9.7 KiB
9.7 KiB
Design Brief Template
A comprehensive template for creating design project briefs.
Project Overview
Project Name
[Project name]
Problem Statement
[What user problem or business need are we addressing?]
Background & Context
[Why now? What led to this project?]
Project Type
- New Feature
- Redesign
- Design System
- Brand/Visual Design
- UX Research
- Other: ___________
Design Goals & Objectives
Primary Goal
[The main design objective - what success looks like]
Secondary Goals
- [Goal 2]
- [Goal 3]
- [Goal 4]
Business Objectives
- [How does this support business goals?]
- [What business metrics will this impact?]
User Objectives
- [What user needs does this address?]
- [How will this improve the user experience?]
Target Users
Primary Audience
Who: [User segment or persona name] Characteristics:
- Demographics: [Age, location, role, etc.]
- Technical proficiency: [Beginner, intermediate, expert]
- Current behavior: [How they currently solve this problem]
- Pain points: [Specific frustrations]
Secondary Audience
Who: [Additional user segment] Characteristics:
- [Key characteristics]
- [Specific needs]
User Personas
Persona 1: [Name]
- Role: [Job title/role]
- Goals: [What they want to achieve]
- Frustrations: [Current pain points]
- Quote: "[A representative quote]"
Persona 2: [Name]
- Role: [Job title/role]
- Goals: [What they want to achieve]
- Frustrations: [Current pain points]
- Quote: "[A representative quote]"
User Research
Research Completed
- User interviews (n = [number])
- Surveys (n = [number])
- Analytics review
- Competitor analysis
- Usability testing
- Other: ___________
Key Findings
-
Finding 1: [Insight from research]
- Evidence: [Data/quotes supporting this]
-
Finding 2: [Insight from research]
- Evidence: [Data/quotes supporting this]
-
Finding 3: [Insight from research]
- Evidence: [Data/quotes supporting this]
Research Gaps
[What don't we know yet? What assumptions need validation?]
Scope
In Scope
Features/Experiences:
- [Feature/flow 1]
- [Feature/flow 2]
- [Feature/flow 3]
Platforms:
- Web (Desktop)
- Web (Mobile)
- iOS Native
- Android Native
- Other: ___________
Deliverables:
- [Wireframes]
- [High-fidelity mockups]
- [Prototypes]
- [Design system components]
Out of Scope
[What we are explicitly NOT doing in this phase]
- [Excluded feature 1]
- [Excluded feature 2]
- [Future consideration 1]
Constraints
Technical:
- [Technical limitations or requirements]
Business:
- [Budget, timeline, resource constraints]
Design:
- [Brand guidelines, existing patterns to maintain]
User Flows & Journeys
Primary User Flow
Goal: [What the user wants to accomplish]
Steps:
- [Entry point]
- [Step 2]
- [Step 3]
- [Success state]
Alternative paths:
- [Edge case or alternative flow]
Secondary Flows
Flow 2: [Brief description]
- [Key steps]
Flow 3: [Brief description]
- [Key steps]
Critical Interactions
-
Interaction 1: [Description of key interaction]
- Current experience: [How it works now]
- Desired experience: [How it should work]
-
Interaction 2: [Description]
- Current experience: [How it works now]
- Desired experience: [How it should work]
Design Principles
Project-Specific Principles
-
[Principle 1]: [Description]
- Example: [How this applies]
-
[Principle 2]: [Description]
- Example: [How this applies]
-
[Principle 3]: [Description]
- Example: [How this applies]
Brand Principles (if applicable)
- [Existing brand principle that applies]
- [Existing brand principle that applies]
Visual Direction
Design Style
- Follow existing design system
- Extend design system
- New visual direction
Visual References
- [Link to inspiration/reference 1]
- [Link to inspiration/reference 2]
- [Link to competitor examples]
Key Visual Elements
- Color palette: [Specific colors or guidance]
- Typography: [Typefaces and hierarchy]
- Imagery style: [Photography, illustration, icons]
- Motion: [Animation principles if applicable]
Accessibility Requirements
WCAG Level Target
- WCAG 2.1 Level A
- WCAG 2.1 Level AA (recommended)
- WCAG 2.1 Level AAA
Specific Requirements
- Keyboard navigation
- Screen reader support
- Color contrast (4.5:1 minimum)
- Focus indicators
- Alternative text for images
- Captions for video/audio
- Responsive text sizing
- Reduced motion support
Accessibility Considerations
[Any specific accessibility challenges or requirements for this project]
Success Criteria
Qualitative Metrics
- Users can complete [primary task] without assistance
- Users express positive sentiment about [feature]
- Design passes usability testing with < 3 critical issues
- Stakeholders approve design direction
- Design is consistent with brand guidelines
Quantitative Metrics
Primary Metrics:
Secondary Metrics:
Business Metrics:
Measurement Plan
- How: [How will we measure success?]
