Unlocking the Power of Design Briefs: Workshop at the IDBE Masters Programme

Today, Oliver was in Cambridge delivering his workshop “Things to Think and Feel about a Brief,” as part of his teaching on the Interdisciplinary Design for the Built Environment (IDBE) Masters programme.

This workshop draws from our core design teaching and explores some of the most fundamental tools for successful design work.

Key Themes Explored

  • The brief as a tool that evolves with the design process
  • “Design versus Shopping” – The importance of iterative, purposeful design over transactional approaches
  • The Five Elements of the Brief – A practical framework for creating clarity in design
  • The Designer’s Paradox – How constraints and creativity intersect to drive innovation
  • Testing ideas against the requirements of a brief – Ensuring alignment and progress

To bring these topics to life, Oliver led participants through a simple yet powerful exercise that revealed many of the challenges and opportunities of working with a client brief.

Key takeaway:

The brief isn’t a one-time document—it’s a tool that evolves as part of the design process. Learning to engage with it critically can transform how we design.

Find Out More

We offer training in a wide range of conceptual design skills, tailored for diverse design teams.

Check out our training courses for more details.