2. CONTRACTUAL BRIEF
Definition
A contract in a legally binding document. A contractual brief
means you have to produce the specified outcome in a certain
time frame. The contract is between the company. If the
company doesn't provide the goods to the client they can take
the company to court. You must read the contract carefully.
Advantages
The client knows exactly what they are getting because it has to
be agreed and signed. There should be no issue with creating
the wrong thing. A contract offers protection to both parties.
Another advantage is that because the price is specified in the
contract, you can budget appropriately for your project.
Disadvantages
It is hard to get out of a contract because you are locked in. You
could get sued if you don’t make the agreed product.
3. FORMAL BRIEF
Definition
Not quite a contractual brief because not usually legally binding.
The client gives the media company a brief to establish what is
to be made. Additional info is worked out during discussions.
Both parties then formally agree on the project.
Advantages
The media company has flexibility in terms of design, timings
and maybe budget because it is more open to discussion and
negotiation. You don’t have to read lots of pages of a contract –
its simpler. You can discuss and negotiate on the phone then
put it into an email to confirm and clarify.
Disadvantages
You are not legally protected if something goes wrong.
4. INFORMAL BRIEF
Definition
A casual approach, most likely a verbal agreement. No contract or
written agreement. For example, Asking someone to pop in and do
some video work for them when they are free.
Advantages
Completely flexible. Could provide future work depending on how
well you worked. Client is typically open to any ideas.
Disadvantages
It is not reliable. You may not get aid an you might have to chase
payment. This may prove tricky if you have no formal contract. You
may forget to take certain parts of the clients business into
account and so you may not get their core message right. If a
business is willing to undertake an informal brief this may be
because they don’t have much/enough money and so you may not
get paid much.
5. CO-OPERATIVE BRIEF
Definition
Where you are working with another company to work on a
specific brief. You are a double act, both hired together. This
happens a lot in film production. You work together on
different elements of the product.
Advantages
You combined efforts could make a more refined product. In
theory, it could be quicker. Also you can bounce ideas off each
other and maybe this could lead to increased creativity.
Because there is two of you, you have a backup if you fall ill.
Disadvantages
2nd person could be a dead weight. You may have
disagreements which could slow production. The payment will
have to be split which means you get less money for yourself. If
the other person falls ill then you are the backup.
6. NEGOTIATED BRIEF
Definition
A negotiation is a discussion between yourself a another. You
are trying to come to an agreement if you have conflicting
ideas about the brief. The brief must be negotiated between,
for example, two media companies working on the same brief
but not agreeing the context or visual style they must then
negotiate in order to come to an agreement to be able to
progress forward.
Advantages
You are making sure all parties are happy. With a successful
negotiated brief you will get synergy (all parties working well
together).
Disadvantages
There may be arguments. Difficult to get all side to agree
someone may have to compromise. One party may
misunderstand parts of the negotiation e.g. ending up with
7. COMMISSION BRIEF
Definition
When a large media company pays a smaller company to create a
product for them. The person pays you to make them what they
want. For example, BBC might pay a small Yorkshire filming
company to make them a documentary. This is considered
outsourcing work.
Advantages
The smaller filming company would understand what the bigger
filming company is saying then a customer who doesn't know
anything about filming. The longevities will help help the
companies like if the images is getting used frequently then you
will get payed every time. As a smaller company working for a
bigger company, the smaller company may get an ego boost.
Disadvantages
The smaller company may not get as much money as if they did
work directly from the client.
8. TENDER BRIEF
Definition
It is like an open project where they say that they want someone
to help so they send out a tender brief where people can pitch
in with their ideas. They will then choose which one they want.
They are allowed to chose the cheapest option.
Advantages
You would have the flexibility to chose what you want and have
a lot of ideas that you could use in the future. When you have
chosen what you want you can start work at anytime.
Disadvantages
There is no guarantee that you will win the pitch.
