Comments on: 10 tips for writing graphic design briefs http://www.davidairey.com/10-tips-for-writing-graphic-design-briefs/ Graphic designer with a passion for logos. View my logo designer portfolio and read free logo design tips from the blog. Mon, 13 Oct 2008 11:29:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: David Airey http://www.davidairey.com/10-tips-for-writing-graphic-design-briefs/#comment-96293 David Airey Tue, 24 Jun 2008 08:59:33 +0000 http://www.davidairey.com/10-tips-for-writing-graphic-design-briefs/#comment-96293 Pushingrock, Certainly, avoiding headaches is what it's all about, for all parties concerned. Mustapha, That's great you found Sharon's advice of use. Thanks for saying so. Pushingrock,

Certainly, avoiding headaches is what it’s all about, for all parties concerned.

Mustapha,

That’s great you found Sharon’s advice of use. Thanks for saying so.

]]> By: Mustapha http://www.davidairey.com/10-tips-for-writing-graphic-design-briefs/#comment-96288 Mustapha Tue, 24 Jun 2008 08:07:23 +0000 http://www.davidairey.com/10-tips-for-writing-graphic-design-briefs/#comment-96288 Great post David, Here in the MENA region design is greatly undervalued, a large chunk of all my new clients clash with at least 5 of the points you mentioned! A lot of the time they dictate and design for us as well. It's been a full time job lately educating some of my clients around the importance of the process in Logo design and the use of typography. I'm thinking I should translate those points to Arabic :) cheers, Great post David,

Here in the MENA region design is greatly undervalued, a large chunk of all my new clients clash with at least 5 of the points you mentioned! A lot of the time they dictate and design for us as well.

It’s been a full time job lately educating some of my clients around the importance of the process in Logo design and the use of typography.

I’m thinking I should translate those points to Arabic :)

cheers,

]]> By: Pushingrock http://www.davidairey.com/10-tips-for-writing-graphic-design-briefs/#comment-95652 Pushingrock Fri, 06 Jun 2008 04:26:48 +0000 http://www.davidairey.com/10-tips-for-writing-graphic-design-briefs/#comment-95652 I advocate re-writing the client brief to make sure that it is in the format that I need and addresses the questions that I have before beginning the project. That way, when you pass the revised brief to your team there is consistency -- a house briefing style, so to speak. Get the client to sign off on what YOU think the project details are and you'll avoid -- not all the time -- a good number of headaches. <em>Pushingrock's last blog post...<a href="http://pushingrock.wordpress.com/2008/05/01/in-house-survival-guide/" rel="nofollow">In-house Survival Guide</a></em> I advocate re-writing the client brief to make sure that it is in the format that I need and addresses the questions that I have before beginning the project. That way, when you pass the revised brief to your team there is consistency — a house briefing style, so to speak. Get the client to sign off on what YOU think the project details are and you’ll avoid — not all the time — a good number of headaches.

Pushingrock’s last blog post…In-house Survival Guide

]]> By: David Airey http://www.davidairey.com/10-tips-for-writing-graphic-design-briefs/#comment-95478 David Airey Wed, 04 Jun 2008 08:08:01 +0000 http://www.davidairey.com/10-tips-for-writing-graphic-design-briefs/#comment-95478 Alex, <blockquote>Communication is key.</blockquote> Well said, and thanks for dropping by. I hope all's well with you down south. Alex,

Communication is key.

Well said, and thanks for dropping by. I hope all’s well with you down south.

]]> By: Alex Peterson http://www.davidairey.com/10-tips-for-writing-graphic-design-briefs/#comment-95336 Alex Peterson Mon, 02 Jun 2008 15:53:48 +0000 http://www.davidairey.com/10-tips-for-writing-graphic-design-briefs/#comment-95336 Once the brief is written and has been agreed, this should be the hymn-sheet everyone sings to. Client: Be aware of any additional 'bits' of work you request, not originally in the brief, once work is underway. This is known as 'project creep' and frustrates even the most experienced designers. Accommodating designers will bite their tongue and say "yes, I can do that, no problem". Quite often these seemingly small tidbits of work accumulate and form quite a substantial amount in addition to what was originally agreed. So don't be surprised when eventually your frustrated designer turns around and requires additional but deserved payment. Communication is the key! Once the brief is written and has been agreed, this should be the hymn-sheet everyone sings to. Client: Be aware of any additional ‘bits’ of work you request, not originally in the brief, once work is underway. This is known as ‘project creep’ and frustrates even the most experienced designers.

Accommodating designers will bite their tongue and say “yes, I can do that, no problem”. Quite often these seemingly small tidbits of work accumulate and form quite a substantial amount in addition to what was originally agreed. So don’t be surprised when eventually your frustrated designer turns around and requires additional but deserved payment. Communication is the key!

]]> By: David Airey http://www.davidairey.com/10-tips-for-writing-graphic-design-briefs/#comment-94784 David Airey Mon, 26 May 2008 14:55:15 +0000 http://www.davidairey.com/10-tips-for-writing-graphic-design-briefs/#comment-94784 Nina, We absolutely can't expect awareness of our design process. I agree. Thanks for your $0.02. Nina,

We absolutely can’t expect awareness of our design process. I agree. Thanks for your $0.02.

