Design Brief Strategy

Design is a strategic business resource and the design brief is a strategic design management tool.

What is a design brief? Simply stated, the design brief is a written project description. It is a critical first step in the design process and, as this concise summary will attest, provides a solid foundation for effective design management from start-to-finish, throughout the design process.

“If you are able to state a problem, any problem, it can be solved.” Dr. Edwin Land

Think of the design brief as an opportunity to state a problem, problem components, and factors that affect the problem. An organizational tool used for collecting and outlining the steps that must be taken in order to solve the problem, the design brief is a strategy for problem solving.

How can one best write a design brief? Correct answer: There is no one way to write a design brief, as project scenarios are fairly unique and vary in scope and complexity. The important component of writing a successful design brief is collaboration – that is to say, it is not written by one party for another, rather authored jointly by the designer and client. Shared vision. Shared goals and objectives. Shared understanding.

What information does a design brief contain? Ultimately, this is for the authors to decide, as they will compose a document best suited for the individual project. Not intended to be template, listed below, and not in any particular order, are some content ideas for formulating a design brief:
• Project summary
• Client
• Project goals, objectives, and milestones
• Company/institutional profile, including mission statement, history, key stakeholders, market audience, products, current marketing materials, and any other helpful big picture information
• Project budget and timeline
• Team members, roles and contact information
• Project concerns and issues
• Past and present perspective(s) of the problem
• User attitudes and behaviors that need to be changed
• Project resources (Any relevant information, including but not limited to professional conferences, associations, examples of admired design solutions, books, articles, and the like.)
• Design goals and performance criteria (Examples include, 1. create a new product line, 2. better serve audience/market, 3. increase number of users, 4. update and improve existing products, etc.)

Think of a design brief as a start-to-finish project guide.
• Beginning. It is perhaps the best opportunity to assemble and distribute the important “need to know” information at the beginning of a project. The design brief is a document that can help properly launch a project, setting a tone of trust and understanding between client and designer.
• Middle. It provides an important reference as the project develops and evolves. Use the design brief to make certain the design process has not gone astray from the original goals set forth. If indeed the design has evolved, with good and approved reason, make certain to adjust the design brief in an Addendum.
• End. Ultimately, upon assessing the final design solution, the design brief is used effectively to gain sign-off, or final project approval.

Strategically speaking, it makes good sense to use the design brief to proactively manage project information throughout the design process. Outcomes include more effective design solutions, and that makes for happier clients. Who does not like that?

Comments? What do you think? What are your experiences working with (and perhaps without) a design brief? Do you have additional helpful resources relating to the design brief topic?

Learn more.
Book: Creating the Perfect Design Brief: How to Manage Design for Strategic Advantage, by Peter L. Phillips

Seminar: "Creating the Perfect Design Brief", given by Peter L. Phillips. Dates: June 21, 2007, Boston, USA September 20, 2007, Los Angeles, USA

Book: Why Design? Activites and Projects from The National Building Museum, by Anna Slafer and Kevin Cahill

Article: “How to Write a Design Brief”, by Mary Beth and Paul Trautwein

Article: “How to Write an Effective Design Brief”, from Clear Design

Exhibit: Radical Lace & Subversive Knitting

Museum of Arts & Design , January 25 - June 17, 2007

Great title. This is an art exhibition that is worth checking out. “A provocative and timely exhibition of work by international artists using fiber in unexpected and unorthodox ways, Radical Lace & Subversive Knitting illuminates a field of creative practice that is fresh, surprising, and engaging. Featuring 27 artists from seven countries, this exhibition will exhibit work that ranges from Althea Merback's microknit garments (1:144 scale) to large-scale, site-specific installations. Artists employ a variety of media, from traditional yarns and laces, to found objects and video, and explore contemporary currents in art practice of socially engaged, participatory work.”

And notice the Museum’s mission statement: “The Museum of Arts & Design collects, displays, and interprets objects in ceramic, glass, fiber metal and wood that honor innovation in art, craft and design. The Museum embraces rapid changes in the decorative and design arts, celebrating design as the process through which materials are crafted into works that enhance our lives.”

Museum of Arts & Design
40 West 53rd Street
New York, NY 10019
212-956-35355

Artwork featured:
Freddie Robins, Craft Kills, 2002
Machine-knitted wool, knitting needles
8.7 x 26.8 x 15 in.
Photo: Douglas Atfield

More inspiration:
Check out the tag, knitting , at Technorati.

Visual Thesaurus

This is a great tool for brainstorming. The Visual Thesaurus is an interactive dictionary and thesaurus with an innovative display that encourages exploration and learning. The method illustrated is commonly called "webbing." Designers and writers use this method to generate ideas based on a word or theme. See the Visual Thesaurus in action.
Visual Thesaurus

Brainstorming 101: A Basic Introduction

Brainstorming is a rapid, spontaneous idea-generating activity in which one or more people participate. It is a great tool for quickly amassing many possible solutions to a problem or issue.

Anyone can brainstorm. It is fun work.

How to conduct a brainstorming session – Begin with a comfortable space and all necessary tools, including large sheets of paper or flip chart pads (3-M makes a pad of large Post-It Notes pads, which are nice to work with because they don’t damage the wall and they can be moved around easily), a set of colored markers like the thick Sanford Super Sharpie permanent markers, tape, digital camera, small multi-colored Post-It Notes, and open wall surfaces.

When brainstorming in a group setting, assign one person to document the session. Ideally, this person should be able to easily visualize ideas in drawings, diagrams and words. Designers and Graphic Facilitators excell at this activity. It’s an additional luxury to ask a second person to lead the group. Their primary responsibilities include initial introduction and activity launch, keeping the group focused, redirecting the group (if necessary), and keeping time.

Tasks for the solo idea-generator are combined.

Basic ground rules:
1. Begin with a clearly stated problem statement. Create a sentence that defines the problem. For example, “Provide better customer service for families with young children.”
2. Have fun. Be outrageous and silly in the ideas. Reserve critical, analytical and negative thinking for another time. Think expansively. Freely associate. Build upon other ideas.
3. Freely, quickly and clearly document ideas. Use exact descriptors, avoiding general statements or one-word responses.
4. Stay on-topic and focused on the problem.
5. Strive to generate a lot of ideas – 100 ideas is not an unreasonable goal. Rapidly document ALL ideas in words and sketches, displaying them so all participants can see. Number the ideas.
6. During the ideation, think about the problem in different ways, including various viewpoints, scenarios, and conditions.
7. Brainstorm for 30-40 minutes.

Using this concept-generating technique alone or in a group setting is a productive way of loosening-up and amassing large quantities of ideas.

Further explore Brainstorming and creativity references at Amazon.

Want some random inspiration from the masses? Check out the tags brainstorming, innovation and ideas at Technorati.