I think, if I understand correctly, that there's a different context around the idea of a transformation, over a redesign. A redesign falls more in line with the idea of a 'retcon' or a reset, whereas a transformation has a wider range of possibilities surrounding it.
I tend to get more motivated about the fun or kinky ideas that occupy the space around commissions, as well as the actual artistic process of putting them together. You fill that space nicely! both very competent, quick, and able to generate your own ideas around what premise I give you.
That's where I would say the difference lies.

Context wise i understand it as well. But if it comes to copyright topic and design effort...what do you think of this?

I think a redesign is something more fundamental than a transformation. If I redesign a character, then it's not usually because I want to see them as another species, or see them as a female, which may happen in a transformation sketch.
It's usually because something has changed in the character, and I want that to be expressed in a way that requires me to go to the root of the character and poke around at their design from there.
The five-part transformations I get with you, are normally exploiting a fundamental weakness in my characters. Iz needs sexual attention from Men, what would it be like if she was led to becoming a bimbo?
Oscar is obsessive and neurotic, what if he just vented all that energy into getting swole? Would that fix him, or turn him into a Himbo?
These certainly aren't redesigns, the characters are springboards for these transformations.
I think I reserve 'redesign' for some sort of building block narrative craft, which is less likely to trigger copyright unless you take very close inspiration of your redesign from some other intellectual property.

ty so much! >< it helped quite a lot!

well when I hear term 'redesign' im thinking of someone updating their sona looks
when I hear term 'transformation' im thinking of just alt picture with sona look after transformation and even if its only one picture, this term causes, at least for me, to picture in my head the transformation process

So far i understand the process of transformation behind the even single (result) picture. But from technical point of view isn't it a new design for future usage? For example it could be used for another transformation or other commission pieces with transformed design?
So does it mean the transformation must be kinda "one time use" alt design of character?

no obviously not haha, its just that when I hear tf I think of something like 'noncanon version of my oc in whose universe something caused it to change form' but obviously its yo art you can do anything with it lol

that doesnt mean that anyone has to apply such rules and if I would have artpiece of my sona transforming and would have an idead for a tf for that existing tf I would not do that cuz of some rules, because such rules dont even exist haha

Ye never heard of "one time design usage" or something as well and tbh it sounds inhumane. But i was just curious how it supposed to work if TF alt can be used as reference sheet as well.
Let's imagine situation:
1) you commissioned OC design from artist A (you don't own copyright on OC)
2) then you commissioned TF ver from artist B
3) now you decided to use TF ver for commerical purposes
So question: do you have to pay only original artist ( artist A) to receive copyright for OC commercialization or you also should pay artist B for it as well since you want to use exactly TF ver for commercial purposes?

oh thats a tough nut to crack haha, well if someone pulled some stunt on you like that then good luck, cuz i dont think its legally standarized and you have to prove yourself that your intellectual property was damaged. So I dont think entire community can give you the same answer cuz as I said, these kind of topics are very vague and unstandarized. You can literally see it for example on e6 where 90% of submissions usually have wrong tags added.

ty so much and yee i think you are right - there's no proper answer to this question
Since answer will be very much depend on country of artist [copyright owner] and even country of OC's owner as well
Anyways it was cool to discuss! it brought up some interesting thoughts ^^

It would be reasonable to add an extra charge for designing the final form if there's no existing reference and substantial work involved. IE you might want to add a €30-75 charge for an entirely new design, but it wouldn't make sense if they gave you a reference for the dragon form, or some existing Pokemon or something.

Now if they want a full reference for the dragon form, you could instead of adding the charge do a reference commission first.

Good point!

that's a good point! I agree - there's no point to charge for design if there's already at least one pic of "transformed" ver exists. So i don't have to spend my "design" brain capacity for this

In my personal opinion the transformation is the process.
sometimes i like the idea of post tf for my character, use her themes in another form, now one can argue that is making a new character, redesigning her or something, but the main thing is that its using existing features and not being to specific on the outcomes apart from like a features, e,g, horns gentials or foe some people paws.

it crosses into redesign, when someone treat it like a ref sheet, e.g. i was this exact distinct part redesigned into this or that instead of could you keep the horns or turn them into a typical version of another.

now weather they can se this idea else where, honestly i say they can, if someone got you to copy an outfit, they would be able to use it again.

now i should mention a certain kink related to transformation which
generalization tf , it short wantign to be a generic version of something , similar to identity play, however you get the fun problem when artist want you to define everything about the character when all you want is either a trope or random.

First of all thank you so much for such detailed answer with examples!

I would like to ask a question to create a situation to make sure i understood you if that's okay ^^

1) So you want to TF your OC
2A) you come to artist and basically give like very simple description with a lot of artistic freedom for an artist?
For example: Hey pls turn my anthro wolf into feral dragon but please keep some similarity in colors and leave this particular (horns) detail from original design
2B) Or is the point to downgrade individuality of your character into common shape leaving it fully to artist's perception?
Example: hey can you turn my OC into Vaporeon by erasing my OC's individuality leaving only like 30% of it's original design

Personally i never thought of it!!
"now i should mention a certain kink related to transformation which
generalization tf , it short wantign to be a generic version of something , similar to identity play, however you get the fun problem when artist want you to define everything about the character when all you want is either a trope or random."

Thank you so much for sharing!! that's might be a key answer for me to decide if it's a redesign or transformation!!!

Both are valid option and i have done both many a time,

I think that transformation is temporary (or occassional, like werewolves transforming every full moon), while redesign is with more permanent intent?

ty very much for answer ^^

the ref usually contains extra material and has to be a completely generic pose that show offs specific parts for the artusts to use aa reference

the post-tf tf pic can have some kind of pose you want but no additional stuff like a colour wheel and specific parts concealed that can cause issue if an artist has to use it in the future.

the reference would have your character standing, so that an artist can see the back and belly well enough, the post tf pic could have tge dreagon laying down on his back, thus an artist will need external informatuons for how the back looks.

additonally, if the post-tf pic is meant to be one-thing only deal, then you are probably gonna make the design a little crazier than in the ref, mainly cuz complex designs are a strain to artists who eventually charge for more.

Thank you very much! It is indeed quite technical description!