Terms and Conditions

Last Updated: 29 OCtober 2025

Welcome to Alongside Design. These Terms and Conditions (“Terms”) govern your use of our website (https://alongsidedesign.co.nz/) and the purchase of our products. By accessing or using our website or purchasing our products, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree, please refrain from using our website.

1. General Information

Business Details:

Governing Law: These Terms are governed by the laws of New Zealand. Any disputes will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of New Zealand courts. Compliance with other jurisdictions may vary; customers are responsible for understanding and adhering to their local laws.

2. Mental Health Disclaimer

IMPORTANT: Please read this section carefully.

Not Professional Mental Health Services: Alongside Design journals are self-guided tools for personal reflection, growth, and wellbeing. They are NOT therapy, counseling, medical treatment, or professional mental health services of any kind.

Our Products Are:

  • Based on general psychological and neuroscience research
  • Designed to support personal reflection and self-care practices
  • Intended to complement (not replace) professional mental health care
  • Suitable for personal use as journaling and self-reflection tools

Our Products Are NOT:

  • A substitute for professional mental health treatment, therapy, or medical advice
  • Tailored to your specific mental health needs or circumstances
  • Intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any mental health condition
  • Suitable as crisis intervention or emergency mental health support
  • Medical devices or therapeutic interventions

When to Seek Professional Help:

If you are experiencing any of the following, please seek immediate help from a qualified mental health professional or emergency services:

  • Thoughts of self-harm or suicide
  • Symptoms that interfere with daily functioning
  • Mental health crisis or emergency
  • Severe anxiety, depression, or other mental health symptoms

New Zealand Crisis Resources:

  • Lifeline: 0800 543 354 (24/7)
  • 1737: Free call or text (24/7)
  • Samaritans: 0800 726 666 (24/7)
  • Depression Helpline: 0800 111 757
  • In an emergency: Call 111

No Guarantees of Outcomes: We make no representations, warranties, or guarantees about the outcomes, results, or benefits you may experience from using our journals. Individual results will vary based on many personal factors including consistency of use, individual circumstances, existing support systems, and personal mental health status.

Assumption of Risk: By purchasing and using our products, you acknowledge and accept that you are using them at your own risk. You understand that our journals are tools for personal reflection and are not a replacement for professional mental health care.

No Professional Relationship: Use of our journals does not create any professional relationship (therapist-client, doctor-patient, counselor-client, or otherwise) between you and Alongside Design or its founder.

3. Products and Orders

Products: We offer printed journals designed by Alongside Design and produced through print-on-demand services. All designs, content, and prompts are created by Alongside Design.

Print-on-Demand Nature: Our journals are printed only after you place an order. This sustainable approach means:

  • Production begins after order confirmation
  • Slight variations in print quality may occur between batches
  • We cannot offer previews or samples of specific print runs
  • Products cannot be returned for minor printing variations that don’t affect usability

Order Processing:

  • Orders are processed within 48 hours of payment confirmation
  • You will receive an order confirmation email upon successful purchase
  • Cancellation requests are accepted within 24 hours of purchase and must be sent to hello@alongsidedesign.co.nz
  • After 24 hours, orders cannot be cancelled as production will have commenced

Pricing and Payment:

  • All prices are listed in NZD (New Zealand Dollars)
  • We accept payments via major credit cards through our secure payment processor (Stripe)
  • Prices are subject to change without notice, but confirmed orders honor the price at time of purchase
  • Additional charges such as taxes, customs fees, or duties may apply depending on your location and are the sole responsibility of the customer

Order Accuracy: You are responsible for providing accurate shipping and billing information. Alongside Design is not responsible for orders sent to incorrect addresses provided by the customer.

4. Shipping Policy

Shipping Destinations: We offer worldwide shipping except to the following countries/territories:

  • Belarus, Region of Crimea, Cuba, Iran, Johnston Island, North Korea, Russia, Saint Pierre et Miquelon, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Republic of Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Wake Islands, Yemen Arab Republic, Venezuela

Shipping Costs:

  • Flat rate: NZD $10 per order
  • Free shipping on orders over NZD $80

Delivery Time:

  • Estimated delivery: 2-4 weeks from order date
  • Delivery times may vary significantly based on destination, customs processing, and external factors beyond our control
  • We are not responsible for delays caused by postal services, customs, natural disasters, pandemics, or other force majeure events

Tracking: Tracking information will be provided when available, but not all shipping methods include tracking.

Delays and Customs Fees:

  • Customers are solely responsible for any customs fees, duties, import taxes, or other charges imposed by their country
  • Alongside Design has no control over these fees and cannot predict them
  • We are not liable for delays caused by customs, postal strikes, or other external factors
  • Non-delivery due to customs rejection or unpaid fees does not entitle you to a refund

Lost or Stolen Packages: Once a package is marked as delivered by the shipping carrier, Alongside Design is not responsible for lost or stolen packages. We recommend using a secure delivery address.

5. Refunds and Returns

Change of Mind: Due to the custom print-on-demand nature of our products, we do not offer refunds or returns for change of mind after the 24-hour cancellation window.

