This document provides information on different types of briefs that can be used when working on projects for clients. It defines contractual, formal, informal, co-operative, negotiated, commissioned, tender, competition, and my brief. For each type of brief, it outlines the key advantages and disadvantages. The document recommends using a negotiated brief for the vegetarian recipe card project to allow for discussion and compromise between the client and production team if there are differing opinions. It stresses the importance of thoroughly reading and discussing the brief with the client prior to production.

1. Working to a Brief
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2. Contractual Brief
A contractual brief is where the media company signs an agreement to complete a
task or project for a client within a set time period. If the company working on the
project doesn't comply with the contract and doesn’t meet the deadlines, the then
company can face legal action against them for breaching their contract. Its
important to read all contracts thoroughly to ensure that you don’t agree to do
work that you don’t want to, or you cant do.
An advantage of working within a contractual brief is that the client has a big say over
what the project is and how it will look, allowing them to have control over the
process. Another advantage is that due to the amount of information given in the
contract, the company working on the project, the client has a clear idea of what
to do.
A disadvantage of contractual brief is that when the contract is complete, you will
have to move on and find another job, usually you cannot do another job when
working on a contractual brief so it can be hard to find a job afterwards. Another
disadvantage would be that if the project or task was not done to the client
specifications then the client can refuse to pay you, or even use the product you
made. So you have essentially wasted your time, another reason why it is
important to read your contract properly.

3. Formal Brief
A formal brief is where the client provides the company with a brief that only
establishes what the product is that they want to be made. An informal brief will
only contain information that is necessary for the company to complete the tasks.
Further information will be gained through negotiations and meetings with the
client. The client and the company will agree to payment and will formally agree
on the brief, but the brief is not always legally binding, a formal brief is usually
easy to understand as its clear what the client wants.
An advantage of a formal brief is that the company working on the project has a clear
and precise idea of what it is that the client wants. Another advantage is that the
company working on the task can put forward their ideas to the client and discuss
any possible changes to the brief during negotiations and meetings
A disadvantage of a formal brief is that due to it being slighting more relaxed than a
contractual brief and it not being legally binding, the client could stop working
with you or could change your task completely. The client could also not pay you if
the product is not what they wanted or what you discussed.

4. Informal Brief
An informal brief is where a verbal agreement has been made between the client and
the company working on the task/project. There is no contract or written
documents involved in an informal brief at all. The client and the company will
discuss the project and then clients expectations through meetings and
negotiations. There is not always a set deadline for the project to be completed by.
Due to there being no written documentation, it can be tricky to prove you were
asked to do the work and therefore risky when it comes to being paid for the work
you’ve done.
An advantage of working to an informal brief is that due to it being a relaxed approach
to maintaining a job, a good working relationship can be made with the client and
the company. Another advantage is that the work can be completed when the
company working on the task has finished it, so it doesn’t have to be rushed.
A disadvantage of an informal brief is that some companies will view it as
unprofessional and unclear due to there being no written documentation. Another
disadvantage is that the client could have other companies working on the same
project, and when it comes to handing in the completed work, to client could
chose another company. Therefore the company has wasted time and possibly
money on work that is not going to be used and they wont get paid for.

5. Co-Operative Brief
A Co-operative brief is where more than one company is hired by a client to work on
the same task. The companies will have to work together in order to compete the
tasks to the clients brief. Due to more than one company working
together, disagreements may occur, it is then up to the client to create a
negotiated brief in which all companies are happy with and can work from.
An advantage of working with a Co-operative brief is that there are more ideas to
work from due to there being a larger range of people working on the project.
Another advantage is that the companies will both be working from the same
brief, so the task will most likely be completes faster and more efficiently.
A disadvantage of working in a co-operative brief is that the companies working on the
task might have many disagreements and not be able to put their differences as
side to complete the task. Another disadvantage is that the client will have to be
majorly involved in the creation of the product due to more than one company
working on it. The companies will have to have a clear understanding of what it is
that the client wants.

