| name | visual-identity-brief |
| description | Creates briefs for designers with mood board direction, style references, do's and don'ts, and deliverable specifications. Use when hiring a designer for brand work. |
| allowed-tools | Read Write Glob |
| metadata | {"author":"matthewhitcham","version":"1.0"} |
Visual Identity Brief
When to Use This Skill
Use this skill when you need to:
- Brief a designer or agency on visual identity or brand design work
- Communicate your vision with enough clarity to get great results on the first round
- Define the scope, style, and deliverables for a design project
- Create mood board direction and style reference documentation
DO NOT use this skill for actual design creation, UI/UX wireframing, or marketing campaign creative briefs. This is for briefing designers on brand-level visual identity work.
Core Principle
A BRIEF SHOULD ELIMINATE GUESSWORK — THE DESIGNER SHOULD KNOW EXACTLY WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE BEFORE THEY OPEN THEIR DESIGN TOOL.
Phase 1: Brief
Required Inputs
| Input | What to Ask | Default |
|---|
| Project scope | "What do you need designed? (logo, full identity, refresh, specific asset)" | Logo and basic identity |
| Brand description | "Describe your brand, audience, and personality in 2-3 sentences." | Must be provided |
| Style preferences | "Show me 3-5 designs you love (any industry) and tell me why." | Must be provided |
| Anti-references | "Show me 2-3 designs you dislike and tell me why." | None |
| Deliverables needed | "What files and formats do you need?" | Logo (SVG, PNG), color palette, font recommendation |
| Budget and timeline | "What is your budget and deadline?" | Must be provided |
| Revision rounds | "How many revision rounds are included?" | 2-3 rounds |
GATE: Confirm inputs before writing the brief.
Phase 2: Structure
Brief Sections
- Project overview — what, why, and for whom
- Brand context — positioning, personality, audience
- Style direction — mood board references, aesthetic preferences
- Technical requirements — formats, sizes, platforms
- Deliverable list — every asset needed with specifications
- Do's and don'ts — explicit creative boundaries
- Timeline and process — milestones, check-ins, approval flow
- Success criteria — how the final work will be evaluated
GATE: Present the brief structure and confirm before writing the full document.
Phase 3: Write
Writing Rules
- Be specific about what you like in each reference ("I like the bold typography and minimal color palette" not just "I like this")
- Separate "must have" requirements from "nice to have" preferences
- Include competitor examples with notes on what to differentiate from
- Specify file format and size requirements precisely
- Include the brand positioning statement if available
Do's and Don'ts Format
DO:
- Use clean, geometric shapes
- Keep the palette to 3-4 colors maximum
- Design for legibility at small sizes (favicon, social avatar)
DON'T:
- Use gradients or drop shadows
- Include clip art or stock illustration elements
- Design something that looks similar to [competitor name]
Deliverable Specification Table
| Deliverable | Format | Sizes | Variations |
|---|
| Primary logo | SVG, PNG, PDF | Original + horizontal | Full color, black, white, reverse |
| Social avatar | PNG | 400x400, 800x800 | Full color on light and dark backgrounds |
| Favicon | ICO, PNG | 32x32, 180x180 | Simplified mark only |
Phase 4: Polish
Final Brief Package
- Design brief document — the complete written brief
- Reference collection — organized folder or board of style references
- Brand context document — positioning statement, audience profile, brand personality
- Technical spec sheet — every deliverable with exact file requirements
- Feedback template — structured format for providing revision feedback
Feedback Framework
Teach the user how to give effective design feedback:
- Reference specific elements ("the icon feels too complex" not "I don't like it")
- Distinguish between subjective preference and objective problems
- Prioritize feedback — not everything needs to change in every round
Example 1: Logo Design Brief (Solo Business)
Scope: Primary logo, social avatar, favicon. Budget: $500-1,000. Timeline: 2 weeks.
Direction: Modern, minimal, geometric. Inspired by Stripe and Linear. Avoid playful or cartoonish.
Example 2: Full Visual Identity Brief (Growing Brand)
Scope: Logo system, color palette, typography, business card, social templates, email signature. Budget: $3,000-5,000. Timeline: 4-6 weeks.
Direction: Premium and refined with subtle warmth. Inspired by Aesop and Kinfolk. Avoid corporate or cold.
Anti-Patterns
- Too vague — "Make it look cool" is not a brief. Specificity is kindness to the designer.
- Too prescriptive — dictating exact colors, fonts, and layout leaves no room for creative expertise. Set direction, not solutions.
- No anti-references — knowing what to avoid is as valuable as knowing what to aim for. Include both.
- Missing technical specs — a beautiful logo designed at wrong dimensions or missing file formats requires rework. Specify upfront.
- Skipping the feedback framework — vague feedback like "Can you make it pop?" causes revision cycles. Structure your feedback.
Recovery
- User has no style references: Browse Dribbble, Behance, or brand collections together. Ask them to react to 10 examples with "love it" or "hate it" to establish direction.
- Brief keeps changing: Establish a brief freeze date. Changes after freeze require a change order with adjusted timeline.
- Designer delivers off-brief: Review the brief together — if the brief was clear, request revisions. If the brief was vague, accept responsibility and clarify.
- Budget does not match scope: Scale back deliverables to match budget. Logo first, additional assets in a follow-up phase.
