Three rounds into a logo project, the client says they always wanted serifs, not the sans you've been iterating. You check your notes — the brief mentioned "modern, clean" but didn't specify. You've spent two days on the wrong path.
A signed brief turns assumptions into agreements.
What goes in the brief
Project description, deliverables, key requirements, brand values, audience, mood, timeline, budget. Reference visuals (or anti-examples). The clearer the brief, the fewer the surprises. Build in Word or your project management tool, convert to PDF for signoff.
Send for signature
Use sign PDF to drop signature fields. Send the brief to the client for sign-off before significant work begins. The client signs from their phone, the audit trail captures when. This is now the document you refer to when the project drifts.
Scope changes need re-signing
When the client requests something out of scope, document the change in a brief addendum and re-sign. The addendum captures the new scope, any cost or timeline impact, and the client's agreement. Without re-signing, scope creep becomes invisible until invoicing.
Reference the brief throughout
In each project update, reference back to the brief. "Per the brief, we've focused on the clean serif direction". This anchors the client to what they signed. Drift gets called out early, when course correction is cheap.
FAQ
Should the brief be signed before or after the contract?
After. The contract covers commercial terms; the brief is the project specification. Both should be signed before significant work.
What if the client refuses to sign a brief?
A red flag. Clients who won't commit to a brief tend to be the ones who scope-creep most. Make signoff non-negotiable.
Should briefs be versioned?
Yes — when scope changes, issue v2 with the changes highlighted and re-sign. Maintain version history.
Can the brief be informal?
It can be friendly, but it needs to be specific. Friendly tone, specific content.
Signed briefs prevent scope drift. Capture signoff in Flint and the three-rounds-in surprises stop happening.