6. Negotiated Brief
A negotiated brief is when two or more companies are working on the brief set by the
client, and they have a disagreement, the client and the companies would have to
negotiate the brief to appease the companies, whilst still getting the product that
the client wants. This negotiation could involve changing visual aspects, changing
the content of the product or making sure that the product stays within the
boundaries of legal and ethical obligations. A negotiated brief is a compromise
between the companies and the client. This kind of brief is usually done in meeting
and phone calls.
The advantages of working within a negotiated brief is that the brief becomes a
compromise of what the companies and the client want, which makes the product
more of a team effort in order to create the ideal product for the client. Another
advantage is that the client will get the product they want, so there is no reason
that the companies involved wouldn’t get paid for their work.
A disadvantage of working within a negotiated brief is that the client will have to
change there original brief to appease the companies. Another disadvantage
would be how the companies have to compromise on their ideas.

7. Commission Brief
A commissioned brief is where a large media company has hired smaller independent
companies to work for them on a project. The brief is discussed directly between
the companies rather than going through an external company. The product made
can then be used by the larger media company for an external client. The
independent company who made the product will be paid for the work, and then
possibly paid again each time the product makes a profit/is broadcast/is played.
An advantage of a commissioned brief is that the company who created the product
will receive payment for the product even if its not used, if the product is used, the
company might also receive payments each time the product gains money.
A disadvantage of working within a commissioned brief is that you are being hired by a
company to do the work but your work may also be used by external companies if
the media company that hired you allows it to.

8. Tender Brief
A tender brief is where the client publishes publicly what they need to be made, this
can be through advertisements or local papers. The company will then create a
brief, proposal and a budget to present to the client. Several companies can be
working on the task at once, and its up to the client to chose the best submitted
idea and offers the company the job.
An advantage of a tender brief is that the company can create their own brief,
proposal and budget, and then present it to the client when they are happy with it.
A disadvantage of a tender brief is that there are more than one company working to
the brief that the client has set, you then have to work quickly and efficiently to
ensure that you submit your work asap as you are competing against other
companies.

9. Competition Brief
A competition brief is where the brief is available to all participating production
companies. Each company will then complete the brief given to them. Each project
created is then judged by the client and the winner is awarded by having their
project published. The companies are not expected to be paid, although usually
the winning company will receive payment.
The advantages of working in a competition brief is that the client has control over the
brief, but the companies have the choice of how to complete the project and then
present it to the client. Another advantage is that if you win, you receive payment
as well as having your product being used.
A disadvantage of working for a competition brief is what if you don’t win, you have
spent money and time working for nothing, as you don't get paid at the end either.

10. My Brief
Which structure/structures will the Vegetarian Recipe Cards brief use?
Reference your reasons for choice/choices
The type of brief that should be used for this project is a negotiated brief. This one has
been chosen because there are two different sides working on this project and
even though we are not separate companies we may still have conflicting interests
as to what will be best for the project. This brief type will then allow us to have a
discussion and come to a compromise and make sure that not only does the
project turn out how we want but also fits exactly how the client envisaged . This
could be that we have differing opinions on how the cards should look visually etc.
and rather then there being a breach in the contract or a breakdown in the
production of the product as there could be with other types of brief. I feel that
this type of contract/brief is best suited to this particular project.

11. Reading the Brief
Why is important to thoroughly read your brief?
It is important that you always read through the brief thoroughly so that you are very clear about
what has been asked of you. If you are unsure about something in the contract you should
check it again and you still need more explanation you should ask the client. A lack of
understanding could result in a breach of the contract and mean a loss of money for yourself
and those that are working for you and could make it so that all the work you have done has
been for nothing. Failure to complete a brief exactly how it has been set could prove to be
damaging to the reputation of your company as it will give the impression that you are
unreliable.

12. Reading the Brief
What is the nature and demand of the Vegetarian Recipe Cards brief?
In this project we have been asked to design a new range of recipe cards for a series of vegetarian
meals. The ingredients and images have been provided for us and we simply have to make a
design for the front and the back of each of the cards and ensure that there is a theme that
runs right the way through the cards. It would be beneficial if the theme linked to the
vegetarianism aspect of the whole thing. These cards should be new and inventive and stand
out from the rest.
We will have 10 weeks in order to complete this project however only the last few weeks will be
spent on the actual production of the product everything prior to this will be any paper work
that is required to be done beforehand or the designing of the product.

