Most company profile projects that run late do not fail at design. They stall earlier, because decisions that should have been made before kickoff — who the profile is for, what it must include, who approves it — are made halfway through. A good design brief settles those decisions on one page before the studio starts.
What the brief is for
A brief is not the profile content. It is a record of decisions the buyer has made, so the studio can plan structure, writing, photography and design without guessing. Our company profile design guide covers what goes inside a profile; this page covers what to decide before commissioning one.
1. Audience and purpose
- Who will read the profile first — buyers, procurement, investors, tender panels, partners?
- What should they do after reading it — shortlist you, request a quote, visit the plant, invest?
- Where will it be used — sales meetings, exhibitions, email, tender submissions, website download?
- Which markets and languages are needed?
2. Scope and formats
- Approximate page count, or "recommend a page count"
- Print, PDF, or both — and the print quantity if known
- Whether shorter versions are needed (a two-page summary, a tender version)
- Whether copywriting is included or you will supply final text
- Whether photography or illustration is included
3. Assets you will supply
- Logo files and brand guidelines
- Existing profiles, presentations and catalogues
- Photographs of the facility, products and team — with usage rights
- Certificates and approvals you are allowed to show
- Client names, logos or project references you have permission to use
Permissions matter. List only client names, logos and project details you are cleared to publish, and mark anything that must stay out of a public document.
4. Approvals and timeline
- One project owner who gives consolidated feedback
- Named approvers for technical, sales and leadership content
- How many review rounds are expected
- The date the profile is needed, and any fixed event (an exhibition, a tender deadline)
5. Budget and constraints
Give a budget range and any fixed constraints — a print deadline, a size that must fit a folder, a colour that must match existing material. A studio can only recommend the right scope if it knows the limits.
A one-page brief outline
- Company and project owner
- Audience and purpose
- Scope, formats and languages
- Assets supplied (with permissions)
- Approvers and review rounds
- Deadline and key dates
- Budget range
Frequently asked questions
Two to four pages is usually enough. The brief should record decisions — audience, scope, assets, approvers and dates — not the content of the profile itself.
Say so in the brief. The studio can then plan a shoot, recommend which existing images are usable, or design around fewer, better photographs.
Yes, at least a range. It lets the studio recommend a scope that fits — for example, page count, copywriting depth and whether photography is included.
The person who will manage the project on your side, with input from sales and leadership on audience and key messages.
Send us your brief — or we will help you write it.
Corpfolio plans company profiles from audience and purpose first. See our company profile design service.