Professional Web Design


What is a creative brief and why is it necessary?

A creative brief is a document used by creative professionals and agencies to develop creative deliverables: visual design, copy, advertising, web sites, etc. The documents is usually developed by the requestor (in most cases a marketing team member) and approved by the creative team of designers, writers, and project managers. The creative brief is necessary because creative briefs are often helpful in deciding how the information should be presented and how the format should look.

Steps Found in a Typical Creative Brief for a Web Design Project

1
Summary


Provide a brief overview of the whole project.
2
Current Situation


Describe the current situation- What is not working, what needs to be improved, what is working. Why the project is needed; what is hoped to be achieved.
3
Proposal


Describe the project in more detail. What is needed to be done?
4
Target Audiences


Who is the project targeted at? Are there any specific characteristics that these audiences have?
5
Goals


6
Requirements


Are there any specific requirements that must be incorporated?
7
Promotion and Communication Plan

How will this project be promoted and communicated? What is the timing for each promotion and communication and who is involved?
8
Timing


What is the deadline for the project? Are there any milestones that must be met?
9
Project Sponsor


Who is the main sponsor and who will be signing-off the project?
10
Stakeholders


Who is involved in the project from an oversight and team perspective?