13. Negotiating a Brief
Why is it important to discuss the brief with your client prior to production?
It is important to always discuss the brief with the client prior to the production as this is a great
chance to discuss any and all issues or concerns you may have about the project. This also
links back to reading the brief carefully as it is a chance to ensure that you understand what
has been asked of you fully. It is important to make sure that you are both clear about it all
so that there is not a breakdown or conflict of ideas later on in the production that could
prove to be detrimental to the overall finish of the product. This is good so that you can
discuss any potential problems as well whether this is about the design of the product of the
time frame etc. this will make it so that you are both prepared for any forthcoming problems
in production.
This gives you a chance to put forward any ideas you may have that could be implemented in the
product in order to get the most out of the project but you have to careful not to go to far a
field with these ideas because if what you create is not matching what has been asked of you
in the contract there is a high possibility that you will not get paid.

14. Negotiating a Brief
What are the advantages and disadvantages of employing discretion with a brief?
One of the advantages of having discretion within the brief is that it allow you a certain level of
flexibility with the project and enables you to be more creative rather than having to stick to
strict guidelines.
A disadvantage of this is that you may take it too far and end up with a product that isn’t what
the client was looking for and therefore you may breach the contract and end up not getting
paid for your work.
Another advantage is that it allows you to try out new ideas and see what will and won’t work
well, you could then show these ideas to the employer and see if they like what you have
produced.
One more disadvantage of this could be that you end up getting to preoccupied changing the way
that you are doing the project that you wind up rushing the final product or not meeting the
deadline as a result of this, this could lead to a lack of payment, loss of contract and damage
the reputation of your business as it may give the impression that you are not a reliable
source for work.

15. Negotiating a Brief
Are there any potential legal/ethical/regulatory issues with the brief’s proposed product?
When and if we choose to use photos from an image library we must ensure that we have the
original photographers permission to use it.
Also if we are to use a model we will have to get them to sign a model release form to say that
they have allowed us to use the image of them for our own work.
If there are any accidents during this project where legal action might have to be taken this could
prove to be an extremely costly problem if you do not have the correct insurance to cover for
instances such as this this could be either damage to equipment or people getting injured.
it will also be vital that we obtain any and all release forms that we may need for any locations
that we are going to be using if they require permission to photograph there.
We will have to ensure that everyone sticks to the contractual obligations that has been
implemented in this project i.e. amount of pay due, time allowed to complete said task etc.

16. Negotiating a Brief
Amendments you have considered to;
The Product
-The design of the cards may have to be simplified in order to ensure that they are completed on time
and to a good enough standard rather than ending up with 5 or 6 finished cards for example.
- If we are unable to get permission to use the images from image libraries or to get a model to sign the
release form we would have to re-think our strategy and come up with some other idea, maybe get
a new model etc. and this will result in a loss of time. This is something that we would have to take
into account because if we were to not fix these problems then the project would not be legally
stable.
The Budget
Because we will more than likely be providing the funding for this project if we were to run out of
money whilst we are still in the production process it could prove to be detrimental to the entire
project and could therefore result in the needs and demands of the contract not being met.
The Conditions
If we were to be promised a certain rate of pay and either us or the employer wanted to change that
figure due to the amount of work, resources etc. will be required it will be important to get the
figure agreed upon before the contract is finally signed as if you try to change it afterwards it would
be extremely difficult to extract more money from the employer if you have already signed the
contract agreeing to a certain fee.

17. Opportunities
What opportunities could this brief allow you to explore?
Self Development
This project allows us to be as creative as we like as we have free range over the design of the cards and
can do whatever we want to them as long as it is applicable to the brief that we have been given.
Learning new skills
- Learn about food photography
- Learn about different lighting conditions
- Advance Photoshop skills further
Multi-skilling
There is going to be a point when we are required to do more than one job in this project as there is
only two of us, this could mean that one of us may have to do the cooking, photography and
drawing and the other may have to do the Photoshop work, copyrighting and set up the studio
space for the photo shoot.
Contributing to a brief
Contributing to the brief is an important part when working on any project as it allows you to allocate
different jobs to the people that are best suited for those jobs in particular. For example you might
have someone who is a strong photographer or a strong copyrighter and you would give them the
tasks that are best fitted to their abilities. This also allows you to share the responsibility and the
work load so that it is easier to complete the task in the allocated time.