Briefing an Industrial Designer


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A brief for an external designer sets out the objectives, scope and the design ambition of the product development and should be viewed as an evolving document. As with all things in design, there is no 'best' way of writing the optimum design brief, it can be as long, short detailed or open as is viewed appropriate.

Often, a very short brief is appropriate when the market and users are unknown and the company wishes the designer to research and define the market as well as conceptualise possible product solutions. When the project demands an incremental innovation, based around known technologies, markets and customers, it is often more appropriate to produce a highly detailed brief in order to 'bring the designer up to speed' on the company's perceptions of the needs and wants of the customers and the technological constraints.

The designer needs to take in a large amount of tacit and explicit information quickly, and the brief helps to structure this exchange. Pragmatically, the brief should include as much detail as is either known or felt necessary by the client company; it is preferable to provide too much rather than too little information.

In addition to details describing the product requirements, a good brief to an external designer should also provide some contextual background to the company, its history, culture and markets.

Do we need a written brief for external designers?

A written brief is certainly not essential, but is a useful point of reference should there be any issues to resolve later in the process. Many design projects are undertaken with no formal written brief. Indeed, often the most effective way to convey complex information on products and markets is face to face, through discussion and demonstration. A brief to a designer should not replace this interaction, but support and enhance it. Thus, the brief provides information on the project objectives, in addition to details on the way in which the relationship will be managed.

What should the brief contain?

The following sections indicate the core elements of a brief to an external industrial designer.

The opportunity
  • The problem being addressed
  • The market - target audience
  • The market - competition
  • The customer - sketch profile
  • The place of use - a sketch profile
The proposed product
  • The product vision
  • Key functionality
  • Assumptions and constraints
  • Ergonomic issues
  • Aesthetic issues
  • Technical issues
The project
  • Objective
  • Project goals
  • Business goals
  • Production volumes
  • Budget
  • Risks
  • Specific requirements
  • CAD compatibility
  • Project management
  • Success criteria
The company
  • Background information
  • Business strategy
The ID requirement
  • Scope of involvement
  • Skills required
  • Terms of business

 

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