What are the most effective ways to research for a creative brief?

1 Analyze the brief

The first step in your research is to analyze the brief that your client or stakeholder has provided. This is where you clarify the goals, the scope, the budget, and the timeline of the project. You also identify any gaps, assumptions, or questions that you need to address. Analyzing the brief helps you to define the problem that you are trying to solve, and the criteria that you will use to measure your success. It also helps you to avoid misunderstandings, conflicts, or scope creep later on.

2 Research the audience

The next step in your research is to understand the audience that you are designing for. This is where you learn about their needs, preferences, behaviors, and motivations. You also learn about their challenges, pain points, and goals. Researching the audience helps you to empathize with them, and to create a design that speaks to them, resonates with them, and solves their problem. You can use various methods to research the audience, such as surveys, interviews, personas, user journeys, or analytics.

3 Research the market

The third step in your research is to understand the market that you are operating in. This is where you learn about the trends, the competitors, the opportunities, and the threats that affect your project. You also learn about the best practices, the standards, and the expectations that shape your industry. Researching the market helps you to position your design in a way that stands out, adds value, and meets the demand. You can use various sources to research the market, such as reports, articles, reviews, or case studies.

4 Research the inspiration

The fourth step in your research is to find inspiration for your design. This is where you explore different styles, techniques, formats, and examples that relate to your project. You also look for creative ways to express your message, to engage your audience, and to achieve your goals. Researching the inspiration helps you to spark your imagination, to expand your possibilities, and to refine your direction. You can use various tools to research the inspiration, such as mood boards, sketches, or online platforms.

5 Research the feedback

The fifth step in your research is to get feedback on your design. This is where you test your assumptions, validate your ideas, and improve your solution. You also learn from your mistakes, overcome your challenges, and optimize your results. Researching the feedback helps you to ensure that your design meets the brief, satisfies the audience, and surpasses the market. You can use various techniques to research the feedback, such as prototypes, reviews, or usability tests.

6 Write the brief

The final step in your research is to write the brief that summarizes your findings and outlines your design solution. This is where you communicate your vision, your strategy, and your rationale to your client or stakeholder. You also define the scope, the deliverables, and the timeline of your design process. Writing the brief helps you to align with your client or stakeholder, to set clear expectations, and to gain approval. You can use various formats to write the brief, such as documents, presentations, or videos.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?