Constraints Make the Design
A short note on why we ask for tighter briefs, not looser ones — and how to write a brief that gets us to the work faster.
The most expensive part of any project is the ambiguity at the start. A brief that says 'we want it to feel modern' is essentially an instruction to spend three weeks exploring what 'modern' might mean to you.
The briefs we love are specific: 'we want it to feel like Mubi but for science journals,' or 'the homepage should make people feel like they're about to walk into a quiet bookshop, not a stadium.' Specificity isn't restriction; it's the thing that lets us spend our energy on craft instead of on guessing.
If you're hiring a studio — us or anyone else — spend the time on the brief. You'll get faster, better work for less money.