Comments on: How do you write a design brief? http://www.davidairey.com/how-do-you-write-a-graphic-design-brief/ David is a graphic designer passionate about brand identity. Here's his portfolio and a wonderful community of 15,000+ designers reading his blog. Mon, 15 Mar 2010 11:50:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: David Airey http://www.davidairey.com/how-do-you-write-a-graphic-design-brief/comment-page-2/#comment-127010 David Airey Fri, 05 Feb 2010 12:44:56 +0000 http://www.davidairey.com/how-do-you-write-a-graphic-design-brief/#comment-127010 Nice thoughts, Carolina. Something I've not tried before, so thanks for sharing. Nice thoughts, Carolina. Something I’ve not tried before, so thanks for sharing.

]]> By: Carolina http://www.davidairey.com/how-do-you-write-a-graphic-design-brief/comment-page-2/#comment-126988 Carolina Thu, 04 Feb 2010 21:13:51 +0000 http://www.davidairey.com/how-do-you-write-a-graphic-design-brief/#comment-126988 Whenever I´m designing a brand identity, I ask my clients: If your (name of the new company or product) was a person, how would it be? (I encourage them to describe that person physically, emotionally, as well as the activities, dressing, age and gender) It has helped me a lot to visualize the concepts in my head. Still, I have to be careful to notice if the client is describing him or herself, and if their description matches the target market, objectives and values to be projected. I hope it helps, and please tell me if you have any suggestions or comments about this. Whenever I´m designing a brand identity, I ask my clients:

If your (name of the new company or product) was a person, how would it be?
(I encourage them to describe that person physically, emotionally, as well as the activities, dressing, age and gender)

It has helped me a lot to visualize the concepts in my head.

Still, I have to be careful to notice if the client is describing him or herself, and if their description matches the target market, objectives and values to be projected.

I hope it helps, and please tell me if you have any suggestions or comments about this.

]]> By: David Airey http://www.davidairey.com/how-do-you-write-a-graphic-design-brief/comment-page-2/#comment-124475 David Airey Sun, 01 Nov 2009 21:33:45 +0000 http://www.davidairey.com/how-do-you-write-a-graphic-design-brief/#comment-124475 That's a good point, Chaten (about making your questions clear and concise). I've had clients tell me on a number of occasions that some the questions I asked were unclear, and it's always worth remembering that you aren't talking to a designer. Use of jargon is to be avoided at all costs. That’s a good point, Chaten (about making your questions clear and concise). I’ve had clients tell me on a number of occasions that some the questions I asked were unclear, and it’s always worth remembering that you aren’t talking to a designer. Use of jargon is to be avoided at all costs.

]]> By: Chaten http://www.davidairey.com/how-do-you-write-a-graphic-design-brief/comment-page-2/#comment-124144 Chaten Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:28:13 +0000 http://www.davidairey.com/how-do-you-write-a-graphic-design-brief/#comment-124144 I usually provide the client with a brief to fill out and one of the most important details i have on it is: Instructions on how to fill it out! The instructions deal with the variables such as partners, board of directors and even spouses when filling out briefs. They all have different views and opinions giving different answers for a single brief which in the end leads to a confused brief with no direction. I usually provide the client with a brief to fill out and one of the most important details i have on it is:

Instructions on how to fill it out!

The instructions deal with the variables such as partners, board of directors and even spouses when filling out briefs. They all have different views and opinions giving different answers for a single brief which in the end leads to a confused brief with no direction.

]]> By: David Airey http://www.davidairey.com/how-do-you-write-a-graphic-design-brief/comment-page-2/#comment-117261 David Airey Thu, 20 Aug 2009 10:28:32 +0000 http://www.davidairey.com/how-do-you-write-a-graphic-design-brief/#comment-117261 You're very welcome, Fernando. You’re very welcome, Fernando.

]]> By: Fernando Perez http://www.davidairey.com/how-do-you-write-a-graphic-design-brief/comment-page-2/#comment-116951 Fernando Perez Wed, 19 Aug 2009 00:45:13 +0000 http://www.davidairey.com/how-do-you-write-a-graphic-design-brief/#comment-116951 Hi David, I read your blog constantly and I want to tell you that it's great and extremely useful. I just started freelancing and just this past week I had two opportunities with new clients and I've been following your advice on how to deal with them. I replied to one client with sort of a design brief - It would have been very useful if I had read this article before I sent it! I think is very important having a brief detailing how the work is going to be done, questions for the client because it shows professionalism, it benefits both the designer and client and I guess as a designer we will realise if it is a potential client or they are not being serious about the work they want. Thanks for your articles they are very inspiring. Hi David,

I read your blog constantly and I want to tell you that it’s great and extremely useful.

