A design brief (also known as a creative brief) is a document that outlines the needs of a visual design, used to facilitate communication and ensure clarity between a designers, or multiple teams working together on a creative campaign or project.

A design brief template includes logistical details-the specific deliverables, creative assets, and budget or timeline constraints-as well as insights about the visuals themselves and how they'll be used-the campaigns goals, target audience, guidelines, tonality, competitors, and more.

Writing an effective design brief is a collaborative process. Start with a creative design brief template that everyone on your team- and external teams, if desired-can freely edit and access. Some teams will create their briefs internally then share them with the creative agency or freelance designers working on the project, while other groups might choose to collaborate in the design process from the very first touchpoint: the brief itself.

In either case, you'll want to start with the big-picture, then zoom in to touch on more granular design elements, details and requirements, based on what will resonate with your audience and convey your message clearly. With FigJam's editable template, it's easy to add visual elements and inspirational images, in addition to writing descriptive text, so feel free to exercise a multi-media approach.

In terms of what makes a good design brief, both high-level ideas and the nitty-gritty details matter. Whether it's graphic design, web design, or other creative work, generally a sample design brief will include the following sections:

• Objectives: Specify the purpose of this project to determine the driving force behind every design decision.
• Target audience: Identify the customer group the design should speak to.
• Design guidelines: Include concrete details such as colors, fonts, styles, and images that fit with the brand or project. Don’t forget key messaging that tells the brand’s story.
• Project details: A good design brief template example always has room for a timeline or schedule, clarifying the deliverables and their deadlines.

Not sure where to start? Follow our simple example of a design brief. FigJam's design brief includes all the essentials for a successful project so you can jump in whenever inspiration strikes. Also, check out the community section of our website that has additional design brief templates built by the Figma community.