T1: What is a Design Brief?

Design usually happens because someone identifies a need or a problem that has to be solved. Designers refer to this as the 'design problem' or 'situation'. Designers can identify the problem themselves, but normally it will be presented to a designer by a client, perhaps in the case of a larger company, by the marketing department. Whoever identifies the problem, it is the designer who will attempt to find a solution to solve it.

A Design Brief is a detailed document that sets out what is to be designed. The Brief will guide designers and help them to formulate Design Criteria. The Design Brief communicates to all stakeholders. It could refer to something very small like a menu for Cafe or it could be on a much larger scale such as the design of a Hospital.

To write a Design Brief you will need to use the information you gathered in the Explore phase. Your Design Brief should offer an insightful and clear understanding of the problem and identify the key stakeholders (end user, client, customer etc.).

You should try to include the following things in your Design Brief:

A problem that is based around a real world need, want or opportunity.

Open ended language that does not specify a solution.

e.g. 'a way of storing earrings' rather than a 'wooden jewellery box with small compartments'

Identification of stakeholders i.e. who wants it, who will be using it etc.

Information about aesthetic, cultural, economic, social and technical features

Constraints - e.g. has to sold for less than $200, cannot negatively affect the environment etc.

Design Criteria (see Design Criteria page)

An outline of what will be presented in terms of ideas and concepts (design proposal)

Appropriate elements from the Principles of Good Design

Design Brief 146, 147 Design Brief Template 148 Example Design needs/problems 150