Getting the most out of your Design Pickle creative team starts with a great design brief, which is the best way to ensure that your design request is delivered perfectly.
While many people find this step tricky, don’t worry! With this guide, you’ll be writing awesome briefs in no time.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you craft a clear and effective design brief, divided into these topics:
Objective
Creative Style
Art Direction
Copy
General Instructions
References
Using the Annotation Tool
Request Samples
What to Include:
Purpose: Clearly state what you need or the purpose of your request.
Goals: Describe what you want to achieve. (E.g. boost sales, promote a new product, etc.)
Examples:
"We need a promotional banner for our upcoming summer sale to increase online traffic and boost sales by 20%."
"We need a set of Instagram posts to promote a new product line of eco-friendly kitchen appliances."
"We need a 15-second video to announce the grand opening event for our new retail store."
What to Include:
Aesthetic and Style: Define the look and feel you envision for your design.
Themes and Elements: Mention specific themes, colors, or visual elements.
Examples:
"The design should have a minimalistic look with clean lines and a pastel color palette."
"The design should be bold and eye-catching with vibrant colors."
"The design should be bright and cheerful with a summer vibe."
What to Include:
Creative Directions: Provide specific artistic or creative directions.
Tone and Mood: Describe the desired tone, mood, or visual approach.
Examples:
"We want the event poster to look like it belongs in the 1920s Art Deco era. Use gold and black as the primary colors, with geometric patterns in the background. The fonts should be bold and decorative, similar to those used in Great Gatsby-themed designs. Overall, the mood should be glamorous, as if we're inviting people to a high-end, exclusive event from that time period."
"For our website banner, we want a futuristic look. Use neon colors like electric blue and hot pink on a dark background. The design should feature minimalistic lines and tech-inspired icons, such as circuit patterns and digital grids. Incorporate modern, sans-serif fonts, with bold, uppercase headlines and lighter subheadings. Keep the layout uncluttered with plenty of negative space and align elements in a grid pattern."
What to Include:
Text: Include all the text that should appear in the design. Make sure it's finalized and ready to be copied and pasted. You can provide the text directly in the Jar request form or through a document (Google Doc, Word Doc, Text File, etc.).
Examples:
Headline: “Summer Sale Now On!”
Subheadline: “Up to 50% off on selected items.”
Call to Action: “Shop Now!”Headline: “Discover the Future of Technology”
Subheadline: “Innovative Solutions for Modern Problems”
Details: “Explore our latest products and find out how we can help you stay ahead in the tech world.”
Call to Action: “Learn More”
What to Include:
Additional Information: Any extra information or special instructions that don’t fit into the above categories. Clarify any specific requirements or constraints.
Examples:
"The design should be optimized for both desktop and mobile viewing. Please ensure the file size is below 2MB."
"Ensure compliance with accessibility standards (e.g., sufficient color contrast)."
"Include a QR code that links to the event registration page."
What to Include:
Reference or Inspiration Images: Attach any reference images or inspiration for the design. Specify whether these should be replicated exactly or just used as inspiration.
Example:
"Attached are three images of design styles we like. We particularly like the layout of the first image, the color scheme of the second, and the typography of the third. These should be used as inspiration, not replicated exactly."
Using the Annotation Tool
If you’re attaching inspiration or reference images, use the annotation tool to add specific instructions where needed. This will make your requirements super clear and help us nail down your vision!
Example:
"On the attached image, please note the circled area where we like the use of gradients. We would like a similar effect in our design."
Here are some request samples to inspire you when writing your design brief. We’ve included examples for each of our services so you can get a good sense of what to include based on the type of request you’re creating.
Service Type | Example Click on the image to enlarge |
Graphic Design |  |
Custom Illustrations |  |
Presentation Design |  |
Motion Graphics |  |
Video Editing |  |
By following this guide and including these key elements in your design brief, you'll make it easy for our creative team to understand your vision and deliver designs that hit the mark. Clear and detailed briefs lead to awesome results and a smoother design process!
Need further help? Email us through [email protected], or click the chat button on the lower right-hand side of this window to chat with us.