Privacy Policy
Public Thinking Studio Last updated: March 30, 2026
We believe design should serve people — and that includes how we handle your information. This policy explains what we collect, why, and how we protect it. No legal theater. No buried clauses.
Who we are
Public Thinking Studio is a web design and brand strategy studio based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, operated by Leonardo Torres. Our website is publicthinking.studio. You can reach us at leo@publicthinking.studio for any privacy-related questions.
What we collect and why
Information you provide directly
When you submit a project inquiry through our contact form, we collect your name, email address, project type, estimated timeline, and project description. We use this solely to evaluate your inquiry, respond to you, and scope potential project work. We do not add you to a marketing list or share this information with third parties.
Information collected automatically
When you visit our site, certain technical data is collected to keep the site functional and secure:
Hosting and security. Our site is hosted on SiteGround, which logs standard server data including your IP address, browser type, operating system, referring URL, pages visited, and timestamps. SiteGround processes this data to maintain uptime, provide security monitoring, and deliver cached content. Their privacy policy is available at siteground.com/privacy.
Content delivery. Cloudflare provides DNS and email protection services for our site. Cloudflare may process your IP address and request metadata to route traffic and prevent abuse. Their privacy policy is available at cloudflare.com/privacypolicy.
Fonts. We load typefaces from Google Fonts and Adobe Fonts (for our brand typefaces Roca and Area Normal). When a page loads, your browser makes a request to these services, which may log your IP address. Google’s privacy policy is at policies.google.com/privacy.
Avatars. WordPress uses Gravatar to display user avatars in administrative areas. If you interact with the site in a way that triggers Gravatar, your email hash may be sent to Automattic’s servers. Their privacy policy is at automattic.com/privacy.
Accessibility widget. We use Elementor’s accessibility widget (Ally) to offer tools like text resizing, contrast adjustment, and reading aids. This widget stores your accessibility preferences locally in your browser. No accessibility preference data is sent to our servers or to Elementor.
SEO and structured data. We use RankMath to manage on-page SEO and generate structured data (schema markup). RankMath operates server-side and does not collect visitor data directly.
Cookies
Our site uses the following cookies:
Strictly necessary cookies. WordPress sets session cookies (e.g., wordpress_test_cookie) to manage basic site functionality. SiteGround may set caching cookies to serve pages faster. These are essential for the site to work and cannot be disabled.
Accessibility preferences. The Elementor accessibility widget stores your text size, contrast, and other display preferences in your browser’s local storage. This data stays on your device.
We do not use advertising cookies, tracking pixels, retargeting scripts, or behavioral analytics tools. We do not run Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel, Hotjar, or similar services.
How we use your information
We use the information described above for these purposes only:
- Responding to project inquiries and scoping potential work
- Communicating about active or past projects
- Maintaining site security, performance, and uptime
- Delivering accessible, properly formatted web pages
- Fulfilling legal obligations if required
We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. We do not use your data for automated decision-making or profiling.
Who we share data with
We share your information only with the service providers necessary to operate our site and business:
- SiteGround — web hosting and server infrastructure
- Cloudflare — DNS routing and email protection
- Google Fonts / Adobe Fonts — typeface delivery
- Automattic (Gravatar) — avatar display (administrative only)
- Email provider — to send and receive project correspondence
We do not share your data with marketing platforms, data brokers, advertising networks, or any third party for purposes unrelated to delivering our services.
Data retention
Contact form submissions are retained for the duration of any active project relationship and for up to 24 months after our last communication, unless you request earlier deletion.
Server logs are retained by SiteGround according to their standard retention schedule, typically 30 days.
Accessibility preferences persist in your browser until you clear your local storage or reset them through the accessibility widget.
Your rights
Depending on your location, you may have the right to:
- Access the personal data we hold about you
- Correct inaccurate information
- Delete your data from our systems
- Withdraw consent for any processing based on consent
- Object to specific uses of your data
- Request portability of your data in a structured format
To exercise any of these rights, email us at leo@publicthinking.studio. We will respond within 30 days.
California residents
If you are a California resident, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) grants you additional rights. We do not sell personal information as defined by the CCPA. You have the right to know what data we collect, request its deletion, and not face discrimination for exercising your rights. To make a request, contact us at leo@publicthinking.studio.
Children’s privacy
Our services are not directed at individuals under 16. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has submitted information through our site, contact us and we will delete it promptly.
Security
We use SSL/TLS encryption (HTTPS) on all pages, SiteGround’s server-level security including firewall protection and malware scanning, regular WordPress core and plugin updates, and strong access controls on administrative accounts. No system is perfectly secure, but we take reasonable measures to protect the data entrusted to us.
Changes to this policy
If we make material changes to how we handle your data, we will update this page and revise the “Last updated” date above. For significant changes, we may also note the update on our homepage.
Contact
Public Thinking Studio Grand Rapids, Michigan
Email: leot@publicthinking.studio Website: publicthinking.studio
Terms of Service
Public Thinking Studio Last updated: March 30, 2026
These terms govern your use of publicthinking.studio and outline the framework for working with Public Thinking Studio. By using this website, you agree to these terms. If you don’t agree, please don’t use the site.
For project-specific terms (scope, deliverables, timelines, payment), those are defined in a separate project agreement provided before any work begins.
About these terms
Public Thinking Studio (“the Studio,” “we,” “us”) is a web design and brand strategy studio based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, operated by Leonardo Torres. These terms apply to all visitors of publicthinking.studio and to prospective and current clients who interact with us through this site.
Use of this website
You may browse this site, submit project inquiries through our contact form, and reference our published content for personal or professional evaluation. You agree not to:
- Attempt to access restricted areas, administrative panels, or server infrastructure
- Introduce malicious code, scripts, or automated tools that interfere with site operation
- Scrape, crawl, or systematically download content from the site without written permission
- Misrepresent your identity or affiliation when submitting an inquiry
- Use the site in any way that violates applicable law
We reserve the right to restrict access to any visitor who violates these terms.
