[sally]

Question for designers which I thought may help newbies starting out.

As it says on the tin, how do you write a design brief, what information is most helpful to you?

Is it easier to get creative with a written brief? By that I mean if you receive a scribbled design for a logo or product on the back of a fag packet does that make it more difficult for you to be creative?

[Pixels Ink]

I personally find it helps if a client scribbles a quick layout or drawing down for me if they have an idea of what they want.

In some cases it can cut down a lot of the development time, thus lowering the cost for the client.

It may be though that what the client has in their head may not work, and so a new design/layout is required to fulfil the actual purpose the final product is to be used for.

The more information a client can give, including examples of other designs they may have seen and liked / disliked is beneficial.

This is a really quick response and I could go into it a little more, but maybe some others will cover those points before I return to this thread

[Dotwhack]

From my experience with logo and web designers, I usually have a rough idea of what I want in my head and just want the designer to 'make it pretty' so to speak.

Obviously, you have to be willing to be told by a deisgner why your idea can't/won't work.

By not giving a brief, you usually end up going backwards and forwards numerous times because the designer doesn't understand excatly what you're looking for.

[Pixels Ink]

Originally Posted by Dotwhack

From my experience with logo and web designers, I usually have a rough idea of what I want in my head and just want the designer to 'make it pretty' so to speak.

Obviously, you have to be willing to be told by a deisgner why your idea can't/won't work.

By not giving a brief, you usually end up going backwards and forwards numerous times because the designer doesn't understand excatly what you're looking for.

Good advice there.

[tommy]

I have a questionnaire which I give to the client to fill in which will help me understand more about the client and what they want to achieve and if they have any ideas they wish to submit.

I will then go through the questionnaire and their ideas with the client and advise them that this is bad because so and so (if appropriate) this is good because (if appropriate) of this and this can be done.

I then can write up a specification of what they require, this has saved me on many occassions due to the clients constantly changing their mind.

[Pixels Ink]

My web developer does something very similar Tommy. It's a very good idea .

[Gareth PC]

It completely depends on the company requesting the design and the company doing the designing.

From my perspective:

I have had briefs that contain nothing more than a company logo and a sentence or 2 on what they think they would like.

I have had briefs that contained a company history, layout ideas, swatches and a list of sites they both like and dislike.

In my opinion neither of these approaches is better than the other.

It's the job of the designer to do one of 2 things -

realize your idea

or

provide you with an idea for realization

There may be some technical questions depending on what it is you are having designed. If that is the case the designer will ask those or their website/literature will state that information need. Apart from that though ANY information you can provide to the design company - in ANY form will be useful. Back of a fag packet, on a beer mat, in pdf form - matters not; it's all just information.

At the end of the day, whether it is a website a logo or some other creative representation of your company - the company belongs to you and not the designer. The more you tell the design company the more of you will be in the end result, the more you leave to the designer the more of them will be in the end result. You get what you ask for.

As for what makes my life as a designer easier: Knowing what a client wants but we rarely get that luxury.

[sally]

Thanks for the answers but still not getting it, although I love the questionnaire idea as it gives direction to the newbie.

Let's say I wanted to start a business selling my fancy new pogo-sticks and want a logo designed. Would I just say "I want something fresh to appeal to the 12-16 age range, maybe using citrus colours obviously with a pogo stick included"? Is that enough info for you to get started?

[Pixels Ink]

Originally Posted by sally

Thanks for the answers but still not getting it, although I love the questionnaire idea as it gives direction to the newbie.

Let's say I wanted to start a business selling my fancy new pogo-sticks and want a logo designed. Would I just say "I want something fresh to appeal to the 12-16 age range, maybe using citrus colours obviously with a pogo stick included"? Is that enough info for you to get started?

That would be enough for me anyway.

You've given colour, target age group (which would dictate a certain style) and also an iconic shape to use.

I'd be able to produce 3 or 4 initial designs from that, which we would then go on to develop a final logo from.

The only thing missing there is the name of the potential new business which may be used as an intrinsic part of the logo.

[sally]

Thank you, that should be enough to get anyone started if they have to provide a design brief. These things are always easy when you know how.