design-brief

name	Design Brief
description	Turn a client ask into a design brief that aligns everyone before pixels are pushed.
category	Ops

Design Brief

Shape a fuzzy client ask into a brief the studio can design against and the client can agree to.

When to use

• A new project starts and needs framing before design begins.
• A project has drifted and needs realignment.

Steps

1. Capture the goal, the audience, and what success looks like.
2. Clarify scope, deliverables, and the hard constraints.
3. Gather references and pin down the brand's non-negotiables.
4. Set the tone and the feeling the work should evoke.
5. Align with the client on the brief before work starts.

Output

A design brief: goal, audience, deliverables, constraints, and tone, following the [[Design principles]]. Signed off before design begins.