FREE Project Brief Template
Master project brief timelines with our intuitive project brief Gantt chart template.
Get started for free
Master project brief timelines with our intuitive project brief Gantt chart template.
Get started for free
A project brief is what defines the project in question. It spells out what you’re trying to accomplish, how you’ll
do it, and more. It outlines your project’s key objectives, its scope, the deliverables expected, and the timeline for
everything.
However, as you can see when you look at an example of a project brief, there’s no single format that works for
everyone. Some people will be fine using a simple project brief template. Other people may need more detailed
documents tailored for creative or technical projects. That said, they all serve the same purpose: telling you what
needs to be done, when, and where you’re going.
You’ll use different document types in your project management efforts. For instance, you may benefit from
collaborating using project brief template Google Docs. Depending on your organization, you might be required to use a
briefing paper template Word doc.
Wondering how to write a brief for a project that fits your unique
needs? Gantt charts are another type of document that brings additional capabilities to the table. They help
bring
your project brief to life by adding a visual timeline that keeps tasks organized. Here’s why they’re so important to
your planning success:
With a Gantt chart, you can set clear expectations for deadlines within your sample project brief. Everyone on the team can see exactly what’s due and when.
Gantt charts also help you identify which steps rely on others within your briefing document example. This is particularly important if you’re designing something like software or a website, but most projects have tasks that depend on others being done first.
You can easily assign people and tools on project brief templates. Once they’re assigned, you can keep track of what’s going on and where so that you can manage those resources better across the entire project.
Gantt charts help you monitor project milestones across your project brief template example. That makes it easier for you to tell where the project’s at in any given moment, make adjustments on the fly, or even touch base with team members.
Finally, Gantt charts help you adjust plans when timelines shift on your creative project brief template. And anyone who’s ever worked on a project knows that they can and will change. Being ready when that happens means less time wasted.
As you can see, there are plenty of reasons to make a Gantt chart part of your project brief template free. But what does a project brief template usually include?
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A solid UX project brief template or project brief template PPT provides easy access to all the details you need to get started and manage your project moving forward. While they all vary to some degree depending on project complexity, they share a few things in common, like the following:
This is a summary of what the project is and why it matters. It’s a high-level overview of what you’re trying to accomplish.
These are clear, measurable outcomes you’re working toward. They should be unambiguous, like “increase social media followers by 10%”, rather than “increase Facebook followers”.
These are the important details on what’s included—and what’s not. The scope of work spells out exactly what’s expected of the team. Anything not included is outside the scope and won’t be delivered.
Speaking of deliverables, your brief should include the specific outputs expected at the end of the project. This leaves no room for misunderstanding.
Timelines are made up of deadlines and milestones to keep the project on track. Revisit these as the project evolves to update your timeline.
Who’s doing what? You want a clear picture of which team members are responsible for which tasks for accountability and productivity.
List any financial constraints or allocations. Like resources, milestones, and other things, expect your financial constraints to change over time.
Highlight known challenges or concerns to address. Every project comes with risks. Defining those that affect you helps you plan to work around them.
What are your steps for reviewing and finalizing work? Including them in the brief helps make sure everyone knows and understands this process.
Whether you’re working with a project brief template Word document or a Google Docs project brief template, these sections will keep your plan comprehensive but focused.
Want to make sure your project brief is complete and delivers the guidance it should? Follow these four tips:
Clearly state the project’s purpose and the problem it’s solving. This anchors your team in the mission.
A simple project brief template should communicate all essentials without overwhelming details.
Collaborate early to make sure everyone’s priorities are reflected in the brief.
Use plain language and skip the jargon. A good brief is easy for anyone to understand.
A project brief helps everyone understand the project’s goals, scope, and expectations. It’s a shared reference point that keeps teams aligned and reduces misunderstandings.
Typically, the project manager or lead writes the brief, but it should include input from key stakeholders. Collaborate so the document captures all the details.
A good template is clear, concise, and adaptable. It should include space for goals, scope, timelines, and deliverables while being flexible enough to suit different project types.
Tailor it to your project’s needs. Add sections for unique deliverables or priorities and adjust the format to match your workflow, whether it’s a video project brief template or a website project brief template.
Use a clean, organized layout. Start with a title and summary, followed by sections for goals, scope, deliverables, and timelines. For ease of use, consider creating a project brief template Word or PDF file.
A project brief focuses on the “what” and “how” of a project, covering logistics and deliverables. A creative brief dives deeper into the creative vision, including messaging, target audience, and design direction.
A project brief is a concise planning tool, while a project charter is a more formal document that authorizes a project. The charter often includes high-level details like purpose, stakeholders, and initial budget.
A project brief provides clarity, aligns the team, and helps you avoid miscommunications. It’s your go-to document for keeping the project on track.