Comments on: Why is a Good Design Brief so Important?

By: Grace Chau

Grace Chau — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 01:01:17 +0000

A good solid design brief is so important, but with small businesses they often just don’t have the time to produce one or understand the importance of it. They often just needs things out the door without being strategic. It’s a big challenge!

By: Trevor Collins

Trevor Collins — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 17:33:32 +0000

I don’t know how many times I have had to deal with customers who don not knot what they want but sure know what they do not like once you have presented it to them. Whats worse on rare occasions they they think you are a poor designer!

I really do like the idea of getting the client to sign the design brief notes I make.

Trevor.

By: polet

polet — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 07:08:32 +0000

Graphic brief is nice though we must be choosy on words we use in order to be effective.

By: web design newbie

web design newbie — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 19:26:01 +0000

This is one of my biggest gripes with clients. The don’t know what they like but when you give them something, that takes hours to do and all of a sudden they know exactly what they like. As designers we visualise and that is why we do what we do and our clients don’t

By: Lucinda Thompson

Lucinda Thompson — Tue, 20 May 2008 21:08:16 +0000

I agree that getting a decent brief from your client is crucial and I can usually obtain this over a cup of coffee and a fondant fancy with them (followed up by a signed summary). However if they are unable to meet and discuss their project I find it difficult to get them to answer any questions, even if it’s just three or four. I sometimes have to send another gentle email mentioning that a good brief can save them time and money allowing me to have more insight into their objectives – this usually does the trick. I have come to the conclusion that people who are reluctant to answer questions about their project are possibly wasting my time.

By: Another way to get inside a client’s head at Randa Clay Design

Another way to get inside a client’s head at Randa Clay Design — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 19:41:12 +0000

[...] though. Conceptual ideas are often difficult to put into words. Obviously, a good brief is an essential part of the design process. There are plenty of articles out there about how to get a good design brief from a client. Two of [...]

By: davejohnsondesign

davejohnsondesign — Wed, 30 May 2007 13:26:19 +0000

Over the years, I’ve tried several pre-written formulaic brief sheets with clients. Eventually I discovered that the requirements of most clients can’t be sufficiently covered in such a way.

When I discuss a new project with a client, I do ask a set of standard questions to gain general information. But I’ve found that chatting with the client, and asking them as many questions as possible about their business or service, and making lots of notes is the only way to get a clear and successful brief.

For larger, more complex, design briefs, I do send the client a written copy of my understanding of their requirements, and ask them to read through and make any changes.

Creatively, the biggest problem during briefing, is when clients come to me with the solution rather than the problem.

Rather than coming to me and saying ‘ Dave I have this product/service and I want to raise public awareness to increase sales and profit’, they say ‘this is what I’m selling, I want a full colour leaflet, 6pp 1/3 A4, with my logo here, this picture here, this text here, and I need 20,000 of them’.

Usually this is because Joe Bloggs down the road produced a leaflet and it worked really well for him.

From my earliest meetings with new clients, I ask them to think in terms of the problem, not the solution – the problem is their business, the solution is mine.

Often this is a huge relief to clients who feel they need to approach designers with ‘all the answers’ ready to hand over.

This system works very well for me, I hope others find it useful too!?

By: 2ndbee

2ndbee — Thu, 03 May 2007 14:39:36 +0000

Hey. Nice post. I have to do a brief sample for the clients of my company and this really help.thanks a lot.

By: Tara1

Tara1 — Sat, 28 Apr 2007 09:43:04 +0000

Santosh
I think we have all been there

Frucomerci
Thanks for your comment, the idea of signing the brief is a good one.

Asgeir
I like your idea of the tick box scales, that makes it easier for a client to make a decision. That’s as long as they don’t put them all in the middle ;0

By: Asgeir Hoem

Asgeir Hoem — Sat, 28 Apr 2007 09:28:34 +0000

The opening metaphor is pretty descriptive.

I once tried to draw up scales with opposites on each end, and got the client to tick whereever he though was fitting.

Elegant ———————- Grungy
Modern ———————– Traditional
Dark ————————- Light
Tight ———————— Loose
Personal ——————— Formal

and so on, depending on the company.

This helps a lot because it makes it easy for the client to show clearly what they are thinking (unless they ticks in the middle of every line ), and it quickly gives you some insight to what they have in mind. You should as a rule follow the extremes; the ticks that are the furthest from the centre.

I don’t have too much experience, though. These are only my two cents.