How Do I Brief a Web Designer on My Project? (Reddit Tips for a Smooth Process)

Reddit's best advice on briefing a web designer, condensed into a simple framework: goals, audience, content, inspiration, budget, timeline.

Quick Answer

Web Design

Why a bad brief costs you money

Reddit threads on 'my web project went sideways' almost always trace back to a vague brief. The designer built what they thought you wanted, you saw it and hated it, and now you're paying for revisions or starting over. A tight brief takes an hour to write and can cut a project's timeline in half. The framework below is what actually works.

Lead with the goal, not the design

Start with the outcome: more phone calls, online bookings, product sales, quote requests, or newsletter signups. Be specific about the number — 'double our leads from 10 to 20 per month' beats 'get more leads.' Every design decision downstream should ladder up to this. If you're not sure what your goal should be, that's the first conversation to have with the designer, not something to figure out after signing.

Describe your customer in real specifics

Not a persona invented from thin air. Who are your actual best customers? What do they search for? What blocks them from buying? What do they say in reviews? A brief with three real quotes from past customers is worth more than ten pages of invented user personas. This is also where your local knowledge matters — 'my customers are Vancouver homeowners in older houses' is gold.

Content: what you have, what you need

Most projects stall on content. Be honest about what you already have (logo, brand colours, photos, copy, past marketing) and what you'll need help with. Copywriting alone can add 2–6 weeks if it's not planned for. If the designer offers copywriting, take them up on it — DIY copy is the #1 reason launches slip.

Inspiration, constraints, budget, and timeline

Include 3–5 reference sites and say what you like about each (layout, tone, colour, functionality). List any non-negotiables (accessibility, specific integrations, existing tools you have to keep). Give a budget range — a real one — and your ideal launch date with the reason behind it (trade show, new location, seasonality). Designers who ask about budget aren't trying to charge more; they're trying to scope realistically.

Use a structured intake

You don't need to write this from scratch. Any good agency has a structured intake that walks you through all six areas in a 30-minute call. That's how ours works — you talk, we take notes, and you get a written brief back within 48 hours. Contact us to book it, or browse the portfolio and packages first.

Frequently Asked Questions

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About the Author

This article was written by the team at Cloud Peak Solutions, a Vancouver-based web design and digital marketing agency helping small businesses across Canada and the US get more customers online through professional web design, local SEO, and Google Business Profile management. Learn more at cloudpeak.solutions.

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