Project inquiries
Submitting a project inquiry through our contact form does not create a contractual obligation for either party. It initiates a conversation. Project terms, scope, deliverables, timelines, and pricing are established in a separate written agreement (a project proposal or statement of work) that both parties must sign before any paid work begins.
Estimates provided through our project estimator or in conversation are starting ranges, not binding quotes. Final pricing is confirmed in the signed project agreement.
Project agreements
All client engagements are governed by a project agreement that covers scope of work, deliverables and timeline, payment terms and schedule, revision process, intellectual property transfer, and cancellation terms.
If there is any conflict between these general terms and a signed project agreement, the project agreement takes precedence.
Intellectual property
Our work for you
Upon full payment, you receive ownership of the final deliverables as specified in your project agreement. This typically includes website design files, brand identity assets, and associated production files. The specific transfer of rights is defined in each project agreement.
We retain the right to display completed work in our portfolio, on our website, and in marketing materials unless you request otherwise in writing before project kickoff.
Our intellectual property
The following remain the property of Public Thinking Studio: our proprietary design processes, frameworks, and methodologies; reusable code libraries, templates, or components not custom-built for your project; the Public Thinking Studio name, logo, and brand assets; and the content, design, and structure of publicthinking.studio.
Third-party assets
Projects may incorporate third-party tools, fonts, plugins, or media that are subject to their own license terms. We will identify any third-party dependencies in your project deliverables and ensure they are properly licensed for your use.
Your content
You retain ownership of all content you provide to us (text, images, brand materials, data). By providing this content, you confirm that you have the right to use it and grant us permission to incorporate it into your project deliverables.
Payment terms
Payment terms are defined in your project agreement. General principles:
- We require a deposit before work begins, typically 50% of the project total
- Milestone payments are tied to deliverable approvals
- Final payment is due before launch or delivery of final files
- Retainer services are billed monthly in advance
- Late payments may result in paused work or suspended services
We do not store credit card information on our servers. Payment processing is handled through secure third-party providers.
Revisions and approvals
Each project agreement specifies the number of revision rounds included. Revisions beyond the agreed scope may be billed at our standard hourly rate, which is communicated before any additional work begins. We will never bill for out-of-scope work without your prior written approval.
Approval at each milestone indicates your acceptance of the work completed to that point. Changes to previously approved work may be treated as new scope.
Retainer services
Retainer plans (The Vault, The Studio, The Lab) are billed monthly. Unused hours or services do not roll over between months unless otherwise stated in your agreement. Either party may cancel a retainer with 30 days’ written notice. Upon cancellation, any prepaid balance for unused service days will be refunded proportionally.
Warranties and disclaimers
We take pride in our work and stand behind its quality. However:
- We deliver websites and design systems as-is upon final approval. We do not guarantee specific business outcomes (rankings, inquiry volume, or growth metrics) from our work.
- We build to current web standards and test across modern browsers, but we cannot guarantee flawless performance on every device, browser version, or network condition.
- We provide WCAG 2.1 AA compliance at the time of delivery. Accessibility compliance may be affected by content changes made after handoff.
- Third-party platforms (WordPress, hosting providers, plugin developers) operate independently. We are not responsible for changes, outages, or security issues caused by third-party software outside our retainer scope.
To the maximum extent permitted by law, we disclaim all implied warranties, including warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement.
Limitation of liability
To the maximum extent permitted by law, Public Thinking Studio’s total liability for any claim arising from our services is limited to the total fees you paid us for the specific project or service in question.
We are not liable for indirect, incidental, consequential, or punitive damages, including but not limited to lost revenue, lost data, or business interruption — regardless of whether we were advised of the possibility of such damages.
This limitation applies to all claims, whether based in contract, tort, negligence, strict liability, or any other legal theory.
Cancellation and termination
By you. You may cancel a project at any time by providing written notice. You are responsible for payment for all work completed up to the cancellation date. Deposits are non-refundable once work has begun, unless otherwise specified in your project agreement.
By us. We reserve the right to terminate a project if payment terms are not met after reasonable notice, if the working relationship becomes untenable despite good-faith efforts to resolve issues, or if continuing the project would require us to violate our ethical standards. In the event we terminate, you will receive all completed work and a prorated refund for any undelivered scope.
Confidentiality
We treat your business information, strategy, and project details as confidential. We will not share confidential information with third parties except as necessary to deliver your project (for example, with a hosting provider during site deployment).
Confidentiality does not extend to information that is publicly available, information you authorize us to share, or the existence of our working relationship (unless you request otherwise in writing).
Indemnification
You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Public Thinking Studio from claims, damages, or expenses arising from content you provide that infringes on third-party rights, your use of deliverables in ways not authorized by the project agreement, or your violation of applicable law.
Governing law and disputes
These terms are governed by the laws of the State of Michigan. Any disputes will first be addressed through good-faith negotiation. If negotiation fails, disputes will be resolved through binding arbitration in Grand Rapids, Michigan, under the rules of the American Arbitration Association.
Accessibility
We are committed to making this website accessible. Our site is built to WCAG 2.1 AA standards and includes an accessibility widget for personalized display preferences. If you encounter an accessibility barrier, please contact us at leo@publicthinking.studio and we will work to resolve it.
Changes to these terms
We may update these terms to reflect changes in our services, legal requirements, or business practices. The “Last updated” date at the top of this page reflects the most recent revision. Continued use of the site after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the updated terms.
Contact
Public Thinking Studio Grand Rapids, Michigan
Email: leo@publicthinking.studio Website: publicthinking.studio