How to brief a designer
A good brief is the fastest route to a good design. Here is what to include.
Clients sometimes worry that they need to know exactly what they want before speaking to a designer. You do not. But a little preparation helps enormously. The clearer the starting point, the faster we reach a design you love, and the better it fits your budget.
1. Tell us about your organisation
What do you do, and what makes you different? Who are your competitors? Is there a story behind the business? Background that seems obvious to you is often exactly what a designer needs.
2. Describe your audience
Who are you trying to reach? Age, profession, location and what they care about all shape design decisions. A website for retirees planning their finances needs a different approach from one for parents booking a children’s workshop.
3. Define the goal
What should the finished work achieve? More enquiries, more online sales, a more professional image, a successful event? A measurable goal helps everyone judge whether the design is working.
4. List what you need
Be as specific as you can about deliverables: a five-page website, a logo with business cards and letterhead, a 12-page brochure. If you are unsure, describe the problem and we will suggest a solution.
5. Share what you like, and what you do not
Examples are extremely helpful: websites, logos, brochures or packaging you admire, even from other industries. Things you dislike are just as useful. You do not need to explain why; we will work it out together.
6. Gather your existing material
- Current logo files, in the best quality you have
- Brand colours and typefaces, if defined
- Existing text, or notes on what each page or section should say
- Photographs and their source, so usage rights are clear
- Login details for your current website host and domain, for web projects
7. Be clear about time and budget
Deadlines and budgets are not awkward topics; they are design constraints, just like page size. Knowing them lets us recommend the right approach rather than an idealised one.
8. Decide who signs off
Projects run most smoothly with one main contact who gathers feedback from colleagues and makes final decisions.
Ready to start? Send your notes, however rough, through our contact form. Gustavo Woltmann will turn them into a clear brief and a free quote. Read more about how we work.