Stretch tasks R093 TA2: Client Requirements and the Brief

Round 1: Quiz Blitz

1. The designer's favourite colour A brief covers purpose, audience, message, content, deliverables and constraints.
2. Exactly what is handed over, in which formats and sizes A deliverable includes the format and size, not just the thing itself.
3. tender The client picks one of the bids.
4. Informal It leaves no record of what was agreed.
5. Explicit It is stated in the brief.
6. True Nobody writes it down, but every client expects it.
7. Requirements growing after the brief is agreed A written brief and recorded sign off are the defence.
8. The client formally approves a stage Changes after sign off cost time and money.
9. Budget; Deadline Constraints are the limits: time, budget, resources, technical, legal, house style.
10. house style New work must obey the house style.
11. Cooperative A cooperative brief is shared.
12. It agrees a realistic brief before work begins Negotiation is professional, not a failure.

Round 2: Quick Fire

1. • Explicit is stated in the brief, such as a deadline
   • Implicit is expected without being stated, such as correct spelling
   Model answer

   An explicit requirement is stated in the brief, such as deliver by 14 March. An implicit requirement is expected without being stated, such as correct spelling or a website that works on a phone.

2. • It is a record of what was agreed
   • So disputes and scope creep can be settled
   Model answer

   A formal brief gives a record of exactly what was agreed. If there is a dispute, or the client later asks for more, both sides can point to it, so the client cannot insist they asked for something never mentioned and the designer cannot skip a deliverable.

3. • Use a licensed stock image instead
   • Or build the design around typography or illustration
   Model answer

   Instead of a shoot, the design could use one licensed stock image, or be built around bold typography and illustration. That keeps within the budget, and a typographic design also works at any size without recropping.

4. • The client formally approves a stage
   • Later changes cost time and money, which limits scope creep
   Model answer

   At a sign off point the client formally approves a stage before work moves on. Any change after that costs extra time and money, which discourages scope creep and protects the schedule.

Round 3: Big Think

1. • It is an informal brief with no record
   • So it is easy to dispute later
   • It gives no audience, message or deliverables
   • 'Nice' is taste, not a requirement
   • Implicit requirements need confirming, such as one colour use
   • Negotiate a realistic deadline and budget
   • Write it up as a formal brief the owner agrees
   • Agree sign off points
   Model answer

   A phone call is an informal brief, so there is no record of what was agreed, and it will be easy to dispute later. It is also vague: it gives no target audience, no message and no deliverables, and 'nice' is a matter of taste, not a requirement. Implicit requirements must be confirmed too, such as whether the logo must work in one colour, at small sizes and in the file formats the café needs for signs and cups. The designer should ask questions, negotiate a realistic deadline and budget, then write the answers up as a formal brief that the owner agrees by email. Agreeing sign off points for the concepts and the final logo protects both sides from scope creep.

2. • The purpose
   • The target audience
   • The message
   • The content
   • The deliverables
   • The constraints
   • Each one shapes a design decision
   • Without them the work could fail or cause a dispute
   Model answer

   The purpose says what the product is for, which decides its tone. The target audience says who it is for, which drives every design decision, from type size to platform. The message is the single idea the audience should take away. The content lists what must be included, such as the logo, contact details and legal lines. The deliverables say exactly what is handed over, in which formats and sizes. The constraints, such as the deadline, budget and house style, set the limits. Without any one of them, the designer has to guess, and the work could fail or lead to a dispute.

This or That

1. Explicit It is written in the brief.
2. Implicit The client expects it without saying it.
3. Informal An informal brief leaves no record of what was agreed.
4. Commission A tender invites several companies to bid.
5. Not helpful It guides no decisions, so no choice can be justified.
6. Costly That is why sign off points exist at all.
7. No: add the format and size A deliverable says exactly what is handed over, in which formats and sizes.
8. No: it is professional Agreeing a realistic brief at the start avoids problems later.

Memory Match

• A 4 Client brief: Sets out what the client needs
• B 1 Explicit requirement: Stated in the brief
• C 5 Implicit requirement: Expected but never stated
• D 2 Tender: Several companies bid for the job
• E 6 Sign off: Formal approval of a stage
• F 3 Scope creep: Requirements growing after agreement

Sort It

1. Implicit Text readable from across a room A poster is expected to be readable.
2. Implicit No misleading claims Expected, and a legal requirement too.
3. Explicit The logo must work in one colour A stated requirement.
4. Implicit Images the charity has the right to use Expected, even though unstated.
5. Implicit Files that open on the charity's software Expected without being said.
6. Explicit A3 size, as a print ready PDF A stated deliverable.
7. Explicit Use the charity's green, #2E7D32 A stated house style rule.
8. Explicit Deliver by 14 March A stated deadline.
9. Implicit Enough contrast for readers with low vision Accessible contrast is expected.
10. Implicit The charity's name is spelt correctly Nobody writes it down, but it is expected.
11. Explicit Include the charity number A stated content requirement.