I just started freelancing and just this past week I had two opportunities with new clients and I’ve been following your advice on how to deal with them.

I replied to one client with sort of a design brief – It would have been very useful if I had read this article before I sent it!

I think is very important having a brief detailing how the work is going to be done, questions for the client because it shows professionalism, it benefits both the designer and client and I guess as a designer we will realise if it is a potential client or they are not being serious about the work they want.

Thanks for your articles they are very inspiring.

]]> By: David Airey http://www.davidairey.com/how-do-you-write-a-graphic-design-brief/comment-page-2/#comment-115311 David Airey Mon, 06 Jul 2009 11:11:39 +0000 http://www.davidairey.com/how-do-you-write-a-graphic-design-brief/#comment-115311 It's a pleasure, Vanessa. All the very best with your studies. It’s a pleasure, Vanessa. All the very best with your studies.

]]> By: Vanessa Tran http://www.davidairey.com/how-do-you-write-a-graphic-design-brief/comment-page-2/#comment-115239 Vanessa Tran Fri, 03 Jul 2009 04:55:34 +0000 http://www.davidairey.com/how-do-you-write-a-graphic-design-brief/#comment-115239 Hi David, I've had some people approach me without any clear vision of what they want for their upcoming project - yet they want a design and they want it NOW. I think it's important to realise that we shouldn't be designing things for everyone simply for design's sake. (Unfortunately, those potential clients never ended up following through with their ventures...) Anyway, I'm a student still in working progress, and you're an inspiration to me. Thanks for writing this article! Hi David,

I’ve had some people approach me without any clear vision of what they want for their upcoming project – yet they want a design and they want it NOW.

I think it’s important to realise that we shouldn’t be designing things for everyone simply for design’s sake.

(Unfortunately, those potential clients never ended up following through with their ventures…)

Anyway, I’m a student still in working progress, and you’re an inspiration to me. Thanks for writing this article!

]]> By: David Airey http://www.davidairey.com/how-do-you-write-a-graphic-design-brief/comment-page-2/#comment-114294 David Airey Tue, 26 May 2009 10:39:09 +0000 http://www.davidairey.com/how-do-you-write-a-graphic-design-brief/#comment-114294 Thanks for sharing your own thoughts, Jane. I agree. A design brief is an ideal way to keep the client focused on what they need. Thanks for sharing your own thoughts, Jane. I agree. A design brief is an ideal way to keep the client focused on what they need.

]]> By: Jane http://www.davidairey.com/how-do-you-write-a-graphic-design-brief/comment-page-2/#comment-113904 Jane Wed, 13 May 2009 23:35:09 +0000 http://www.davidairey.com/how-do-you-write-a-graphic-design-brief/#comment-113904 Hi, Great to write about this subject. My own brief goes into a bit more detail and I tailor it to the type of project. I have one for web, one for general design projects and one for logos. Anyone who doesn't use a brief is really nuts. And I have been pushed on occasion to begin a project when the brief is incomplete, contradictory in some way or too general. I have refused on occasion to move forward. But it's hard to convince some clients until you get in there with concepts that aren't working. Even with one, I have had mystery people appear mid way through with different ideas, or a key piece of information is introduced. At least with a brief you can say "didn't you say THIS was a key attribute?" for example. It doesn't fix everything but at least the client knows they're responsible in some way, not to mention that you actually use the brief for designing. As for budgets, I try to say that I don't base my cost on budgets but that I need to know if it will be a good fit. Not to price up to the budget limit. Some organizations are refreshingly transparent. This is likely because they have actually planned a budget based on known factors. Hi,
Great to write about this subject. My own brief goes into a bit more detail and I tailor it to the type of project. I have one for web, one for general design projects and one for logos.

Anyone who doesn’t use a brief is really nuts. And I have been pushed on occasion to begin a project when the brief is incomplete, contradictory in some way or too general. I have refused on occasion to move forward. But it’s hard to convince some clients until you get in there with concepts that aren’t working.

Even with one, I have had mystery people appear mid way through with different ideas, or a key piece of information is introduced. At least with a brief you can say “didn’t you say THIS was a key attribute?” for example. It doesn’t fix everything but at least the client knows they’re responsible in some way, not to mention that you actually use the brief for designing.

As for budgets, I try to say that I don’t base my cost on budgets but that I need to know if it will be a good fit. Not to price up to the budget limit. Some organizations are refreshingly transparent. This is likely because they have actually planned a budget based on known factors.

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