Embarking on the journey to create a new website is an exciting step for any business. However, the success of this project largely depends on how well you communicate your vision and requirements to your web designers. A well-crafted brief serves as the foundation for your project, ensuring that the design team understands your goals, brand identity, and functional needs. At Jonathan Hurley Design, we believe that a comprehensive web design brief is essential for delivering a website that not only meets but exceeds your expectations. In this blog post, we’ll guide you through the key elements to include in your brief to ensure a successful collaboration.
Background Information
Start your brief with an overview of your company, including:
Business Overview: Describe what your business does, the industry you’re in, and your unique selling points.
Target Audience: Define who your primary and secondary audiences are. Include demographics like age, gender, location, and any specific interests or needs they may have.
Competitors: List your main competitors and note what you like or dislike about their websites. This helps the design team understand where you are coming from.
Project Objectives
Clearly outline the primary goals of your website. This might include:
Brand Awareness: Are you looking to establish or enhance your brand presence?
Lead Generation: Do you want to capture leads through contact forms or newsletter sign-ups?
E-commerce: Are you planning to sell products or services directly from your site?
Information Sharing: Is the main purpose to provide information about your services, products, or industry?
Be as specific as possible about what you want to achieve with your new website.
Design and Aesthetic Preferences
Share your vision for the look and feel of your website. Consider including:
Branding Elements: Provide your logo, brand colours, fonts, and any other brand guidelines. If you don’t have these, our branding services can help you establish them.
Visual Style: Describe the desired aesthetic (modern, minimalist, professional, playful, etc.). You can also share examples of websites you like and explain what appeals to you about them. Conversely, you might like to show them examples of websites that you don’t like.
Imagery and Media: Specify the type of images, videos, or graphics you’d like to use. If you have a media library, share access with your designers. Tell them if you require bespoke photography or if you are happy to use generic images from a photo library like Adobe Stock for instance.
Functional Requirements
Detail the specific features and functionalities your website needs, such as:
Navigation: Outline your preferred site structure and main navigation items.
Content Management: Will you need a content management system (CMS) like WordPress? Specify if you need the ability to update content regularly.
E-commerce Functionality: If applicable, describe the e-commerce features you need, such as product catalogs, payment gateways, or customer reviews.
Interactive Elements: Mention any forms, chatbots, or other interactive components you want.
Integrations: List any third-party integrations needed, such as CRM systems, social media, or email marketing platforms.
Content Outline
Provide an outline of the content that will be featured on your website:
Pages: List the main pages (Home, About, Services, Contact, Blog, etc.) and any subpages.
Content Strategy: Explain your content strategy, including tone, style, and key messages. If you need help with content creation, our team can assist you.
Technical Specifications
Include any technical requirements or preferences:
Hosting and Domain: Indicate whether you have a domain and hosting provider or if you need recommendations. All our sites are hosted on Cloudways – a managed cloud hosting platform that delivers reliable and fast performance and value.
Responsive Design: Confirm if the website should be mobile-friendly and compatible with different devices and browsers.
SEO Considerations: Note any Search Engine Optimisation requirements, including keyword optimisation, meta descriptions, and alt text for images.
Timeline and Budget
Set clear expectations for the project timeline and budget:
Timeline: Provide your ideal launch date and any key milestones along the way. This helps in setting realistic deadlines.
Budget: Share your budget range to ensure the proposed solutions align with your financial resources.
Contact and Collaboration
Specify the main point of contact for the project and any preferred communication methods or tools (email, phone, video calls, project management software).
Future Plans and Maintenance
Discuss any future plans for the website, such as ongoing maintenance, updates, or additional features. This helps the design team plan for scalability and future-proofing your site.
Conclusion
Creating a comprehensive web design brief is a crucial step in the web development process. It ensures that your designers have a clear understanding of your vision, goals, and requirements, ultimately leading to a website that aligns perfectly with your brand and business objectives. At Jonathan Hurley Design, we are dedicated to making the web design process smooth and enjoyable. For more insights and tips, or if you’re ready to start your project, visit our contact page to get in touch with us. You can also explore our portfolio to see examples of our work and the successful projects we’ve delivered for our clients.
By following these guidelines, you’ll be well on your way to creating an effective web design brief that sets your project up for success!
