Brief-related improvements

"Hi, I want a design. Thank you" 

Hello everyone,

I started this thread in the aim of collaboratively finding a "perfect" structure for the Brief section;

The structure that may save you time and effort reading the Brief, and accurately communicate the client's need/ideas/concepts ...

If the Brief is perfect, then you have a better idea of what the client really needs,

If the Brief is poor or not properly written, there begun another chapter of extra/free "hassles."

Please feel free to comment with your suggestions.

 "Brief FIRST!" 

*I may modify the poll later  on with some good questions. You can suggest anything.

We are still depending on clients will to do the proper briefing. Sometimes they are very clear, directive and precise with their vision, while the other extreme is that they do not have a clue, but waiting to start the process and see different options from designers. Some of them do not know or think they DO know how to represent their business.

Writing the brief is pretty simple technically if they know what to say trough it.

Also, clients are encouraged to make the best brief in order to get the best results. 

 

 

• "The more precise your brief is, the more accurate the designs. You will have many good options to choose from as opposed to many mediocre options (if your brief is too vague)."

Writing the Brief

Personally, I really hate long briefs, or briefs with the single sentence. That puts me off, and instantly make me to jump on another contest. 

I like when client is using Brief Options Slide Bar (Design Look & Feel). 

For me, the worst thing is when they write a good, well directed brief, but then meanwhile began to be totally opposite. 

The part which I would like to see improved on DC is to get notification, both my e-mail and profile when on line, and also NOTED in the brief, that it has been UPDATED. 

I've said it before,  and this one really bugs me endlessly,  but on illustration/flier/poster/book-cover briefs it should be mandatory that  they  specify  a size. You could go  out and do  a great 8.5x11, as a raster, only to  find out what they  actually needed was 24x36, or some other size. It is very-very  rare to  see an actual  size listed in a brief like this, and it is literally the one piece of information  you want to know when  you start(especially if it is a raster, but even with a vector you want an aspect ratio).  For logos it's not at all important,  but for most everything else it's crucial knowledge. 

Most of the contest holders are not experienced art buyers.

They have unpolished taste.

They don't know what they don't know.

They don't know how to ask for what they think they want.

When they get what they ask for, they realize that it is not right.

This takes some getting used to by designers.

You end up finding out what the client doesn't like.

They may have to ask someone else for the tech specs of the project.

From DC standpoint, they do not want to put anything in the brief creation that will interrupt the completion of the brief.

They do not want to chase customers away, even ambivalent confused ignorant customers.

I wonder haw many briefs have been abandon half way through their creation?

The balance is is trying to get enough information without complication.

As designers we do not usually get to see the process each crowd source site uses for brief creation.

I am sure that there is room for improvement, but even so, someone is going to be unhappy.

It is just the nature of the beast.

Thanks

If you can start out with a dizzy brief, go through endless revisions, reach a happy conclusion and make the CH feel like an insightful genius, YOU win.

The most competitive designers seem to have that great level of communication skill to go along with their aesthetic talents.

Who knew?

One feature that I think would be useful is to be able to sort contests by industry.

Most experienced designers have a personal style that is strongly favored by certain types of businesses.

(the CH would check a box indicating the business type)

This information might also be helpful for DC. Marketing to new targeted industries could be enhanced.

(trash bin cleaners, block chain schemes, etc.?)

Hi everybody! During the time I took part in the competitions, I realized that some clients know exactly what they want, then the designer will provide the right option for the client's business. But it happens quite the contrary, that the client accurately described their preferences, but does not adhere to them, and as a result evaluates a completely different job. In such cases, it's hard to work with clients, you have to adjust, offer different options or even refuse. Some customers do a very brief review and wait for the designers to provide different options for their choice. You have to ask for more information from the client, which can be very useful when creating a design. Perhaps because of a wrong approach or a misunderstanding of the overview, you can be blocked by the client, so he gives you to understand that he does not like your design style and you can not spend your time on this contest. In the end, it seems to me that customers are attracted by the right choice and a variety of design options.

"I'll know it when I see it..."

Your right @Kristins2912.

Clients, briefs and work processes seem as variable as snowflakes. 

However, you start to see patterns of behavior and recognize "types" after a while.

I am sure shari could write a book.

Patience, optiism, and a thick skin keep the mouse rolling.

A little experience and judgement helps to avoid traps and pitfalls.

Clearly, you have all this.

a tag line on a recent contest was "tomorrow will be better"

Thanks, HerbertNordal! Yes you are right! For a short while that I'm here, I can say that I began to understand some customers and it was very difficult and it took a lot of time and patience for this and now I can do what I can.

• I am sorry 1 to say that the potential of our creatives is high enough to put together a whole perfect  yet worldwide competitive platform in just few days, but this potential is not exploited!
• Any effort you put to comment this thread -I'm sorry 2- will have no effect unless DC is WANTING to improve the thing.

• Clients do not know much the technical things;
• Clients do not like to write long boring brief. Writing the brief is boring -if they did they just make things more complicated;
• Clients do not know exactly what they want from their design project;
• The brief should be standardized; to give a better, fluent & enjoyable experience to both Clients and Designers;
• Poor brief;

For the above reasons:

• Gamify; The brief should be visually attractive and be RICH enough in terms of visual elements. Should contain option to choose from; ie. industry/style options templates that makes it easy for client to put together and personalize the brief to suit their needs, instead of writing "non-sense" things.
• Brief should have a minimum of informations; Client should be prompted/guided to meet this minimum.
• Client should provide enough data about their project; ie. Audience, Age range, Feelings to communicate through the design, Design seize/dimentions, The context/where they intend the design to be used, ...etc
• If you compare the briefs of ALL existing design platforms, they may look a bit similar; there's an ultimate structure all of these are converging to.

Thank you