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Here are 50 Design Brief Questions To Ask Before Every New Project

In this week's Resourceful Designer podcast I'm covering 50 questions you can ask whenever you're faced with a new design brief. For a more in-depth discussion on each of these questions, please listen to the podcast by pressing the orange play button above. Or better yet, click on one of the orange destination buttons above to subscribe to the podcast.

I don't expect you to ask all of these questions. Pick and choose the ones right for the design brief about the design project you're discussing, and in the process come up with questions of your own.

Remember, no design project ever failed because the designer knew too much about the company that's hiring them.

I've divided the questions into five sections.

1. Questions about the company hiring you for a design project
2. Questions about the company's target audience
3. Questions about the company's brand
4. Questions about the company's design preferences
5. Questions about the design project's scale, timeframe and budget

To facilitate the conversation, I'm using “company” as a global replacement for the client. You can ask the same design brief questions to individuals, service clubs, organisations, charities, events, etc.

Design Brief Questions about the company hiring you for a design project.

1. What is the name of your company?
2. Can you describe what your company does?
3. What services or products do your company produce?
4. How long have you been in business?
5. Why was this company started?
6. How big is the company?
7. Are you a local, national or international company?
8. Who is your competition?
9. How are you different from your competition?
10. How are your competitors marketing themselves?
11. What are the long-term goals of your company?
12. Can you describe your company's strengths?
13. Can you describe your company's weaknesses?

Design Brief Questions about the company's target audience

1. Can you identify and describe your target audience? (Age, gender, social class, location)
2. Are you focusing just on this market or are you trying to hit other markets as well?
3. How do you think your target audience describes your company?
4. How does your target audience currently discover your company?
5. How do you connect with your target audience?

Design Brief Questions about the company's brand

1. Does your company use a specific colour palette?
2. Are there any design elements associated with your company? (fonts, icons, images, etc.)
3. Does your company have a mission statement?
4. What current and former marketing material have you used?
5. What did you like or dislike about your past marketing material?
6. Why are you looking for something new?
7. Do you have a company slogan?
8. What feedback have you received on your past marketing material?
9. Do you consider your brand material to be more traditional or modern?
10. Is your brand associated with high end or cost-effective products and services?
11. What would you like your target audience to think of when they see your marketing material? 

Design Brief Questions about the company's design preferences 

1. What colour palettes do you prefer?
2. Will this project be used in print, on the web, etc.
3. Is there anything from your past marketing material that you would like incorporated into the new project?
4. Are there any restrictions or limitations to consider when designing this project?
5. Are there any new design elements you would like to try in this project?
6. Are there any design styles you do not like?

Design Brief Questions about the design project's scale, timeframe and budget

1. Do you have a budget for this project?
2. How many different concepts would you like to see?
3. What material will you be providing me for this project?
4. Are there any deadlines associated with this design project? (Are these preferable or firm deadlines?)
5. Who will be my primary contact on this project?
6. Who is involved in the approval process?
7. Are there any third parties involved in this design project?
8. Who will be dealing with involved third parties?
9. What services are you expecting from me?
10. What do you expect from me regarding this design project?
11. What material do you require from me at the completion of this design project?
12. Is there anything else you would like to discuss that we haven't already covered?

Bonus Design Brief Questions

1. Can I help you with any other design projects?
2. Is there anything I asked you about that you need help with?
3. Do you know anyone else that may require my services?

And finally…

The last questions you should always ask, When do you want me to get started on this design project?

Four Week Marketing Boost – FREE GUIDE

The Four Week Marketing Boost! is a free guide I created that will help you strengthen your marketing position, boost your brand’s awareness & social presence and ultimately ensure you are in tip-top shape to offer a best first impression to potential new clients.

This guide is divided into 20 short actions that comfortably fit into your regular day and are designed to take as little time away from your client work as possible. Although you can complete these exercises quickly, it is recommended you tackle only one per day, spending no more than 30 minutes per task. After completing this four-week plan you will be in a better position to present yourself to, and win over new clients.

You can download the Four Week Marketing Boost for free by visiting marketingboost.net. Or, if you are in the U.S.A., you can text the word MARKETINGBOOST to 44222.

Improve your business' image and create the best first impression possible to attract more clients.

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Design Resource

This week's resource is PDFpen. A Mac-only software used to sign, fill out, correct, complete, edit and alter PDF files. I've been using PDFPen for several months now, and it has quickly become my go-to software whenever I need to work with PDFs. Keep an eye out as PDFpen is often included in software bundles or at a reduced price on its own.

I want to help you.

Running a graphic design or web design business all by yourself isn't easy. If there are any struggles you face running your design business, please reach out to me. I'll do my best to help you by addressing your issues in a future blog post or podcast episode here at Resourceful Designer. You can reach me at feedback@resourcefuldesigner.com