If you’ve ever sent a print design brief and received something that looked nothing like what you imagined, you’re not alone. Miscommunication is one of the most common reasons print projects go off track. But with a well-crafted brief, you can streamline production, avoid costly revisions, and get print materials that make your brand shine.
Whether you are working in-house or with an external design team, we’ve put together some tips on how to brief for print design job.
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Why good briefs matter
A clear, thoughtful brief ensures your printer and designer understand not just what you want, but why you want it. This alignment saves time, reduces errors, and leads to better outcomes.
What to include in your print design brief
Use this checklist to make sure your brief covers everything your designer and printer need to deliver a successful job:
- Project overview
- What’s the purpose of this piece? (E.g. event promo, product launch, internal comms)
- Who is the target audience?
- What action do you want them to take?
- Format and specifications
- Size (A4, A5, DL, custom?)
- Orientation (portrait/landscape)
- Fold type (if any)
- Number of pages
- GSM and paper finish (if known)
- Brand guidelines
- Logo files (in vector format)
- Colour palette
- Fonts and typography rules
- Examples of past materials (if applicable)
- Copy and content
- Final text (proofread and approved)
- Clear indication of headings, subheadings, and body text
- Call to action (CTA)
- Imagery
- High-resolution images (minimum 300dpi)
- Clear image usage rights
- Links to image folders
- Design inspiration
- Mood boards or visual references
- Competitor examples you love or hate
- Deadlines and delivery
- Design deadline
- Print deadline
- Delivery details (addresses, quantities, packing instructions)
Print brief example
Using the checklist above, we’ve put together an example brief for a print job that covers it all:
Project: 4-page A4 brochure for an upcoming trade show
Goal: Showcase our new sustainable product range and encourage demo sign-ups
Audience: Procurement managers in FMCG sector
Content: Final copy provided with headlines and CTA marked. Use supplied product photography. Include QR code to demo booking page.
Design direction: Clean, modern, eco-conscious. Include brand colours and fonts. Like the look of Patagonia and Lush materials.
Deadline: Final print files needed by June 14. Deliver to ExCeL London by June 20.
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A solid brief doesn’t just help your design and print teams, it helps you too! You’ll spend less time chasing clarifications and more time enjoying a finished product that’s exactly what you envisioned.
Whether you are looking for commercial printing or ecommerce packaging, the team here at Treetop Design & Print are on hand to help you throughout your printing project. Get in touch today with your brief and let’s get your vision printed!
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