9. COMPETITION BRIEF
Definition
Essentially the adds you see when a company wants you to enter a
competition to win things. A brief for anyone. After everything is
gathered the company choses what they want and then the winner
will get an award of some kind.
Advantages
If you win, it could lead to further opportunities. If you are a large
company you will get a large amount of quality products
(hopefully). Its free. York college had a competition where students
could make poster to win a £50 amazon gift card. Companies may
still use the products given to them even if they didn't win.
Essentially cheap labour.
Disadvantages
You will most likely lose. No one may enter if there isn't enough
publicity or rewards so the company may have to chose the least
worse one. All of the products may not be good. Your product may
not get chosen.
10. MY BRIEF
Which structure/structures will your client brief use?
Formal brief because I can email or phone the company.
Reference your reasons for choice/choices
Reason why I chose this company to work for? They are a small
local company so they would love to get free work especially if
it comes out good WHICH IT WILL MIGHT I ADD!!! I have also
done worked for them before where there was a competition
when I was doing level 2 Creative Media where OG Games
wanted a social media banner made for them by the students.
Out of my group mine was the one they liked the most.
11. READING THE BRIEF
Why is important to thoroughly read your brief?
So you can know what the client wants and to make it accurately. If in
case of an emergency you can use the emergency contact in the brief.
You also would need to read it so you can ensure to meet the demands.
You would also need to read the brief to ensure that the time,
resources and budget are realistic.
12. READING THE BRIEF
What is the nature and demand of your client brief?
They want a A5 double sided leaflet. They also told me that purple is
their standard colour for text and the logo is a must. They want it to
explain their various gaming nights, opening times etc. and a general
guide to what they sell.
13. NEGOTIATING A BRIEF
Why is it important to discuss the brief with your client prior to
production?
To make sure that they know what you are doing so that they can
correct you or tell you which they like the best. If you want to change
anything then you can discuss at this stage of development. It avoids
wasting money and resources.
14. NEGOTIATING A BRIEF
What are the advantages and disadvantages of employing discretion
with a brief?
This means the freedom to decide on what should be done in a
particular situation.
Advantages:
You will have more creative freedom.
They might prefer my idea and design for the leaflet.
I could generate ideas that they can pick out the ones they like.
Disadvantages:
Might not be what they want.
I will have to re-do the product.
I can’t use other colours for text due to their requirements.
15. NEGOTIATING A BRIEF
Are there any potential legal/ethical/regulatory issues with the brief’s
proposed product?
Copyright - I may need to ask OG Games if I can show products of what
they sell on the leaflets so that I and they wont get in trouble with
copyright.
I may need to show images of products that they sell or use the games
and creators logo. I having looked at the website and social media I do
not think that they have breached the ASA code.
16. NEGOTIATING A BRIEF
Amendments you have considered to:
The Product
Since the initial release there has not been any amendments
The Budget
This is unpaid work for self development. Sadly
The Conditions
Since the initial release there has not been any amendments
17. OPPORTUNITIES
What opportunities could this brief allow you to explore?
Self Development
Learning how to make a leaflet. Depending on the idea, making a
detailed front page.
Learning new skills
Depending on which idea I pick, I will be looking at online tutorials or
experimenting while creating a background. I will learn how to
communicate with official businesses in writing. I will learn to use
proper grammar and spelling when writing and respond promptly.
18. OPPORTUNITIES
Multi-skilling
Depending on the idea I would be using different techniques to achieve
my design. Multi-skilling is where if your doing one detail and the
client want you to add this other detail you can do it because you have
multiple skills. For example if they wanted photos of their store for
their leaflet I can use my photography skills to do this task as well as
my design skills for designing the leaflet. I may also have to use my
writing skills to advertise their products on the leaflet.
Contributing to a project
I'm the only person contributing to this leaflet (if you don’t add OG
Games) Depending on how the leaflet turns out, it might generate a lot
of opportunities to contribute to a bigger project for OG Games.
