The following advice is for start-up's commissioning design for the first time...

The write brief

Whether you’re asking us to design and write your website, create a new logo or restyle your company literature. Generally, the greater your input, the better our output. And, since a verbal brief is generally not worth the paper it’s not written on, initially we prefer our clients to put their thoughts down in a simple email or short document.

Of course, we’ll come and talk to you and advise you on what we need to know in order to proceed with your project (usually we will provide a client questionnaire), but we would still prefer you to give us a written version of your requirement and background before we start thinking.

Writing a brief commits you to clarify your thinking and rationalise your objectives. This practical and cathartic exercise also gives both of us a point of reference throughout the creative and production process.

Read on to find out about how to formulate your brief without grief...