry only a printing code, so treat codes as a starting point rather than a filter.