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YOUR PROJECT
YOUR PROJECT
A project brief is a quick overview of your project. It allows everyone involved to understand the what, why, when, and how of the project. Stakeholders, goals, metrics (requirements & specifications), timelines, and anything else related to the project might be listed in the brief.
A project brief is a quick overview of your project. It allows everyone involved to understand the what, why, when, and how of the project. Stakeholders, goals, metrics (requirements & specifications), timelines, and anything else related to the project might be listed in the brief.
Think of the brief as a succinct and digestible way to record core project information to easily communicate what your project is.
Think of the brief as a succinct and digestible way to record core project information to easily communicate what your project is.
Task #1: Write Your Project Brief (Proposal)
Task #1: Write Your Project Brief (Proposal)
Context, Need or Opportunity - the circumstances that form the setting for the idea.
Context, Need or Opportunity - the circumstances that form the setting for the idea.
The context, need or opportunity is the background information. It's the situation that forms the setting for your idea. You should be able to copy and paste the context from your inquiry and depending on where your inquiry lead, you may need to adjust. Remember this can be a story, a sentence, a paragraph, a statement.
EXAMPLES
"Since I was little I have always loved drawing and would really like to take my drawings further."
"A local coffee shop wants to update its brand identity to better reflect its community-focused values and attract a younger audience. The opportunity lies in designing a new logo, packaging, and store signage that maintains the essence of the shop but with a fresh, contemporary look"
"Our school is putting on a production. They need eye-catching event posters, digital ads, and social media graphics that effectively communicate the event details and create a sense of urgency and excitement."
"I have struggled with mental health issues and found all the material out there to support people is aimed at younger kids or young adults/adults but there was not much for teenagers using media we frequently use."
Problem and/or Issue
Problem and/or Issue
What problem/issue have you identified through your research. Use the below bullet points to help you write it:
Describe the problem/issue, giving the basic facts about it.
Explain what has gone wrong.
Specify the causes or the origin of the problem
Describe the significance of the problem/issue (short term & long term)
Give the appropriate data and state the sources.
Specify who is involved and in what capacity.
Discuss who initiated action on the problem, or what caused you to look at this.
EXAMPLES
"The coffee shop is struggling to attract younger customers due to an outdated brand identity that doesn’t align with modern aesthetics or digital marketing trends. Without a refreshed visual identity, they risk losing relevance in a competitive market."
The charity event has low community awareness and struggles to engage potential attendees and donors. Without compelling promotional materials, the event may not reach its fundraising goals, limiting the non-profit’s ability to support its cause.
"Mental health is a huge area and I need to make sure I am not aiding in misinformation and that what is produced is appropriate"
Scope - involves determining and documenting a list of specific project goals, deliverables, tasks, costs and deadlines.
Scope - involves determining and documenting a list of specific project goals, deliverables, tasks, costs and deadlines.
The scope is the work performed to be able to deliver the outcome with its specified features and functions. The scope involves determining and documenting a list of specific project goals, deliverables, tasks, costs and deadlines.
It should keep you (and the team) on task. A scope statement is the document listing these boundaries, and articulates project details, provides a project roadmap, helps focus you (and your team members), and prevents projects from expanding.
The better a project has been “scoped” at the beginning, the better you can manage change as well as complete the project effectively.
EXAMPLE
The goal is to create a fresh and modern brand identity for the coffee shop that attracts a younger audience while maintaining the welcoming atmosphere that regular customers love. Visually and functionally, the branding should align with the shop’s values and be suitable for use across digital platforms, packaging, and in-store signage.
The designs for all three areas, including logo, colour palette, and typography, are to be completed by [date]. During development I need to have branding mockups ready for review and feedback by [date], allowing time to refine and improve the outcome.
In terms of cost, it is mainly my time and how long it takes to create the brand assets for all the digital outcomes. The packaging and in-store signage will have a cost and this will need to be discussed and agreed upon with the client. The deadline for the rebranding to be completed is [final date].
Purpose - the reason for which something is done or created or for which something exists.
Purpose - the reason for which something is done or created or for which something exists.
What is the reason you are proposing to create this digital outcome? There needs to be a reason why your end users/target audience needs your outcome.
EXAMPLES
The purpose of this project is to develop a modern and cohesive brand identity for the coffee shop that enhances its appeal to a younger demographic while preserving its community-focused values. By updating the logo, packaging, and signage, the shop can strengthen its market presence, improve customer engagement, and ensure consistency across digital and physical platforms.
The purpose of this project is to design visually compelling promotional materials that effectively communicate key details about the production and encourage community participation. Through posters, digital ads, and social media graphics, the goal is to increase awareness and increase attendance to hopefully sellout all viewings.
The purpose of this project is to create accurate and responsible mental health content that is visually engaging while ensuring all information is well-researched, credible, and appropriate. By prioritising clarity and sensitivity, the goal is to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and provide support without contributing to misinformation. This will be achieved through careful design choices, collaboration with reliable sources, and adherence to ethical guidelines.
Requirements - a thing that is needed or wanted and can be described by either its physical or functional nature.
Requirements - a thing that is needed or wanted and can be described by either its physical or functional nature.
What must the outcome contain to be considered successful. What are the goals in broad terms. There should be at least 3 key requirements.
