Creating the Perfect Design Brief: How to Manage Design for Strategic Advantage [Paperback]

Peter L. Phillips (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2004

In one of the only books of its kind, a veteran design consultant offers the tools for success gained from nearly 30 years of developing corporate and brand identity programs. Readers will discover the most effective formats for design briefs, how to structure the best possible team, what distinguishes a great design brief from an adequate one, how to use the brief in project tracking, as a measuring tool, and as a means of getting approval for a design solution; and much, much more.




• Covers all the essential elements comprising an effective design brief

• Copublished with the prestigious Design Management Institute

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This book offers plenty of solid advice on the means of effective design brief development. But its larger value lies in Phillips’ distilled wisdom in how to employ the design brief as a strategic design management tool. His is a virtually sure-fire formula for increasing design’s centrality to, and influence upon, corporate culture today.”
  (Michael Eckersley, Principal, Human Centered )

From the Publisher

According to a recent survey by the Design Management Institute, development of truly useful design briefs is one of the top ten issues that design professionals struggle with on an on-going basis. This book reveals what every design manager must know to build and develop a strategic, business relevant design organization and process.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Allworth Press; 1 edition (March 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1581153244
• ISBN-13: 978-1581153248
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.5 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #103,260 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #98 in Books > Business & Investing > Management & Leadership > Production & Operations

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent and valuable read June 18, 2007

By AJT

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I found this book after looking for a book that would help me in leading an in-house design firm at a non-profit. I think I instinctively knew some of the key principles in this book - however this book really spelled those out and gave me the tools to begin to implement them.

Fundamentally the author's point is that designers must learn to deliver real value for the organization and in a language non-designers understand and appreciate. A well constructed design brief is the vehicle through which much of this can happen. As a result, "do you like it" is less likely to be the question we ask, rather it should be "does this solve a business problem".

A simple but invaluable read, this book is designed for those of us who wrestle with the tension of leading designers who want space to be creative at the same time as we wrestle with "clients" who seemingly don't know what they want until they see the finished product - which of course they don't like.

Well worth the read and highly recommended

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great read - more than the title suggests. March 19, 2012

By Mat Alancheril

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

While there is no such thing as a perfect design brief, Philips does a great job of providing guidelines for covering your bases. While the title suggests it's all about the brief, what's most valuable about this book is that it's actually a great guide to project management philosophy for design projects. This was a quick but insightful read.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Very good June 13, 2009

By Carolyn A. Henry

Format:Paperback

This book goes into great detail about the aspects of a design brief and explains why briefs are good. I recommend it for those who are curious about writing briefs or who want to improve their skills in briefs.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars No such thing as a "perfect design brief" December 21, 2010

By Zachary

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

The elements of a design brief are discussed, and for someone unfamiliar with them it provides a good overview of the various elements. I don't believe there is such as thing as the "perfect design brief." The book was purchased as a textbook, and the moral of the story for class was that a design brief should contain whatever you want it to contain, as long as it communicates the message. Unless you're working in design or product management I wouldn't recommend this book.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Complete Resource December 11, 2012

By Carole Del Vecchio

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Great price. Full of excellent tips. Bought it to accompany my text book for a design engineering class I am taking.

4 of 9 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Good book. August 18, 2006

By B. Orr

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This book was very helpful and precise. I work for digital media designers, so this book not only helped me improve my skills, but helped me look more professional. :)

0 of 7 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars From the need to know guy... January 7, 2009

By David Newcomer

Format:Paperback

Material required to create a teaching lecture for college students. I suspect it will have material that will inspire and develop a quality learning situation.