How to Write a Web Design Brief That Really Works
Are you planning to design a new website or redesign your existing one? A web design brief is a crucial document that outlines the objectives, goals, and requirements for the website. A well-crafted web design brief can help you communicate your ideas and expectations to your web design team, ensuring that they can create a website that meets your needs. In this article, we will guide you on how to write a web design brief that works.
What is a Web Design Brief?
Before we delve into the specifics of writing a web design brief, let’s define what it is. A web design brief is a document that outlines the objectives, goals, and requirements for a website. It is a crucial document that helps a web design team to understand your needs and create a website that meets your expectations. A web design brief typically includes the following elements:
1. Company Overview
In this section, you should provide an overview of your company. This should include your company’s history, mission, and values. You should also provide information about your target audience and the services or products you offer.
2. Project Goals and Objectives
In this section, you should outline the goals and objectives of your website. What do you want your website to achieve? Do you want to increase brand awareness, generate leads, or improve customer engagement? You should also define the success metrics for your website.
3. Target Audience
Who is your target audience? What are their demographics, interests, and pain points? Understanding your target audience will help your web design team to create a website that resonates with them.
4. Scope of Work
In this section, you should outline the scope of work for your website. What are the specific features and functionalities that you require? Do you need e-commerce capabilities, a blog, or a contact form?
5. Competitor Analysis
It’s important to understand your competitors and what they are doing. In this section, you should analyze your competitors’ websites and identify what works and what doesn’t. This will help your web design team to create a website that sets you apart from your competitors.
6. Design Preferences and Platform
In this section, you should provide information about your design preferences. Do you have a specific colour scheme, font, or layout in mind? Providing visual examples of websites that you like can also be helpful. It may also be useful to do a little research on the various website CMS platforms and decide whether you would prefer a Webflow agency to build the website or build the website using WordPress, Jooma or something similar.
7. Technical Requirements
In this section, you should outline the technical requirements for your website. What platform do you want your website to be built on? Do you have any specific hosting requirements?
8. Timeline and Budget
In this section, you should define the timeline and budget for your website. When do you want your website to be launched? What is your budget for the project? Defining these parameters will help your web design team to plan the project accordingly.
How to Write a Web Design Brief
Now that we’ve covered the elements of a web design brief, let’s dive into how to write one.
Step 1: Define Your Objectives
The first step in writing a web design brief is to define your objectives. What do you want your website to achieve? Do you want to increase sales, generate leads, or improve customer engagement? Defining your objectives will help you to create a website that aligns with your business goals.
Step 2: Identify Your Target Audience
Once you have defined your objectives, the next step is to identify your target audience. Who are your ideal customers? What are their demographics, interests, and pain points? Understanding your target audience will help you to create a website that resonates with them.
Step 3: Analyse Your Competitors
The third step is to analyse your competitors. Take a look at their websites and identify what works and what doesn’t. This will help you to create a website that sets you apart from your competitors. Look at their design, features, and functionalities, and see what you can do better.
Step 4: Define the Scope of Work
After identifying your objectives, target audience, and competitors, it’s time to define the scope of work for your website. This includes the specific features and functionalities that you need. Do you need e-commerce capabilities, a blog, or a contact form? List down all the requirements so that your web design team can have a clear idea of what you need.
Step 5: Provide Design Preferences
Next, provide your design preferences. This includes the colour scheme, font, and layout that you want for your website. You can also provide visual examples of websites that you like. This will help your web design team to understand your design preferences and create a website that matches your vision.
Step 6: Outline Technical Requirements
In this step, you should outline the technical requirements for your website. This includes the platform you want your website to be built on, any specific hosting requirements, and any other technical specifications that you have.
Step 7: Define Timeline and Budget
Lastly, define the timeline and budget for your website. This includes the launch date for your website and the budget that you have allocated for the project. Defining these parameters will help your web design team to plan the project accordingly and ensure that the project stays within your budget.
Conclusion
Writing a web design brief may seem like a daunting task, but it’s a crucial step in ensuring that your website meets your expectations. By following these steps, you can create a web design brief that effectively communicates your objectives, target audience, and requirements to your web design team. This will help your team to create a website that meets your needs and achieves your business goals.