"When you want logo design, web design, annual report design, etc. appointing the right design company to carry out the work will be a big decision".
Outline Brief
The purpose of a brief in simple terms is to create an understanding of your requirements. It should outline and clarify the project objectives in an informative manner and thus time and effort must be spent in its formulation.
In short, the brief allows the client to present the weaknesses of the company or the particular requirements of a specific area(s) of concern, for example, the brand image, marketing material and so on, also to state what goals are to be achieved. It may be a good idea to get colleagues or those who may understand the company’s goals to contribute in the formulation of the brief.
Often the client will provide the design company with a brief prior to the commissioning of the project tasks. For lengthier projects, the client may require input from the design company or alternatively the responsibility to produce the entire brief. Either way, an in-depth discussion with the client will identify the project requirements from which the detailed project brief can be written. The detailed brief will provide the direction in which the work will be carried out.
The brief is the key focal point of the project since it will be referred to at all times and formalises the task to be completed. However, the brief should not be considered as a static entity since should there be any necessary amendments to be made to the project objectives, the brief should also change to accommodate this.
The brief will not only help the designers to understand the problem to be solved, but provide the client with a clearer idea of their requirements and remove preconceived ideas of solutions. It will also clarify the deliverables the design company will supply. This should help avoid any misunderstandings as to what should have been delivered at the end of the project.
Although the above-described brief process is often used for larger projects, some kind of brief or basic project requirements document should be created even if the company uses it for internal purposes. This will always help avoid confusion and miscommunication on the deliverables.