- When: [Timeline for measuring]
- Baseline: [Current metrics if available]
Deliverables
Design Artifacts
- User flow diagrams
- Wireframes (low-fidelity)
- Wireframes (high-fidelity)
- Visual design mockups
- Interactive prototype
- Design specifications
- Component documentation
- Design system updates
- Accessibility documentation
- Animation specifications
Documentation
- Design rationale
- User research summary
- Usability test report
- Developer handoff notes
- Content guidelines
Review Artifacts
- Presentation deck
- Design review recordings
- Feedback synthesis
Timeline & Milestones
Phase 1: Discovery & Research
Duration: [Timeframe]
- User research
- Competitive analysis
- Design audit (if applicable)
- Milestone: Research insights presented
Phase 2: Concept & Exploration
Duration: [Timeframe]
- Initial concepts (3+ directions)
- Stakeholder review
- Concept refinement
- Milestone: Design direction approved
Phase 3: Detailed Design
Duration: [Timeframe]
- Wireframes
- High-fidelity mockups
- Design system components
- Milestone: Design specs complete
Phase 4: Prototype & Validation
Duration: [Timeframe]
- Interactive prototype
- Usability testing
- Iterate based on feedback
- Milestone: Design validated
Phase 5: Handoff & Support
Duration: [Timeframe]
- Developer handoff
- Design QA
- Launch support
- Milestone: Design shipped
Key Dates
- Project kickoff: [Date]
- Design review 1: [Date]
- Design review 2: [Date]
- Final handoff: [Date]
- Launch: [Date]
Stakeholders & Collaboration
Core Team
- Design lead: [Name] - [Role/responsibility]
- Product manager: [Name]
- Engineering lead: [Name]
- Researcher: [Name]
- Content designer: [Name]
Reviewers & Approvers
- [Name, Title] - [What they approve]
- [Name, Title] - [What they approve]
Communication Plan
Design reviews:
- Weekly sync: [Day/time]
- Major milestones: [When]
Feedback channels:
- [Slack channel]
- [Figma comments]
- [Email for formal approvals]
Decision-making:
- Design decisions: [Who decides]
- Scope changes: [Who approves]
Design Tools & Resources
Tools
- Design: [Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD]
- Prototyping: [Figma, Framer, ProtoPie]
- User testing: [Lookback, UserTesting, Maze]
- Documentation: [Notion, Confluence]
Resources
- Design system: [Link]
- Brand guidelines: [Link]
- Component library: [Link]
- Research repository: [Link]
Risks & Mitigation
Potential Risks
-
Risk: [Description of risk]
- Impact: [High/Medium/Low]
- Mitigation: [How to address]
-
Risk: [Description of risk]
- Impact: [High/Medium/Low]
- Mitigation: [How to address]
-
Risk: [Description of risk]
- Impact: [High/Medium/Low]
- Mitigation: [How to address]
Dependencies
- [Dependency on other team/project]
- [Technical dependency]
- [Resource dependency]
Post-Launch
Success Review
- When: [Timeline for measuring success]
- Metrics to review: [List metrics from success criteria]
- Learning goals: [What do we want to learn?]
Iteration Plan
- [Planned improvements for v2]
- [Features deferred to future phases]
Documentation
- Case study
- Design learnings
- Pattern documentation
- Retrospective notes
Appendix
Research Links
- [Link to research findings]
- [Link to user interviews]
- [Link to analytics dashboard]
Design Files
- [Link to Figma file]
- [Link to prototype]
- [Link to design specs]
References
- [Competitor analysis]
- [Industry best practices]
- [Related projects]
Version History
| Version | Date | Author | Changes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | [Date] | [Name] | Initial draft |
| 0.2 | [Date] | [Name] | [Changes] |
| 1.0 | [Date] | [Name] | Final approved version |
Approval
- Design lead approved
- Product manager approved
- Engineering lead approved
- Stakeholder(s) approved
Date approved: ___________