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When a designer or design agency has completed their website designs, the next crucial step is to ensure a smooth handover of the project to the WordPress developer - hopefully that's me. A detailed, well-structured brief is vital for translating often static designs into a fully functional WordPress website, with minimal faff. Here’s how to create an effective development brief.
1. Provide a clear overview of the web development project
As often the designer or design agency has taken on the first part of the project, they already know much of the information about the client and project, and can summarise it really well. Start with the project’s key details. Including
- The project’s purpose and goals (e.g., launching a new website to go with a refreshed brand, updating functionality to allow greater content editing flexibility or improving performance).
- A summary of the website’s scope, such as the list of pages and key functionality.
- Any specific constraints, such as a strict deadline or fixed budget to stick to.
2. Share the final (please be final!) website designs
Ensure the developer has access to the complete design assets for both desktop and mobile. Be specific about formats and tools:
- File formats: Provide layered design files (e.g., Figma, Adobe XD, or Sketch), along with high-quality exports such as SVG assets.
- Folder structure: Organise assets logically (e.g., images, icons fonts and content if you have it in separate folders).
- Design annotations: Include notes on responsive behaviours, hover states or animations if they’re not obvious in the design.
3. Detail the required website functionality
Clearly outline the functionality the website needs, such as:
- Core features: Describe dynamic elements like sliders, galleries, contact forms and/or e-commerce functionality.
- Plugins and integrations: Specify necessary plugins if you know them or external systems (e.g., CRMs, booking tools, or payment gateways).
- Custom features: Highlight areas requiring custom development, like bespoke post types or unique interactions.
4. Outline the responsive design requirements
Designers and design agencies often create desktop mock-ups but may not fully detail tablet or mobile layouts. If there is not time to create a separate mobile design, additional instructions are needed for responsiveness:
- Provide specific guidelines for how elements should adapt across breakpoints.
- Clarify priorities, such as maintaining legibility or optimising performance for mobile users.
5. Specify website's technical stuff
Include all relevant technical details to help the developer build the website efficiently:
- Hosting environment: Share details of the hosting provider and access credentials if known.
- Frameworks or builders: Indicate if a specific page builder (e.g., Webflow, Advanced Custom Fields, or Elementor) if you have a preference.
6. Explain the website content strategy
Content is the backbone of a website. Be clear about:
- Content population: Whether the developer will upload and format content or if it will be handled later by the designer / design agency or client.
- Dynamic content: Any data-driven elements, such as blogs or product listings and how these should function.
- SEO: Provide SEO keywords, meta titles and descriptions, and any other search engine optimisation related requirements.
7. Highlight performance and accessibility goals
- Performance: Outline page speed expectations and optimisation requirements (e.g., lazy loading, caching and CSS minification).
- Accessibility: Note compliance with standards like WCAG, ensuring the website is user-friendly for all, although this is heavily design dependent as well.
8. Create a milestone timeline
Developers like clear deadlines to work backwards from. As development and client feedback speed can vary, it would be wise to bake in some tolerance. Provide a timeline with key stages, such as:
- Development start date (upon signed off, final design completion)
- Initial build completion for review.
- Testing and feedback deadlines.
- Launch date.
9. Establish a team communication plan
Define how you’ll communicate and collaborate during development:
- Preferred tools (e.g., email, Slack and/or Trello).
- Frequency of updates or check-ins.
- A clear escalation process for resolving queries or blockers.
10. Include a website testing checklist
Provide a checklist to ensure the finished site meets expectations:
- Browser and device compatibility.
- Functional testing for forms, buttons, animations and interactive elements.
- Visual fidelity compared to the design.
11. Handover for post-launch support
Include details of what’s expected after the site goes live:
- Who is responsible for bug fixes and design adjustments.
- Any required documentation, such as guides for content updates or plugin management.
By following these steps, designers an design agencies can hand over a project to WordPress developers with confidence. A detailed brief bridges the gap between design and development, ensuring a smooth process and an end product that aligns with the original vision. We specialist in creating pixel-perfect custom WordPress websites, exactly according to your design and with maxmum flexibility and value for money for the client. Take a breath.
To cut a long story short, I have the design open on one screen and the website on the other screen and I'm constantly flicking back and forth between the two making sure the site its a perfect replica of the design. If you've ever experienced working with a developer in the past, you probably had the frustation of them not having the attention to detail that you expect. One of our unique selling points is that we are both designers and developers so we understand this, and we have solved this problem for you.
If you'd like to discuss development for your upcoming project please get in touch.
