# Website Design Brief

> A structured brief for defining website design goals, audiences, page scope, content needs, visual direction, launch standards, and handoff requirements.

Canonical URL: https://brieflodge.com/templates/website-design-brief

Category: Creative & Design

Tags: Website Design, Web Design, Creative Brief, Design Strategy

## Template Structure

<brief-header title="Website Design Brief" hasLogo={true} logoEmoji="🐜" hasCover={true} coverImageUrl="/images/gallery/art/Among%20the%20Sierra%20Nevada.webp" coverImageAlt="Gallery artwork: Among the Sierra Nevada" />
<page-divider pageNumber={1} pageName="Website Role & Audience" />
# Website Role & Audience

Define the website assignment tightly enough for design choices, page scope, and review criteria to stay aligned.

<short-answer elementId="website_name" required={true}>
What is the name of the website, product, company, or organization this design brief covers?
</short-answer>

<multiple-choice elementId="website_design_mode" required={true} options='[{"id":"new_website","label":"New website"},{"id":"full_redesign","label":"Full redesign of an existing website"},{"id":"section_redesign","label":"Redesign of selected pages or sections"},{"id":"landing_page","label":"Landing page or campaign page"},{"id":"design_system_refresh","label":"Visual refresh using existing site structure"}]'>
Which website design assignment best describes the work?
</multiple-choice>

<link-form elementId="current_website_url" required={false}>
If there is an existing website, provide its current URL.
</link-form>

<long-answer elementId="website_context_and_problem" required={true} minRows={4}>
What business situation, customer need, or site performance issue makes this website design work necessary now?
</long-answer>

<table-form elementId="primary_website_audiences" required={true} rows='[{"id":"audience_1","label":"Primary audience"},{"id":"audience_2","label":"Secondary audience"},{"id":"audience_3","label":"Special-case audience"}]' columns='[{"id":"segment","label":"Audience segment"},{"id":"need","label":"Need or intent on the website"},{"id":"barrier","label":"Current friction or concern"},{"id":"desired_action","label":"Desired site action"}]'>
Map the main audiences the website design must serve.
</table-form>

<ranking elementId="website_decision_priority" required={true} options='[{"id":"clarity","label":"Make the offer or purpose instantly clear"},{"id":"conversion","label":"Increase enquiries, bookings, purchases, or sign-ups"},{"id":"trust","label":"Build credibility and reduce hesitation"},{"id":"navigation","label":"Help visitors find the right page quickly"},{"id":"brand_expression","label":"Express a stronger visual identity"},{"id":"content_quality","label":"Improve content hierarchy and readability"}]'>
Rank the website design priorities from most important to least important.
</ranking>

<page-button isSubmit={false} />

<page-divider pageNumber={2} pageName="Pages, Content & Features" />
# Pages, Content & Features

Capture the website structure and functional requirements that will shape the design system, page templates, and handoff.

<table-form elementId="website_page_scope" required={true} rows='[{"id":"home","label":"Home page"},{"id":"about","label":"About or company page"},{"id":"services","label":"Services, products, or offer pages"},{"id":"proof","label":"Case studies, testimonials, or proof pages"},{"id":"contact","label":"Contact, booking, demo, or enquiry page"},{"id":"other","label":"Other required page"}]' columns='[{"id":"included","label":"Include? Yes/No"},{"id":"page_goal","label":"Page goal"},{"id":"key_content","label":"Key content needed"},{"id":"design_notes","label":"Design notes or constraints"}]'>
Define the pages or page types included in the website design scope.
</table-form>

<checkboxes elementId="required_website_features" required={true} options='[{"id":"contact_forms","label":"Contact or enquiry forms"},{"id":"booking","label":"Booking, scheduling, or reservation flow"},{"id":"commerce","label":"Product browsing or checkout"},{"id":"account_access","label":"Login, account, or member area entry"},{"id":"search_filtering","label":"Search, filtering, or comparison tools"},{"id":"cms_sections","label":"CMS-managed articles, resources, or updates"},{"id":"newsletter","label":"Newsletter or lead capture"},{"id":"multilingual","label":"Multilingual content"},{"id":"analytics_tracking","label":"Analytics, events, or conversion tracking"}]'>
Which website features must the design account for?
</checkboxes>

<table-form elementId="website_content_sources" required={true} rows='[{"id":"brand_assets","label":"Brand assets"},{"id":"copy","label":"Website copy"},{"id":"photography","label":"Photography or imagery"},{"id":"video","label":"Video or motion assets"},{"id":"product_service_data","label":"Product, service, or pricing content"},{"id":"legal_policy","label":"Legal, privacy, or policy content"}]' columns='[{"id":"status","label":"Status"},{"id":"owner","label":"Owner"},{"id":"dependency","label":"Dependency or gap"},{"id":"due_date","label":"Needed by","type":"date"}]'>
Track the content and asset inputs needed before website design can be completed.
</table-form>

<long-answer elementId="website_conversion_paths" required={true} minRows={4}>
Describe the most important visitor journeys, from entry point through the action the website should encourage.
</long-answer>

<page-button isSubmit={false} />

<page-divider pageNumber={3} pageName="Design Direction & Proof" />
# Design Direction & Proof

Set the visual, messaging, and trust signals that guide design exploration without turning the brief into open-ended brainstorming.

