How Do You Brief a Design Studio?

The short answer

Send five things: the goal, the date, the audience, examples you like and what already exists. One page is enough. A clear brief gets you a sharper proposal and a faster start. Send us one and we reply with a scoping doc and timeline within 48 hours.

The brief at a glance

• Goal: What should be different after this project
• Date: The launch, raise or event you are working back from
• Audience: Who has to be convinced, and of what
• Examples: Two or three brands or sites you like, and why
• Assets: Logo files, guidelines, copy and product screenshots

What to write under each heading

• Goal. Name the business reason. A raise, a launch, a move upmarket or a site that no longer matches the product.
• Date. Give the real date and say how fixed it is. A studio plans very differently for a hard announcement date.
• Audience. Describe the buyer in a sentence. Job title, company size and what they compare you with.
• Examples. Say what you like about each one. The reason is more useful than the link.
• Assets. List what exists, even if you plan to replace it.

What to leave out

• The solution. Describe the problem and let the studio propose the answer.
• Every opinion in the company. Agree the brief with the one person who signs off.
• A fixed page count before the structure is agreed.

Related reading: Hiring a Design Agency as a VC-Backed Startup, Agency vs Freelancer vs In-House Designer

FAQ

How long should a design brief be?

One page. If it runs longer, the goal is probably not clear yet.

Do we need a budget in the brief?

It helps. A range lets the studio shape the scope to fit, instead of guessing.

What happens after we send a brief?

A short call to fill the gaps, then a written scope. We reply to a brief with a scoping doc and timeline within 48 hours.

Have a brief, or half of one? Send it to us and we will tell you what is missing.