Defective Products:

  • If your product is defective (e.g., pages missing, significant printing errors, binding failures), contact us at hello@alongsidedesign.co.nz within 60 days of purchase
  • You must provide: order number, clear photographs showing the defect, and description of the issue
  • Upon review and approval, we will issue a refund or replacement at our discretion
  • “Defective” does not include minor print variations, slight color differences, or normal wear from use

Damaged During Transit:

  • If your product arrives damaged, contact us within 14 days with photos of the damaged packaging and product
  • We will work with you to resolve the issue, either through refund or replacement
  • Claims must be made within 14 days of delivery; late claims may not be accepted

Consumer Guarantees Act (NZ): Nothing in these Terms limits your rights under the New Zealand Consumer Guarantees Act 1993. If our products are not of acceptable quality, do not match their description, or are not fit for purpose, you have rights to a remedy.

6. Intellectual Property

Copyright: All designs, text, content, prompts, and graphics on our website and in our journals are the intellectual property of Alongside Design and are protected by New Zealand and international copyright laws.

Research Attribution: Information in our journals is based on curated research from publicly available sources. Where applicable, we cite sources and synthesize information for educational purposes under fair use principles.

Your License: When you purchase a journal, you receive a personal, non-transferable license to use it for your own individual journaling purposes only.

Prohibited Uses: You may not:

  • Reproduce, copy, or redistribute our journal designs or content
  • Create derivative works based on our designs
  • Use our content for commercial purposes
  • Share digital copies of our journals
  • Remove copyright notices from our products
  • Resell our journals (except as a legitimate second-hand sale of a physical copy you own)

Trademark: “Alongside Design” and associated logos are trademarks of Alongside Design. Unauthorized use is prohibited.

Third-Party Content: Some images on our website are sourced from Unsplash and used under their license. These images remain the property of their respective creators.

7. Website Use and Prohibited Activities

Users of our website agree to use it lawfully and are prohibited from:

Fraudulent Activities:

  • Using stolen credit cards or false payment information
  • Providing false information during checkout
  • Placing fraudulent orders or chargebacks

Technical Interference:

  • Attempting to gain unauthorized access to our website or systems
  • Introducing viruses, malware, or harmful code
  • Attempting to disrupt website operations or security
  • Using automated systems (bots, scrapers) without permission

Content Misuse:

  • Copying, reproducing, or redistributing website content without permission
  • Using our content for commercial purposes without authorization
  • Impersonating Alongside Design or making false claims about association with us

Violation Consequences: We reserve the right to terminate your access to our website and refuse service for violation of these terms. We may also pursue legal action for fraudulent or illegal activities.

8. Discounts and Promotions

Terms of Promotions:

  • Expiry dates will be clearly stated on all promotions
  • Discounts cannot be combined with other offers unless explicitly stated
  • Discount codes are for single use unless otherwise specified
  • We reserve the right to cancel or modify promotions at any time
  • Promotions are subject to stock availability

Sale Items: Items purchased with discounts or during sales are final sale unless defective.

9. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by New Zealand law:

We Are Not Liable For:

Mental Health Outcomes:

  • Any mental health outcomes, whether positive or negative, from using our journals
  • Worsening of mental health symptoms
  • Decisions or actions taken based on journal prompts or content
  • Delays in seeking professional help while using our journals
  • Any harm arising from using our journals instead of or in addition to professional care

Product and Service Issues:

  • Delays or disruptions caused by third-party services (couriers, payment processors, printers)
  • Errors, omissions, or inaccuracies on the website
  • Lost, stolen, or undelivered packages after carrier marks them as delivered
  • Customs delays, rejections, or fees
  • Print variations that don’t affect functionality
  • Dissatisfaction with journal content or prompts

General Limitations:

  • Indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages
  • Loss of profits, revenue, data, or business opportunities
  • Personal injury or emotional distress
  • Any damages exceeding the amount you paid for the product

Maximum Liability: In any event, our total liability to you for any claims arising from your use of our products or website shall not exceed the amount you paid for the specific product giving rise to the claim.

Your Responsibility: You accept full responsibility for:

  • Seeking professional help when needed
  • Your own mental health care decisions
  • Assessing whether our journals are appropriate for your needs
  • Any outcomes from using our journals
  • Complying with customs requirements for international orders

Acknowledgment: By purchasing our products, you acknowledge that you have read this limitation of liability section and agree to its terms.

10. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Alongside Design, its founder, employees, contractors, and affiliates from any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, and expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising from:

  • Your use or misuse of our products
  • Your violation of these Terms
  • Your violation of any rights of another party
  • Any false or misleading information you provide
  • Your failure to seek professional help when needed

11. Dispute Resolution

Informal Resolution: For any disputes, we encourage you to first contact us at hello@alongsidedesign.co.nz to resolve the matter amicably. We commit to responding to all concerns within 7 business days.

Formal Resolution: If a dispute cannot be resolved informally, it will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of New Zealand courts under New Zealand law.

No Class Actions: You agree to resolve disputes on an individual basis and waive any right to participate in class action lawsuits.

12. Changes to These Terms

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. Changes will be effective immediately upon posting on our website with an updated “Last Updated” date. Your continued use of the website or purchase of products after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.

Material Changes: For significant changes that affect your rights, we will make reasonable efforts to notify you via email (if we have your email address) or prominent notice on our website.

13. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable or invalid by a court, that provision shall be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary, and the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.

14. Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy and Shipping & Returns Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and Alongside Design regarding your use of our website and products.

15. Contact Us

For questions, concerns, or to exercise your rights:

Acknowledgment: By using our website or purchasing our products, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions.