Understand
Start with the business, the audience and the decision you need to make. Share useful context and any fixed requirements.
HOW WE WORK
Good work has a clear thread.
A shared understanding at the start. Thoughtful decisions along the way. A useful handover at the end.
Define
Agree the creative question, the deliverables, responsibilities and how feedback will work. Clear scope gives good work room to happen.
Develop
Explore a direction, discuss the rationale and refine the selected work. Keep the audience and purpose in view throughout.
Deliver
Prepare the agreed files and handover notes. Discuss usage, implementation and what ongoing support may be useful.
The first conversation
Start by describing the project you want to discuss. Agree the format and any commercial arrangements for discovery before that work begins. You describe the project you have in mind, the audience you are reaching and any constraints you already know about. The studio listens, asks clarifying questions and flags whether the work fits its capabilities before any commitment is made.
No fixed turnaround, guaranteed delivery or unlimited revisions are promised at this stage. The conversation establishes whether there is a good fit and what information will be needed to move forward. If you decide to proceed, the studio will request the materials and decisions you can supply before scoping begins.
- Prepare a brief description of the project, its purpose and target audience
- Note any deadlines, brand guidelines or assets you already hold
- Be ready to discuss budget expectations and decision-making contacts
- Understand that the consultation is free and carries no obligation
Discovery and scope agreement
During discovery the studio gathers the details needed to define the work: deliverables, formats, usage rights, brand references and technical requirements. You supply what you can—logos, style notes, copy, imagery—and the studio identifies gaps that need resolving before production can start.
The scope agreement records what is included, what is excluded and what decisions remain outstanding. Its relationship to the project agreement and the way changes are approved should be clear to everyone involved. Change requests that fall outside the agreed scope are discussed separately before work proceeds.
- List every deliverable you expect, including file formats and dimensions
- Provide brand assets, references and any copy that must be incorporated
- Confirm who has authority to approve creative decisions
- Agree how out-of-scope requests will be priced and scheduled
Creative direction and review
Creative direction translates the scope into visual concepts. The studio presents mood boards, style options or draft layouts for your feedback, and you indicate which direction to develop further. This is the stage where choices about tone, composition and hierarchy are locked in before production work begins.
Review rounds are built into the process, but they are not unlimited. Each round focuses on the agreed direction and the scope document; requests that alter the direction or add new deliverables are treated as change requests. Clear, consolidated feedback at each review keeps the project moving efficiently.
- Select a preferred direction from the presented options
- Consolidate feedback from all stakeholders before each review
- Flag any new requirements early so they can be scoped
- Confirm sign-off on direction before production work starts
Production and change requests
Production is where the approved direction is built into final assets. The studio manages the technical work—layout, editing, formatting and quality checks—while keeping you informed of progress. If new information emerges or requirements shift, the studio raises a change request rather than absorbing the work silently.
Change requests are documented with their impact on scope, cost and schedule. You approve or decline each request before the studio proceeds, which prevents misunderstandings and keeps the project transparent. Routine refinements within the approved direction are handled as part of the agreed process.
- Approve change requests in writing before additional work begins
- Report issues or new requirements as soon as they are identified
- Keep communication channels open for progress updates
- Distinguish between refinements and new scope when giving feedback
Handover and what you receive
Handover is the point at which the studio delivers the completed assets and any supporting files agreed in the scope document. You receive the files in the formats specified, along with any usage notes or brand guidance that were discussed. The studio confirms that all agreed deliverables are present before closing the project.
Anything not listed in the scope agreement is not included in the handover. If you need additional formats, extended usage rights or further assets after handover, these are treated as new work and scoped separately. Discuss further work and availability separately rather than assuming ongoing support is included after acceptance.
- Receive all deliverables in the agreed formats and locations
- Check the handover pack against the scope document
- Report missing or incorrect items before final acceptance
- Discuss any additional work as a separate scope
Your working checklist
- Draft a one-page project brief covering purpose, audience and deliverables
- Gather brand assets, style notes and reference material
- Identify decision-makers and how feedback will be consolidated
- List any deadlines, usage requirements or technical constraints
- Prepare a budget range and note what is flexible
- Decide how change requests will be approved and tracked
- Confirm file formats and delivery locations before production starts
Questions worth asking
What happens if I need something not in the original scope?
The studio raises a change request that outlines the additional work, cost and schedule impact. You approve or decline before any extra work begins, keeping the project transparent and in control.
How many review rounds are included?
Review rounds are built into the process but are not unlimited. Each round focuses on the approved direction; requests that alter direction or add deliverables are treated as change requests and scoped separately.
What do I receive at handover?
You receive the agreed deliverables in the specified formats, plus any usage notes or brand guidance discussed. Anything outside the scope document is not included and would be scoped as new work.
Make the next conversation concrete.
Bring the questions this page raises, the materials you already have and the decisions you need help making. The brief planner turns those starting points into a document you can review and share.
Build your brief ↗