How to Write Design Brief for Web Design Projects

Got a big web design project coming up? Then you'll need a great design brief for web design, to carry that project out.

A web design brief will provide guidance for everyone involved and ensure that you are all on the same page. It can eliminate misunderstandings and confusion by being a source of all necessary information for smooth project execution.

Now, a web design brief can only serve its purpose if it's well-written. You're going to need a comprehensive, detailed, and precise web design for a seamless web design process.

For that purpose, follow these guidelines that will keep both you on the right track and help you write a spotless web design brief.

What Exactly is a Design Brief for Web Design?

A design brief for web design can be a powerful project management tool if you know how to use it. Or, to be more precise – if you know how to write it.

It is a project management document that identifies the details of your web design project. It should include the scale of the project, the scope, and all the elements that are needed to carry out the project with ease.

If you compare the brief with a project proposal, the crucial difference is that the project brief is provided once both parties have agreed on the collaboration. So, while the proposal is submitted to entice the cooperation, the brief is there to clarify the details.

Why is web design so important, you ask? Because it showcases the workflow of your web design project, supports collaboration that both parties agree on in advance, and helps with identifying and avoiding any potential issues and problems.

How to Write a Web Design Brief?

The design structure brief depends on the project, as well as the design agency you want to work with. However, there are a few essential sections that will give you a better understanding of the anatomy of the design brief.

1. About the Company

You need to present the company for which the website is created for. Grasping the essence of the business will help the designers figure out what kind of design goes with your brand's personality and history.

Some of the information you can list in brief are:

• The name of the company
• Current web address (if you have one)
• Location (if you are an in-store business)
• What kind of services you provide/products you sell
• Company size (and how many staff you have)
• Your company's goals, mission, and beliefs
• How long does the company exist
• Relevant changes within your company

When it comes to relevant changes, that should only refer to situations that might be relevant to your web design. For example, if you rebranded a year ago.

2. The Objectives of the Web Design Project

Answer one simple question: What is the reason behind this project?

Be very specific about the web design objectives. You might want to increase engagement through more interactive design, but do you have a certain number in mind?

Go over some study cases and find out a realistic increase in engagement that a change in web design can bring you. Consider the nature and size of your business and give the design team some numbers they can aim for.

You can also consult your digital marketer if they have some suggestions on how web design can assist your marketing campaigns.

No matter if you have one objective or several, write down all of them.

3. Target Audience

Who will you target with this design? This information is crucial.

In brief, provide necessary information about your target audience. That can include their demographics, interests, likes and dislikes, purchasing habits, etc.

If you want, you can create a customer persona. In case you don't have experience with describing customer persona, you can get writing services like TrustMyPaper or BestEssaysEducation.com to help you out. They work with writers from different niches so they can easily team you up with someone who has experience with that.

4. Design Overview

This section should give a project overview. How much you'll explain here depends on the information you have already figured out.

You might have a general idea of what you want the final result to look like, but you can also give open hands to designers to pitch their ideas. Anyhow, the information you can include in the design overview are:

• Website features (list the features you want the design team to work on/incorporate such as user profile, blog page, about us page, etc.)
• The web design style that you want (in case you have already figured out the color scheme, fonts, and overall style that you desire, write that down in brief)
• Content (explain the type of content you want, do you already have a writer or digital marketer in charge of the content, have you already prepared some killer copy, and so on)
• Competitors (who are your main competitors, and do you wish the design to fit in with the website style in your niche or stand out)
• Designs you like/dislike (if there are any web designs that you particularly like, provide the link to those websites in brief; you can also include websites whose style you want to avoid)

learn more about color scheme here.

Don't go too into detail with the design overview. Just provide clear guidance and information that can give the designers some direction. To ensure that the design overview isn't incomprehensive, messy, or poorly written, you can get an editor to check it out.

One of the fastest ways towards high-quality editing and proofreading services is working with SupremeDissertations or TopEssayWriting services. You can use online tools like Grammarly for quick fixes, but tools can't assure you a well-written brief; they can point out spelling and grammar mistakes.

5. Budget and Timescale

Give an estimate for the budget you have available for the design. However, you must consider the type of service you are requesting.

Another factor that can influence the budget is the deadline. If you need a finished website ASAP, the costs can rise. Therefore, be specific about your flexibility time-wise.

Informing the design agency about your timescale can help them plan their resources and organize better. 

Final Thoughts

A great design brief can give your web design project a strong start. It can provide the foundation for successful collaboration and streamlined project process.

Just keep in mind that you should adopt the brief according to the project goals and the type of cooperation you have established. Ultimately, aim to keep the brief well-written, clear, concise, and detailed, and you'll have the key ingredients for a good web design brief.

Bridgette Hernandez is a freelance writer that specializes in the fields of technology and digital marketing. She found her purpose in writing as it allows her to exchange ideas and share her knowledge with others. Currently, she is working as a contributor writer at Subjecto and ClassyEssay. Bridgette likes to expand her fields of expertise by attending international conferences and taking courses on different subjects.