Illustration Brief | Guide and Template

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When switching from Google Docs to HolaBrief, I found that our briefs became significantly more in depth
- Terri Williams, Agency Founder

What is an illustration creative brief?

The right illustration brief can transform any project and provide you with a wide array of benefits. What is an illustration project brief, exactly? Well, this is a unique document that clearly outlines exactly what you expect from the project and gives your illustrator all of the details they need to accurately produce your vision.

This might sound simple enough, but one minor miscommunication early on can lead to an end result that is far from what you had expected. This can be very frustrating and result in more time and more expense.

That is why you what to ensure that you are being as thorough as you can be when creating your illustration design brief. Your brief should include:

  • The style of illustration that you want (if you can include any examples, even better)
  • The deadline for any deliverables
  • The intended audience
  • What you hope to gain from the project

No matter what your project might be, the more comprehensive you are, the better the final product you will receive. Do not be afraid to include everything you can think of, your illustrator will appreciate it!

What are the hidden benefits of implementing an illustration design brief?

Developing a clear illustration brief is essential in helping you achieve the results you want, and it can provide you with a huge array of benefits. The first is that it will act as a clear blueprint for both yourself and the illustrator. Going through the process of creating your illustration project brief is also your chance to clearly think about your project and what you are expecting to achieve from it.

A comprehensive illustration design brief will also help to give you complete peace of mind. This document will ensure that you are both on the same page and working towards the same goal, minimizing the risk of miscommunication or errors.

By being able to reduce that risk, it reduces the amount of back and forth that you will need to undertake with your illustrator, saving you considerable time. Of course, it is not only about saving you time. When you are not having to make multiple revisions to your design, it means you will not have to face additional costs.

You can also use your illustration brief as a sales pitch to your illustrator, giving them the confidence that they are working with a professional and well-organized client. A brief is also able to demonstrate your passion for the project and help them understand your enthusiasm.

How do you write an illustration brief? A test outline

Now you know the many benefits that a thorough illustration design brief can provide, how do you start writing one? This is one of the toughest challenges, and if you have never previously written one, it can be very confusing to know where to begin.

Checking out previous examples or examining samples is always a great way to begin with. This will help you to understand what is required and what you need to complete. To help you create the perfect illustration brief for your designer, we have put together the five key points you will need to remember:

1) Project description

The first thing that you will need to do is to create a comprehensive product description. This should effectively be a summary of your vision, what you imagine it to look like, and also what you expect from your illustrator.

The project description summary aspect of your illustration brief is one of the most critical aspects and should also detail what the project is. It is during this section that you should outline your vision and any styles that you have in mind. You could also use this opportunity to include any examples of existing projects that you like.

2) Objective

When you have been able to complete a thorough project description, your next step is to clearly outline your objective. This should clearly outline what the end result will look like and what you are hoping to achieve from the project.

It is during this process that you should also consider how you will use the end project and what platforms you will be using the illustration on.

3) Requirements

The next stage of your illustration design brief is to then clearly state the requirements that you expect from your illustrator. The requirements stage should include any brand guidelines that you have, such as colors, fonts, logos, and spacing requirements.

When creating your requirements, you will also need to ensure that you stipulate any dimensions that the illustrator needs to follow. This will depend on the platforms you will be using the imagery on, as outlined in stage two.

4) Timeline and deliverables

With this information completed, you can then begin to create a realistic timeline. The more thorough you are with your illustration brief, the less time your illustrator will need to spend going back and forth with you, and the faster they will be able to complete the project.

Of course, that is not to say that you will not need to engage with your illustrator still. That is why you should set clear deliverables and milestones throughout the project. This ensures that any small issues can be quickly identified and fixed before they become major areas of concern.

5) Look, feel, and direction

The final stage of your illustration creative brief should be to clearly outline the look, feel, and direction of your entire project. This should cover everything from the final design of the project to how you want to make the viewer feel when they see it.

You should also outline what you expect in terms of the direction you need to provide. This will give the illustrator everything they need to help you create the perfect end result.

You can use our interactive Moodboards to take care of this section! Feel free to try it out in HolaBrief without cost!

Build and download your illustration creative brief samples

Now we have taken you through a quick sample guide of what is required in an illustration design brief, we thought we would help you further by providing some unique examples. At HolaBrief, our mission is to help you complete the very best illustration brief possible.

We know how frustrating it can seem to be staring at a blank paper and not knowing where to start. That is why we have created a unique software that utilizes our years of experience to give you the head start you deserve. Give it a try for free and use our Illustration template.

So if you are looking to create the best illustration brief possible, check out our samples today or get in touch with our team with any questions you might have.

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Build interactive briefs that your clients will love to fill out

Either pick from our tested templates or create custom briefs using interactive exercises like Moodboard, Customer Persona, or Competitors Map. Once done, send the link to the client so they can respond without the need to have an account.

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Ready to create standout work in less time?

Join 1000s of agencies using HolaBrief to set up their projects for success.