1. Who We Are

Design Cove is a digital product and web design studio based in Edinburgh, Scotland. For any questions about your data, you can reach us at: 📧 hello@designcove.co.uk

2. What Information We Collect

We collect and store the following types of personal data:

Provided Directly by You:
– Full Name
– Email Address
– Phone Number (if provided)
– Company Name (if provided)
– Street Address (if required for invoicing or contracts)
– Any message or information shared via forms, email, or other communication

Collected Automatically:
– IP Address
– Browser type and version
– Pages visited
– Time and date of visit
– Device type and operating system
(Collected via tools like Google Analytics)

3. Why We Collect Your Data

We use your data for the following purposes:

– To respond to enquiries and client requests
– To provide quotes and proposals
– To deliver our design services
– To generate invoices and maintain records
– To improve website performance and user experience
– To send occasional updates (only if you’ve opted in)

We do not sell or rent your data.

4. Cookies

We use cookies to:

– Remember your preferences
– Analyse website traffic
– Improve performance
– Deliver targeted content

You will see a cookie banner when you visit our site, provided by CookieYes. You can accept or reject cookies and adjust settings at any time.

For detailed cookie use, please see the “Cookies” section in this policy.

5. Legal Basis for Processing (UK GDPR)

We only process personal data where we have a legal basis to do so. This includes:

– Consent: e.g. you filled out a contact form or opted into updates
– Contract: e.g. we’re working together on a project
– Legal obligation: e.g. record-keeping for accounting
– Legitimate interest: e.g. improving our services or website

6. Sharing Your Data

We only share your data with trusted third parties who help us operate our business, such as:

– Web and email hosting providers (e.g. Google Workspace)
– Analytics platforms (e.g. Google Analytics)
– Payment and invoicing tools (e.g. Stripe, PayPal)
– Project management tools (e.g. Notion, Trello)

All service providers are GDPR-compliant and only access data as needed.

7. How Long We Keep Your Data

We retain data:

– For active projects: until project completion + 6 years (for legal/accounting reasons)
– For enquiries: up to 12 months unless you become a client
– For mailing lists: until you unsubscribe

You can request deletion at any time unless we’re required by law to keep it.

8. How We Protect Your Data

We take data security seriously:

– Our site uses HTTPS encryption
– We use strong passwords and two-factor authentication where available
– Data is stored with reputable third-party services that meet high security standards

9. Your Rights Under GDPR

You have the right to:

– Access your personal data
– Correct inaccurate data
– Request deletion (“right to be forgotten”)
– Restrict or object to processing
– Withdraw consent at any time
– Lodge a complaint with the ICO (UK’s data authority)

To exercise your rights, email us at hello@designcove.co.uk.

10. Cookie Policy (included under Privacy)

Cookies are small files stored on your browser. We use them to:

– Analyse traffic via tools like Google Analytics
– Remember user preferences
– Track consent choices

Types of cookies we use:
– Essential cookies (e.g. security, session management)
– Performance cookies (e.g. Google Analytics – anonymised IPs)
– Functional cookies (e.g. language or layout preferences)

You can control cookies via the cookie settings banner or through your browser preferences.

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy from time to time. When we do, the updated version will be posted here with the new date at the top. Continued use of the site means you accept any changes.