Specifications - these are technical aspects that must be included in the outcome and be measurable.
Specifications - these are technical aspects that must be included in the outcome and be measurable.
This is a list of technical and measurable things that the game “will have” or “will be” in order to achieve the requirements. Note that there should be several specifications for every requirement.
Coffee Shop Rebrand Example:
Requirements:
A new logo that reflects the shop’s modern yet community-focused values.
A cohesive colour palette and typography for consistent branding.
Designs for packaging, menu boards, and store signage.
Digital assets for social media, website, and marketing materials.
Branding guidelines to ensure consistency across all touchpoints.
Specifications:
The logo must be versatile, working in full color, black & white, and in different sizes.
The colour palette should evoke warmth and energy while aligning with a modern aesthetic.
Fonts must be legible and suitable for both print and digital formats.
Packaging designs must comply with sustainability guidelines.
Final assets should be delivered in vector format (AI, SVG) for scalability.
Production Example:
Requirements:
Eye-catching event posters for print and digital use.
Social media graphics tailored for different platforms (Instagram, Facebook, X, etc.).
A visually appealing flyer or brochure summarising event details.
A banner design for the event venue or online ads.
Specifications:
Posters must be A3 and A4 size, suitable for print and digital distribution.
Social media graphics should follow platform-specific dimensions (e.g., 1080x1080px for Instagram).
Designs must incorporate the organisation’s logo, event date, location, and key messages.
The colour scheme and imagery should align with the productions theme and evoke urgency/involvement.
Files should be delivered in high-resolution PDF, PNG, and editable PSD formats.
Mental Health Example:
Requirements:
Content must be fact-checked and sourced from credible organizations (e.g., WHO, mental health professionals).
A clear and supportive tone must be maintained throughout all visuals and messaging.
Use of accessible design principles, ensuring legibility and inclusivity.
Designs should be non-triggering and promote positive mental well-being.
Specifications:
Infographics and posts must use high-contrast colors and clear fonts for accessibility.
Designs must be optimised for mobile and desktop viewing.
Any statistics or claims must include attributions to credible sources.
Language must be non-judgmental, stigma-free, and culturally sensitive.
Files should be provided in editable formats (PSD, AI) and web-friendly resolutions (PNG, JPEG, PDF).
End Users - the person or people that an outcome is designed for.
End Users - the person or people that an outcome is designed for.
Who is going to use or benefit from the digital outcome? Who are you aiming at developing your product for? Try to aim it at someone in a group you have access to and be specific, don't say “everyone”. When you are developing a target group for your product it can be very useful to pick a group that you have ready access to that you can engage with during the development process.
EXAMPLES:
Coffee Shop Rebrand:
Existing customers who want a familiar yet refreshed experience.
Younger demographics (18-35 years old) looking for trendy, aesthetically pleasing cafes.
Social media users who engage with the brand online and expect a strong visual identity.
Potential new customers who may be drawn in by the updated branding.
Store employees who need clear and professional signage for daily operations.
Production:
Community members who may attend and support the event.
Volunteers who need promotional materials to share with their networks.
Event organisers who require well-branded materials for consistency.
Mental Health:
Teenagers seeking mental health support or information.
Caregivers and family members looking for reliable resources to help loved ones.
Mental health professionals who may use the content as an awareness tool.
Schools, workplaces, and organisations promoting mental well-being initiatives.
Resources - are materials, energy, services, people, knowledge, skills, time equipment, hardware, software and expertise
Resources - are materials, energy, services, people, knowledge, skills, time equipment, hardware, software and expertise
What do you have access to in order make your product:
Who is part of your team?
What skills do they have?
How much time do you have to make it?
What software are you going to use?
What hardware do you have access to?
These resources could be things that you have access to at home, school, local libraries, club facilities, or anywhere else.
This helps you to judge if your idea is in scope, is it do-able with the given resources.
Feedback
Feedback
It's always beneficial to check in with people and get some feedback on your project idea. Talk to a range of people like:
Friends & Family
Classmates
Teachers (who also have expertise in certain areas)
Industry Experts
They should be able to understand what you are aiming to create. Listen carefully to the questions they ask you. Is there something you haven't thought about? What direction are they looking at it from? Have you missed something in your Project Brief and you need to have a look at before you move into design OR is it something you need to look into further when you design OR is it not relevant for your project (but you should be able to say why its not).
You need to understand how this feedback affects the direction you are now going to take when you starting designing.
Justification
Justification
You may need to justify why your product is a good idea. Some possible ideas you can use to justify why it is could be:
What feedback did you get
Expert Opinion
Market Analysis
Academic Research
Similar Products
How it relates to the requirements
FOR EXAMPLE:
"I am going to make materials to support mental health because ..."
there is not much material aimed at teenagers on platforms we regullary use.
"I am going to make materials to support mental health but ..."
I need to consider designing materials that are fact-checked, accessible, and visually appealing because misinformation and stigma around mental health are widespread, making it important to produce well-researched, responsible, and engaging content.
"I am going to make materials to support mental health so ..."
I need to consider how I will help educate the public, promote mental well-being, and provide support to those in need by making mental health resources more approachable.
Now it's time to turn your project brief into a design
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