6 Things You Need to Include in a Web Design Brief

When you seek out the services of a web designer or developer, you may be asked to put together a brief. Not only will this help them get a good idea of what it is you’re after, but it will also help you to envisage what your new site will look like.

How does one go about putting together a web design brief, however? After all, it’s unlikely you’ll have ever needed to do one before. Here are the six most important things to include in your web design brief.

1. Who You Are

The first thing you’re going to want to include is a little bit of background information on your business. The designer will want to get a good idea of what your business does, what your company goals are, and what your ethos is. This will give them a clear picture of how you want your company to be portrayed on the internet. You should also give some information on who your target audience is. This will make it easier when it comes to designing the overall look and theme of the site.

2. Objectives

Next up, you need to set some clear objectives of what you want from this new website. Are you asking for an old website to be redesigned? Are you hoping for something to be created from scratch? Do you have exact ideas of what you want to achieve from your new website? It may be that you’re hoping for something extremely user-friendly and minimalistic, to boost your sales. Perhaps you want something flashy that shows off your portfolio of work. Let your web designer know what your objectives and goals are.

3. Schedule

Be honest and upfront with your web developer as to when you want this project completed. If you don’t tell them that it’s urgent then don’t be surprised if it’s not completed on time. You may need some leeway in your schedule if you’re asking for a lot done in a short space of time. Your expert will be able to advise you as to realistic timescales.

4. Budget

It can be a touchy subject, but it’s one you’re going to want to bring up. Let your web designer know exactly how much you have to spend on your new website. Also, tell them what you’re hoping to get from that budget. Don’t forget that good web design doesn’t come cheap so you will get what you pay for.

5. The Style

This is a key section to add to your brief! You may have an exact image in your mind of how you want your website to look. Alternatively, you may have a few key ideas that you want translated into something unique. When it comes to the style and overall web design, you’ll find that there is no right or wrong answer. Whatever you want, most good designers will be able to recreate for you.

6. The Functionality

Finally, you should include any information about how you want your website to function. Do you want a one-page scrolling site that’s easy for mobile use? Perhaps you’d like lots of menus with sections and sub-sections. Will there be splash pages and flash images? Let your web developer know how what you’re expecting the user experience to be like.

These are the six key elements that will make up a perfect web design. Not all companies will expect you to provide them with an in-depth brief, but most of them will ask questions based on the above. Be prepared and ensure you get the website of your dreams!