Hey guys and welcome to this video.
Gareth here.
So as designers when we undertake projects 
we want to do the best job we can
and to do that we need to achieve the right results.
To achieve those results we need to understand exactly what the design task requires.
When we undertake any design we really want to avoid making arbitrary decisions.
A lot of inexperienced designers may want to jump right into the fun part of the design process
the act of designing or creating.
However, understanding the project's 
requirements could possibly be
the most important step in your design process.
If you fail to give this adequate attention you could completely miss your project goals.
The best design work is always work that:
Fulfils its purpose or function.
and delivers on the requirements of the project.
In doing so your aims will be to:
Communicate a key message or 
concept boldly and strong.
Communicate a key message or concept in a unique visually exciting and engaging way.
Have a good rationale behind it
and if it looks great too that's a bonus!
In the previous video I stated that:
Graphic Design is not about making things look pretty
Graphic Design is the organisation 
and presentation of information
developed through a creative process 
for a particular function.
Before we begin the design process for any project
we should always seek to understand what that particular function is.
To do this we should start by seeking as much information about the project as possible
Now this information is typically provided to us in the form of a graphic design brief.
So over the next couple of episodes 
I'm going to talk about the graphic design brief.
Later I will be showcasing some 
graphic design brief examples
and offering up a free graphic design 
brief template and some resources
for you to download and use should you need them.
In this video I'm going to talk about 
what the design brief is and why it's important.
So what is the Graphic design brief?
Well the graphic design brief is much 
like any other creative brief.
It's an overview of the project, what is required
and the design problems that need to be solved.
Here is an example of a typical design brief.
Now not every brief will be the same
terminology and structure will vary but
it should all cover the same criteria.
A typical brief should include all the
 relevant information a designer will need
in order to understand the context the requirements 
and the needs of the project
If you wish to take a closer look at this, you can find a downloadable link in the description.
So why is the brief so important?
Well the design brief is really key 
to the development of a project
the more thorough the initial design brief
the more potential there will be to solve the design problems required by the project.
One of the most frustrating things 
that can happen to any designer
is having to create work without being given an adequate design brief.
This can delay the process, it can misguide a designer
a client might not like or be happy with the end result
which leads to lots of amends 
having to be made in future
So lots of time wasted. A nightmare for most designers
Having a well outlined and detail brief will:
Help a designer stay on point.
Will be the source of reference 
for the duration of the project.
and can be used to contest solutions 
later should there be any disputes.
A successful project starts 
with a well thought out design brief.
Now there are two types of briefs.
A design brief will typically either 
be an open brief or a closed brief.
Basically open and closed briefs vary in the degree of creative freedom you have.
The open brief will typically offer more creative freedom
where as the closed brief will offer less.
Now I won't go into this in too much detail here
a lot can be said about this which 
we will be going into in the next episode.
So that is an introduction to the design brief.
As a designer before we take on any design project
we will always want to start with the design brief
with a design brief in hand 
we can begin the design process.
Now a quick question you may be wondering:
What if I'm not given the design brief?
Well it is not always the case that a brief will be presented to you
depending on who you're working for or with
you may be given a well detailed brief you may be given some verbal instructions
or you may be given no brief at all.
Typically when I work with design agencies or professional clients
a good thorough brief is provided
but some clients don't understand the 
design process, the need for design brief
or how to create a brief.
Some clients will also feel they 
don't have the time to create one.
Some clients may feel that a meeting 
will be more beneficial
where ideas and the project can be discussed verbally
in a more informal and collaborative scenario.
Whatever the case may be you 
will want to establish a solid design brief
before starting a design project.
If one is issued to you then great but if not there are steps which you can take in order to create one
which I will be discussing in a future episode.
In the next video I'm going to 
discuss what makes a good design brief
and take a closer look at the 
example we looked at earlier
So see you in the next video.
