A contractual brief is a signed agreement that specifies the requirements and timeline for completing a project. It protects both parties by allowing legal action if the terms are not met. A formal brief outlines requirements without signatures, making it less legally binding. An informal brief has no written terms, increasing risks of unpaid work or an incomplete project. A co-operative brief involves multiple companies working together without contracts, while a negotiated brief allows compromising on conflicting ideas from an original brief.

1. WORKING TO A
BRIEF
LO1
Jordan Bohill

2. CONTRACTUAL BRIEF
Definition
A contractual brief is a signed brief that will be fixed to the requirements specified on the brief
and if completed in the time period specified. If this is not completed or not to the
requirements then the client could face legal action against the you. Sometimes people get
solicitors to read through contract agreements to ensure there is no holes in the contract that
could leave you worse off. These will usually specify a paid salary for completing the work on
time.
Advantages
Written down and signed officially so either party can take legal action if the contract agreements
are not met.
Although it leaves you vulnerable to legal action if you complete it to the requirements and the
client still tries to take legal action for some reason you are covered as long as it is to
requirements.
Usually a more detailed brief that you can refer to as it can not be changed in the long run
unless it goes through another contract agreement.
Disadvantages
If requirements aren't met then you could face legal action and end up worse of than before.
Can be time consuming and cost money to produce a contract and to have it checked for you.

3. FORMAL BRIEF
Definition
A formal brief similar to a contractual brief will underline all the requirements needed to
complete the project that you are doing. It will only contain the necessary information
on the project rather than things like rates. Another similar characteristic is that both
parties will agree on the conditions of the contract but they aren't always legally
binding.
Advantages
The advantages of this type of brief is that you aren't required to sign anything and tie
yourself down or to be sued for any reason.
Is easy to read and only has brief underlining's of the requirements therefore leaving the
project quite open to your interpretation.
Makes you look more professional if you stick to the brief and get the work done on time
as you don’t have a signature tying you down you have to motivate yourself to ensure
you get no bad rep.
Disadvantages
With no signatures or legal binding the client could leave you unpaid where then it will be
difficult for you to fight against them in court for the pay.
The brief can not be changed and will have to be negotiated with the client If any
changes or extra funding is needed to complete the project.

4. INFORMAL BRIEF
Definition
A informal brief is one of the riskier briefs, with no contract involved at all of anything written
down it can lead you to unpaid work or for the client no work being finished. Nothing is
established on paper for the project and is all described vocally therefore its one persons say
against another. These briefs will most likely be discussed through a meeting to ensure nothing
is missed though communication. No contract allows the brief to be very flexible with time
period or the requirements set upon you.
Advantages
One advantage of this is that it is very open and can always be changed to suit you or the client
it also has no strings attached so if that original deadline isn't hit you can always re arrange
A quick meeting or discussion can establish the grounds and requirements wanted to be met as
no legal information is having to be processed the project can be started instantly and save
everyone time.
If your clients requirements aren't what you feel would suit your work it can be changed anyway
you like.
Disadvantages
Although the no strings attached will work in your favour to change the project it also leaves you
vulnerable to any things that would have been contracted in the other briefs. Things like pay
and contact can often be a problem with these type of contacts often leaving people unpaid for
their time and work.
This can also leave you out of pocket if you have invested in the project as well as not being

5. CO-OPERATIVE BRIEF
Definition
A co-operative brief is where two or more companies are hired to work together on one project.
This would be discussed over a meeting and a short brief but no contract to ensure both parties
know what their part in the project is and to ensure their communication is going to work
between the two companies.
Advantages
One advantage of working to a co-operative brief is that it takes a lot of the strain of both of the
companies as they know they can work together to handle the work load.
Similar to a informal brief, this brief has no contract to it and leaves the project very open for
both teams. They are also quick meetings that will establish the grounds and with working in a
team it allows you to discuss and share new ideas that one company may not have thought of
or tried before.
Disadvantages
With it being open to both teams it can lead to two different interpretations that don’t work
together. Another reason for them not working together is that the companies would most
likely have not worked together before or they will have two very separate opinions that could
clash against each other when it comes to establishing the grounds of the project.
Again with no contract and having companies work together it will most likely be a big project
with a lot of money invested in it and if the client decides to un pay both parties or just one of
the companies it could leave each out of pocket massively.
It also looks unprofessional with no contract and between two parties can lead to even more

6. NEGOTIATED BRIEF
Definition
A negotiated brief usually comes after the first brief has been established, this can be
used when two or more parties have a conflicting idea to that which was originally
agreed on the brief. Negotiated briefs are used to compromise on the ideas and create a
agreement and please both parties. This can be for anything from little changes to the
visual style to big changes in the deadlines or the legal requirements.
Advantages
Can lead to both parties and the client being happy with the requirements after the
original ones may not have pleased someone in the agreement.
It will also settle any conflict or disagreement that may have occurred when discussing
the brief between the clients and will allow them to push on and finish the project
happy. It will also lead to better communication if you just sit down and negotiate it
between you and the client in person and can lead to a quick resolve.
Disadvantages
Sometimes the requirements can not be negotiated to suit one person and will therefore
stick to what was intentionally agreed this would leave one person unhappy with the
conditions. This can later come to the work not been completed to the top quality or
not completed at all due to more conflict between the two parties.
With negotiating ideas this could extend the project to a later date this could cause
slashes with one parties plans or leaving the client unhappy that their original deadline
was not hit when they originally liked.

7. COMMISSION BRIEF
Definition
A commission brief is where a larger media producer/company would have a
smaller one to produce work for them. This brief will be discussed and
agreed by these two parties rather than with a external client that was the
case with the other briefs. The smaller parties work will then be used by the
larger company for a external client that would have had no contact with the
companies for the project. This can result in one big pay for the smaller
organisation and/or earning a profit from the work for each time their
product is sold or used.
Advantages
One advantage of a commission brief is that it gives the smaller producer
and the larger one more time to produce the work as it will be sold on with
time to multiple clients.
Working to a commission brief can also be great for the smaller company as
it allows them to take a big income from the project for the the profits they
may receive and the original pay they were paid for completing the project.
Disadvantages
As both companies have to benefit from the intake they will both only get a
small pay out as appose to them working individually and taking the full
profits.

8. TENDER BRIEF
Definition
Advantages
Disadvantages

9. COMPETITION BRIEF
Definition
Advantages
Disadvantages

10. MY BRIEF
Which structure/structures will your client brief use?
Reference your reasons for choice/choices

11. READING THE BRIEF
Why is important to thoroughly read your brief?

12. READING THE BRIEF
What is the nature and demand of your client brief?

13. NEGOTIATING A BRIEF
Why is it important to discuss the brief with your client prior to
production?

14. NEGOTIATING A BRIEF
What are the advantages and disadvantages of employing discretion
with a brief?

15. NEGOTIATING A BRIEF
Are there any potential legal/ethical/regulatory issues with the brief’s
proposed product?

16. NEGOTIATING A BRIEF
Amendments you have considered to:
The Product
The Budget
The Conditions

17. OPPORTUNITIES
What opportunities could this brief allow you to explore?
Self Development
Learning new skills

18. OPPORTUNITIES
Multi-skilling
Contributing to a project