In this article, designers will learn how to interpret and respond to a customer’s design brief. We’ll use a sample project from DesignCrowd to illustrate the basic guidelines to submitting high-quality designs to a contest.
Then walk you through the steps to analyze the brief requirements via a keyword list and finally showcase design submissions from this project that followed the brief so you can learn the winning strategies used by other crowdsourcing designers.
Client Brief
First steps after you’ve browsed for a new design job is to read the brief through 1-2 times and absorb the customer’s vision and deliverables for their project. Take note of the deadline to submit.
Next, reread the brief and look for the keywords or phrases to group into relevant buckets like ‘must have’ and ‘nice to have’ requirements.
In the example below, you’ll see the keywords from the brief requirements in bold that relate to art direction or style, shape, font, color, context for where the design will be used and seen.
We need a logo for our company called NorthWest Yarns in Bellingham, WA. We sell yarns, knitting and crochet accoutrements, spinning wheels, fibre for spinning, and looms.
Cephalopods (like octopus and squid) are important for our brand, as we are known for our cephalopod artwork inside the shop.
We’re looking for something vintage-y, perhaps even as far as hipster-y, and that incorporates either tentacles or cephalopods.
Bonus points for figuring out how to work in a skein of yarn and knitting needles. Or a Turkish drop spindle.
We will want any fonts used to have serifs. We would also prefer a black and white/ transparent design
since we will also be using this as an adhesive vinyl cutout on our shop windows.
Must have:
- Deliverable: Logo, Combination Mark (combination of the logomark and logotype)
- Company name: NorthWest Yarns
- Theme/pictorial element: Ocotopus, Squid, tentacles
- Visual look and feel: Vintage logos, Hipster logos
- Fonts: Serifs
- Color preferences: black and white or transparent background
- Printing: Used for shop window signage via vinyl cutout
Nice to have:
- Work in a second pictorial element: skein of yarn, knitting needles or Turkish drop spindle.
Using the keywords from the brief, we show you the logo designs that matched the design brief and designs that did not fit the requirements.
Vintage-y
 |
Tentacles or cephalopods
Skein of yarn and knitting needles
|
|
Skein of yarn and knitting needles
 |
 |
Font: Serifs
 |
 |
Black and White
 |
 |
Conclusion
Carefully read the customer’s design brief and deliver designs that meet the requirements. Then wait for customer feedback on your designs before you submit further iterations or new design concepts. Lastly, it’s important to scan the brief for every keyword and make a list of what elements must be included. Then jump into brainstorming mode and start sketching ideas.
Want more?
Tips for designing your company logo
What does it take to create a custom logo (Infogaphic)
Logo, logomark, logotype: What’s the difference and what do you need?
What Is Brand Collateral? How to present your best designs to clients
Written by Divya Abe on Saturday, May 19, 2018
Divya Abe is an expert graphic designer ready to share her knowledge with the crowd. Besides spending quality time on the internet she enjoys anything to do with cats. Get in touch via Google+.