Chat First, NDA Later

This one’s for new clients who might be sitting on an idea, and wondering if they need to send an NDA before we even say hello.

Let’s talk about that first chat. The one before the project starts. Before sketches are drawn. Before any files change hands. The one where we both need to ask: Could this be a good fit?

More and more often, I’ll get a message that says something like, “Hey Lucas, I’ve got XYZ product idea, but I’ll need you to sign an NDA before I can tell you anything.”

Understandable. You’ve put time, thought and money into your idea. You want to protect it. I get it. And yes, NDAs have their place, especially once we’re sharing files, IP, CAD, prototypes, or proprietary details.

But here’s the flipside - it’s actually better for both of us if we have a quick, open, informal chat before we get tangled in the legal paperwork.

Let me explain why.

A Good Fit Isn’t Just About Skills

That first conversation isn’t about me stealing your idea. I won’t. I don’t want it. It’s yours. I have plenty of my own.

It’s about seeing if we’re a match.

• Can I help with the kind of thing you’re building?
• Does the scope make sense for where you're at?
• Are we aligned on approach, timelines, and budget?
• And just as importantly, do we actually get along?

These are big, meaningful questions that shape how well a project runs. If the fit isn’t right, the work won’t be either, NDA or not.

You Don’t Have to Share the Secret Sauce (Yet)

This initial conversation isn’t about full disclosure. You don’t have to spill the IP or send over schematics.

You can absolutely describe the idea without giving away the core mechanics. For example: “It’s a handheld device for home use, something like X, but with a different user interaction.” Or, “we’re working on a soft goods product for travel, think along the lines of Y, but with a new take on how it’s packed and stored.”

That’s usually more than enough for me to understand what kind of help you might need, whether we’re a fit, and how to structure a proposal (if it makes sense to move forward).

Paperwork Comes With a Time Cost

Every NDA is different. Some are simple and straightforward. Others require review, negotiation, clarification, sometimes even legal input. It is a legally binding document after all, and if that first chat is going to be the only chat, for whatever reason, I think we’d both prefer not to sign up to a multitude of enduring, legally binding agreements. That’s all fine once we know we’re working together. But doing that before we even know if the project’s viable? That can burn time and momentum on both sides.

I’m always happy to sign an NDA if it makes sense. But it’s not the first step. A five-minute call or email exchange will almost always tell us more about whether we should work together than seven pages of legalese.

Trust Is Built, Not Signed

Confidentiality is paramount in this industry. I wouldn’t be here today if I had breached even one NDA during my career. So if I’m not someone you feel you can speak to openly, even in broad strokes, then I’m probably not the right designer for your project. And that’s okay!

Design is a collaborative process. It requires trust, transparency, and real conversation. And that starts with a simple chat, sometimes over coffee, where we figure out if this is the right fit, and if we both want to invest our time in taking the next step.

In short: We don’t need to open with a contract.

We just need to talk. See if we click. See if the brief makes sense.

Then, if it does, that’s when we do the paperwork.

If you’re sitting on an idea and thinking about reaching out, don’t worry about having everything ready. You don’t need a locked-in brief, a polished pitch deck, or a 12-page NDA.

Just say hi. Let’s have a chat. See where it goes.

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Lucas Lastman

Freelance Industrial Designer Melbourne | Calm, Curious & Confidential | No-Nonsense NDA Navigator

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