Analysing Client Briefs

HOW TO ANALYSE A BRIEF: 

Implicit - These will be referred from the brief. You have to interpret what is said

Open - There is some freedom for you to make decisions about how to best create a successful source. 

Constraints - These are boundaries that the project must work within, e.g. legal, ethical, time, cost, etc. 

Explicit - These are clearly stated and must be met when producing the product. 

Client brief: Road Safety Computer Game

 

You have just started work for a well-established company which specialises in creative and educational electronic games. The company has been approached by a road safety organisation, who would be interested to see how games could be used to promote the launch of a new road safety campaign.(Open – various ways to advertise e.g. billboard)  They are not aware of any games on the market that do this. (Implicit – they should research the market)

 

You have been asked to submit a design proposal for one level of a new game based on teaching children how to use the roads safely.(Open) The game must have clearly defined objectives by which the child playing it can progress through to higher levels.(Implicit – several levels to the game) There must be a scoring and time tracking system. The game must also be instructional in how to use the roads safely.(Explicit)

 

The target audience for the game is children aged between the ages of 6 and 10.(Explicit)The game is to be played on touch enabled devices.( Open – I pads, laptops, phones,) 

 

The campaign is due to be launched in four months’ time.(constraints)The game needs to be ready for this launch. If you are given the go ahead for the project, you will have three weeks for preproduction and then ten weeks for game development.(constraints)

 

Game objectives 

 

Level constraints

 

Target audience is boys and girls as well (Implicit)

BRIEF IS LIKE THE MARK SCHEME 

Tools for analysing a brief: 

Mind Map - Throwing ideas in text form on the board

Moodboard - Throwing visual ideas on a board

Blue Sky thinking - Allows you to dream without limitation for a plan (One day we hope to be the biggest company in the market) 

SWOT - Analysis 

Strengths - What the organisation does well. 

What distinguishes you from your competitors? What advantages does your organisation have over others? Highly, motivated staff, competitive rates, strong creative track records. 

What do you do better than anyone else? What are your values as a business? What unique or low-cost resources can you draw upon that others can't? Identify your organisation's USP. 

What do your competitors see as your strengths 

Weaknesses - Are what you could improve concerning personnel. Resources, systems and procedures. And the practices you should avoid. 

Opportunities - Openings or chances for something positive to happen from situations outside your organisation. (Might arise from developments in the market. Or in the technology you use) These don't need to be game changers: even small advantages can increase your organisation's competitiveness. What interesting market trends are you aware of. Large or small, which could have an impact? 

Are there any changes in government policy related to your field? any changes in social patterns, population profiles, or lifestyles that might throw up interesting opportunities? 

Threats - Anything that can negatively affect your business from the outside. Such as supply chain problems. Shifts in market requirements or a shortage of recruits. It's vital to anticipate threats and to take action against them before you become a victim of them. 

Obstacles you face in getting your product to market and setting.

You may notice that quality standards or specifications for your products are changing, and that you'll need to change those products if you're to stay in the lead.