Communicating Design: Developing Web Site Documentation for Design and Planning, Second Edition

Chapter 9. Design Briefs

A document describing the design problem and establishing a foundation of objectives, principles, and requirements.

A design brief is a document prepared at the beginning of the project to summarize its objectives and parameters from the design perspective. To varying degrees, it:

• Articulates the objectives of the project

• Positions the project in a larger context

• States the design problem

• Establishes other parameters, like timing

• Summarizes any inputs, like technical, content, or user requirements

• Defines the direction or approach the designers will take

The problem with design briefs is that they sometimes ...