]]> By: Nina http://www.davidairey.com/10-tips-for-writing-graphic-design-briefs/#comment-94492 Nina Fri, 23 May 2008 16:06:38 +0000 http://www.davidairey.com/10-tips-for-writing-graphic-design-briefs/#comment-94492 The most important thing I think as designers is not to expect the clients to be aware of the design process. It's up to us to educate them on how it will happen and what we require from them (as well as what they shouldn't expect). If possible, writing up a contract and getting it signed will save hassle later, especially with the old 'oh by the way' changes. I sometimes use a contract with a list of each stage of the design process and what will happen in it, with the requirements and signoffs needed to progress to the next stage (good for web design, grafic7). We also need to ask lots of questions and push the clients to respond, rather than just taking whatever they give us. Sometimes clients get so excited about the visual possibilities that they don't think about the other things we as designers do - ie. their markets, colour appropriation, international and cultural considerations, etc as well as all the visual. I had clients who I was doing a logo for that seemed to want completely opposing things, so I had to discuss and draw out what they really wanted, it took ages but preparation before starting is better for you in the long run! It's difficult to do this, especially with new clients. But we push on! :) I like these discussions. I hope my 2c was helpful! The most important thing I think as designers is not to expect the clients to be aware of the design process. It’s up to us to educate them on how it will happen and what we require from them (as well as what they shouldn’t expect). If possible, writing up a contract and getting it signed will save hassle later, especially with the old ‘oh by the way’ changes. I sometimes use a contract with a list of each stage of the design process and what will happen in it, with the requirements and signoffs needed to progress to the next stage (good for web design, grafic7). We also need to ask lots of questions and push the clients to respond, rather than just taking whatever they give us. Sometimes clients get so excited about the visual possibilities that they don’t think about the other things we as designers do - ie. their markets, colour appropriation, international and cultural considerations, etc as well as all the visual. I had clients who I was doing a logo for that seemed to want completely opposing things, so I had to discuss and draw out what they really wanted, it took ages but preparation before starting is better for you in the long run! It’s difficult to do this, especially with new clients.

But we push on! :) I like these discussions. I hope my 2c was helpful!

]]> By: David Airey http://www.davidairey.com/10-tips-for-writing-graphic-design-briefs/#comment-93645 David Airey Mon, 05 May 2008 08:50:42 +0000 http://www.davidairey.com/10-tips-for-writing-graphic-design-briefs/#comment-93645 grafic, It was great of Sharon to reply to the commenters. I agree. As for handling a web design project, you can use the same points. Gareth, "You know what to do". I've heard that before! As for using the article, please keep it under 15% of the content, with a link to the rest. Thanks. Amanda, You're right about the communication part. Perhaps a series of posts would be more appropriate. ;) Since taking up graphic design I've become more and more appreciative of my mind-reading skills. Without doubt. grafic,

It was great of Sharon to reply to the commenters. I agree. As for handling a web design project, you can use the same points.

Gareth,

“You know what to do”. I’ve heard that before! As for using the article, please keep it under 15% of the content, with a link to the rest. Thanks.

Amanda,

You’re right about the communication part. Perhaps a series of posts would be more appropriate. ;) Since taking up graphic design I’ve become more and more appreciative of my mind-reading skills. Without doubt.

]]> By: Amanda Vlahakis http://www.davidairey.com/10-tips-for-writing-graphic-design-briefs/#comment-93609 Amanda Vlahakis Sun, 04 May 2008 20:47:06 +0000 http://www.davidairey.com/10-tips-for-writing-graphic-design-briefs/#comment-93609 Great list. I think communication is especially important and actually could do with a blog post of it's own. Maybe I'll write that one day when I get time. I've found my most difficult projects have been where the client has resisted communicating with me. You know where attempts to garner opinions and feedback are met with barely any response and you wonder where on earth to go next with such lack of feedback. That's when the magical mind reading skills come into force ;) <em>Amanda Vlahakis's last blog post...<a href="http://trulyace.com/blog/?p=121" rel="nofollow">Corporate Greeting Card Design</a></em> Great list.

I think communication is especially important and actually could do with a blog post of it’s own. Maybe I’ll write that one day when I get time.

I’ve found my most difficult projects have been where the client has resisted communicating with me.

You know where attempts to garner opinions and feedback are met with barely any response and you wonder where on earth to go next with such lack of feedback.

That’s when the magical mind reading skills come into force ;)

Amanda Vlahakis’s last blog post…Corporate Greeting Card Design

]]> By: Dot Design http://www.davidairey.com/10-tips-for-writing-graphic-design-briefs/#comment-93522 Dot Design Sat, 03 May 2008 08:44:48 +0000 http://www.davidairey.com/10-tips-for-writing-graphic-design-briefs/#comment-93522 Good points Sharon/David. The number of times I've had to weasel more information out of clients who think a brief is saying things like "make it modern" or even "you know what to do"! Getting as good a brief as possible from clients means time saved and more time spent in the areas and on the ideas that need work and development. I'm thinking of putting together my own article as a guide and may incorporate some of these points. Would that be ok? Thanks for the info. Good points Sharon/David. The number of times I’ve had to weasel more information out of clients who think a brief is saying things like “make it modern” or even “you know what to do”!

Getting as good a brief as possible from clients means time saved and more time spent in the areas and on the ideas that need work and development. I’m thinking of putting together my own article as a guide and may incorporate some of these points. Would that be ok?
Thanks for the info.

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