<short-answer elementId="website_core_message" required={true}>
What single sentence should visitors understand after a few seconds on the website?
</short-answer>

<ranking elementId="website_message_hierarchy" required={true} options='[{"id":"offer","label":"What is offered"},{"id":"audience_fit","label":"Who it is for"},{"id":"differentiation","label":"Why it is different or better"},{"id":"trust","label":"Why visitors should trust it"},{"id":"next_step","label":"What visitors should do next"}]'>
Rank the message hierarchy the website design should make visible.
</ranking>

<linear-scale elementId="website_visual_tone" required={true} minValue={1} maxValue={7}>
Set the website visual tone: 1 = conservative and understated, 7 = bold and expressive.
</linear-scale>

<long-answer elementId="website_brand_direction" required={true} minRows={4}>
Describe the desired website look and feel, including any brand qualities, visual references, or design directions to avoid.
</long-answer>

<table-form elementId="website_trust_signals" required={true} rows='[{"id":"client_customer_proof","label":"Client or customer proof"},{"id":"credentials","label":"Credentials or certifications"},{"id":"case_results","label":"Case results or outcomes"},{"id":"media_awards","label":"Media, awards, or recognition"},{"id":"security_privacy","label":"Security, privacy, or reliability cues"}]' columns='[{"id":"available","label":"Available? Yes/No"},{"id":"content_detail","label":"Proof detail"},{"id":"placement_note","label":"Where it should appear"}]'>
Identify the credibility signals the website design should surface.
</table-form>

<link-form elementId="website_reference_url" required={false}>
Provide one reference website URL that helps explain the desired design direction or quality bar.
</link-form>

<page-button isSubmit={false} />

<page-divider pageNumber={4} pageName="Launch Standards & Review" />
# Launch Standards & Review

Confirm the constraints, acceptance criteria, and handoff details needed to make the website design usable for build and approval.

<date-form elementId="website_design_deadline" required={true}>
What is the required date for approved website designs or design handoff?
</date-form>

<number-field elementId="website_template_count" required={false} minValue={1}>
How many unique page templates or screen designs are expected?
</number-field>

<table-form elementId="website_review_path" required={true} rows='[{"id":"design_review","label":"Design review"},{"id":"content_review","label":"Content review"},{"id":"technical_review","label":"Technical review"},{"id":"final_approval","label":"Final approval"}]' columns='[{"id":"reviewer","label":"Reviewer or decision owner"},{"id":"criteria","label":"Review criteria"},{"id":"date","label":"Target date","type":"date"}]'>
Map the website design review and approval path.
</table-form>

<checkboxes elementId="website_design_standards" required={true} options='[{"id":"responsive","label":"Responsive desktop, tablet, and mobile layouts"},{"id":"accessibility","label":"Accessibility requirements such as WCAG alignment"},{"id":"seo_structure","label":"SEO-friendly headings, metadata, and crawlable content"},{"id":"performance","label":"Performance-conscious imagery and interaction patterns"},{"id":"cms_handoff","label":"CMS-ready components or editable sections"},{"id":"developer_handoff","label":"Developer-ready design specs and assets"},{"id":"analytics_events","label":"Analytics events or conversion measurement notes"},{"id":"legal_compliance","label":"Required legal, privacy, cookie, or compliance content"}]'>
Which standards must the website design satisfy before approval?
</checkboxes>

<long-answer elementId="website_risks_and_constraints" required={true} minRows={4}>
List the website design constraints, technical dependencies, launch risks, or non-negotiables that could affect the final design.
</long-answer>

<multiple-choice elementId="website_handoff_format" required={true} options='[{"id":"figma_designs","label":"Figma designs only"},{"id":"figma_with_prototype","label":"Figma designs with clickable prototype"},{"id":"design_system_specs","label":"Design system components and specs"},{"id":"developer_handoff_package","label":"Developer handoff package with assets and notes"},{"id":"implementation_ready","label":"Implementation-ready design plus QA checklist"}]'>
What handoff format should the website design team deliver?
</multiple-choice>

<page-button isSubmit={true} />