We all HATE to write Briefs!
Working in Marketing for so many years, we all know this - we hate briefs. Nope, nothing to do with how tight it is… moving on…
Whether you are trying to brief your ad agency, or a freelance designer or maybe even your boss (to show that you know what you are doing?); it is always difficult. But it helps if you have a guide. I just saw a short write up on “How do you write a graphic design brief?” over at David Airey’s blog. It’s a good starting point if you are at a lost as to how to write your brief.
Depending on what you are actually trying to achieve, your brief can be as comprehensive as several pages long, or just a brief one-pager. The most important thing to remember is this: to keep marketing fun, ensure no one falls asleep reading your “brief”.
Some additional points from me to David’s excellent pointers:
- Be brief (duh!)
- Write clearly and simply, this is not a test of your vocabulary
- Use charts, tables, diagrams if necessary rather than go into a long description(a picture paints a thousand words)
Not much to add to an already excellent post. :)
Technorati Tags: brief, agency brief, advertising agency, marketing agency, graphic design, marketing
David Airey :: Creative Design :: said,
May 11, 2007 at 4:35 pm
Hi Calvin,
Thanks for the kind words, and those are three nice additions you’ve listed.
I hope you have a great weekend.
Yvonne Russell said,
May 12, 2007 at 2:07 pm
Hi Calvin
Congratulations on joining Gack Ink. I have a writing blog with Gack, and am sure I’ll be visiting here often. You have some great information.
Yvonne
Tara said,
May 13, 2007 at 9:01 pm
A good brief can make the difference between getting the job right first time, and a project taking far longer. As a designer I know the difference a good brief can make. A written brief can help a client to clarify their own requirements before even speaking to a designer, saving both designer and client time and money.