A brief is fundamentally the most important starting point for any design project, the design can only be as good as the design that we work from. The best design comes from briefs which are open enough to allow for creativity yet still specific enough to give them a workable feeling.
This is why it’s always best to make sure we formalise the briefing process so that we are all singing of the same hymn sheet and I have something to refer to whilst working on the project. It’s certainly not something that is here as unnecessary red tape, it’s there to make sure I can give you the very best value for money for my service.
A few useful tips for briefing me (and any designer for that matter):
1. Think about the message of the design.
Offer guidance to help me marry the “look” of the item with the “voice” of the copy.
2. Don’t prescribe solutions.
You are paying for my ideas, so avoid the temptation to tell me what to do. Instead, be clear about what the item needs to achieve, so I can explore ideas. This is where you need the my expertise.
It’s rarely a good idea to give me a mocked up layout – otherwise I may simply follow your instructions which are not necessarily making the best use of the space.
3. Do your scheduling before you brief me.
Make sure you schedule the whole project before you brief me, incorporating appropriate feedback and incubation stages. Ask your me to inform you in advance if deadlines or set budgets are unrealistic.
4. Formalize design briefing.
Carefully word your brief in an email or as a front page to your copy, and use this as a reference point when we meet or chat on the phone. Always brief me face-to-face, or on the phone for smaller projects.
I have tried to make it an easy process for you to send me a brief by using a brief for logos and a brief for design.
Simply follow the links below to send me a design brief for your project:
