Project briefs are an effective and professional way to convey information to stakeholders, investors, and employees. A project brief summarizes the key elements of your project. Your project brief should communicate your project requirements without pages of project details. If you're unsure how to write a high-quality project brief, you can use free project brief templates or create them with AI.

In this article, we will examine what a project brief is and explore free project brief templates.

Ready? Let's dive in!

TL; DR

  • Project brief templates are guides for creating a document that is used to communicate the objectives of a project. 
  • A good project brief template should guide users to create a document in the right format and length. 
  • A project brief document should include sections such as summary, purpose, objectives, data, timeline, and audience. 
  • If you are looking for free project brief templates that will make your project brief writing process easier, you can review examples with different purposes and uses by ZenoChat. 

What is a Project Brief Template?

A project brief template is a guide or editable document that outlines the process and objectives of the project. A project brief often offers a summary of your project plan. It defines what is needed to complete and provides information about the project such as milestones, deadlines, objectives, and deliverables. No matter which department or project you are in, everyone can use project brief templates to improve the overall work process.

What Makes a Good Project Brief Template?

A good project brief template should guide the user to create a well-prepared document. A project brief template should cover its basic sections, such as summary, scope of the project, project purpose, timelines, and deadlines. A good project brief template should also make sure that the document is 1-2 pages long. This way, stakeholders and investors can quickly review and evaluate the document.

Sections of Project Brief Templates

Although a project brief template is a relatively short document, there are essential sections that it should cover. These sections aim to provide the reader with the necessary information. The essential sections of a project brief template include:

  • Project Summary
  • Project Purpose
  • Objectives
  • Measurable Data
  • Project Timelines
  • Project Audience
Sections of Project Brief Templates

5 Free Project Brief Templates

The template that each company, organization, or department needs for a project brief may differ. Project brief templates should be customizable according to the use case and needs. If you are looking for templates that will guide you through the project brief writing process, we’ve prepared 5 free project brief templates that cater to a different purpose and use.

1. Project Brief Template

Below is a generic project brief template that you can copy into a Word document and edit as needed. This template is designed to be adaptable to various project types and sizes.

Project Brief

Project Title

Enter the title of the project here.

Date

Enter the date of this document.

Project Manager

Enter the name and contact information of the project manager.

Project Purpose

Provide a brief overview of the project's purpose and what it aims to achieve.

Background

Include any relevant background information or context that is important for understanding the project.

Objectives

List the key objectives of the project.

  • Objective 1
  • Objective 2
  • Objective 3

Scope

Describe the scope of the project, including what is included and excluded.

Deliverables

Outline the main deliverables the project will produce.

  1. Deliverable 1
  2. Deliverable 2
  3. Deliverable 3

Target Audience

Identify the target audience or stakeholders for the project.

Timeline

Provide a high-level timeline for the project, noting key milestones.

Budget

Outline the estimated budget or financial resources allocated to the project.

Risks and Assumptions

Identify any potential risks and assumptions related to the project.

Stakeholders

List the key stakeholders and their roles.

  1. Stakeholder 1: Role
  2. Stakeholder 2: Role
  3. Stakeholder 3: Role

Approval

Indicate the approval process and who needs to sign off on the project brief.

Prepared by:
Name
Title
Date

Approved by:
Name
Title
Date

2. Event Project Brief Template

Below is an event project brief template crafted to guide the planning and execution of events. You can copy this into a Word document and modify it to suit your specific event needs.

Event Project Brief

Event Title

Enter the title of the event here.

Date and Time

Specify the date and time for the event.

Venue

Enter the location where the event will take place.

Project Manager

Enter the name and contact information of the event project manager.

Event Purpose

Provide a brief overview of the event's purpose and what it aims to achieve.

Background

Include any relevant background information or context that is important for the event.

Objectives

List the key objectives of the event.

  • Objective 1
  • Objective 2
  • Objective 3

Audience

Identify the target audience for the event.

Scope

Describe the scope of the event, including the main activities and features.

Key Deliverables

Outline the main deliverables or outputs of the event.

  1. Deliverable 1
  2. Deliverable 2
  3. Deliverable 3

Timeline

Provide a high-level timeline charting key milestones and deadlines leading up to the event.

Budget

Outline the estimated budget for the event, including major cost categories.

Marketing and Promotion

Describe the strategies and channels that will be used to promote the event.

Logistics

Detail the logistics plan, including arrangements for venue setup, catering, transportation, and technical equipment.

Risk Management

Identify any potential risks and the strategies to mitigate them.

Stakeholders

List the key stakeholders involved in the event and their roles.

  1. Stakeholder 1: Role
  2. Stakeholder 2: Role
  3. Stakeholder 3: Role

Evaluation

Explain how the success of the event will be measured and evaluated.

Approval

Indicate the approval process and who needs to sign off on the event plan.

Prepared by:
Name
Title
Date

Approved by:
Name
Title
Date

3. Marketing Campaign Brief Template

Here's a marketing campaign brief template that you can use and adapt to suit your specific campaign needs. Simply copy it into a Word document and fill in the relevant details.

Marketing Campaign Brief

Campaign Title

Enter the title of the campaign here.

Date

Enter the date of this document.

Project Manager

Enter the name and contact information of the campaign manager.

Campaign Purpose

Provide a brief overview of the campaign's purpose and what it aims to achieve.

Background

Include any relevant background information or context about the brand or product.

Objectives

List the key objectives of the campaign.

  • Objective 1
  • Objective 2
  • Objective 3

Target Audience

Identify the target audience for the campaign, including demographic and psychographic information.

Key Messages

Outline the primary messages you want to communicate to the audience.

Scope and Deliverables

Describe the scope of the campaign and list the key deliverables.

  1. Deliverable 1
  2. Deliverable 2
  3. Deliverable 3

Channels and Tactics

Specify the channels and tactics that will be used in the campaign (e.g., social media, email, print, TV).

Timeline

Provide a timeline with key milestones and deadlines for the campaign.

Budget

Outline the estimated budget for the campaign, including allocations for different activities and media.

Creative Considerations

Describe any creative guidelines, themes, or assets that need to be included.

Success Metrics

Define how the success of the campaign will be measured (e.g., KPIs like reach, engagement, conversion rates).

Risks and Assumptions

Identify potential risks and assumptions associated with the campaign.

Stakeholders

List key stakeholders involved in the campaign and their roles.

  1. Stakeholder 1: Role
  2. Stakeholder 2: Role
  3. Stakeholder 3: Role

Approval

Detail the approval process and who needs to sign off on the campaign plan.

Prepared by:
Name
Title
Date

Approved by:
Name
Title
Date

4. Creative Project Brief Template

Below is a creative project brief template that you can use to structure and define the essentials of a creative project. 

Creative Project Brief

Project Title

Enter the title of the project here.

Date

Enter the date of this document.

Project Lead

Enter the name and contact information of the project lead.

Project Purpose

Provide a concise overview of the purpose of the project and what it aims to achieve.

Background

Include relevant background information or context necessary for understanding the creative project.

Objectives

List the primary objectives of the project.

  • Objective 1
  • Objective 2
  • Objective 3

Target Audience

Identify the target audience, including demographic and psychographic information.

Key Messages

Outline the key messages or themes that the project should communicate.

Creative Requirements

Specify the creative requirements, including formats, styles, and any required elements.

Deliverables

List the deliverables expected from the project.

  1. Deliverable 1
  2. Deliverable 2
  3. Deliverable 3

Timeline

Provide a timeline with key milestones and deadlines, from the kickoff to final delivery.

Budget

Outline the budget allocated for the project, including any specific cost categories.

Creative Direction

Describe the overall creative direction or vision for the project, including any inspirations or references.

Success Metrics

Define how the success of the project will be measured.

Stakeholders

List key stakeholders involved in the project and their roles.

  1. Stakeholder 1: Role
  2. Stakeholder 2: Role
  3. Stakeholder 3: Role

Risks and Assumptions

Identify any potential risks and assumptions critical to the project's outcome.

Approval

Specify the approval process and who needs to sign off on the creative project.

Prepared by:
Name
Title
Date

Approved by:
Name
Title
Date

5. Agile Project Brief Template

Below is an agile project brief template designed to align with the principles and practices of agile project management.

Agile Project Brief

Project Title

Enter the title of the project here.

Date

Enter the date of this document.

Product Owner

Enter the name and contact information of the product owner.

Scrum Master

Enter the name and contact information of the scrum master.

Project Purpose

Provide a brief overview of the project's purpose and what it aims to achieve.

Vision Statement

Articulate the overall vision for the project in a concise statement.

Background

Include relevant background information or context necessary for understanding the project.

Key Objectives

List the primary objectives of the project.

  • Objective 1
  • Objective 2
  • Objective 3

Target Users

Identify the target users or customer segments for the project.

Key Features

Outline the key features or functionalities that the project will deliver.

  • Feature 1
  • Feature 2
  • Feature 3

Product Backlog

Provide a high-level summary of the product backlog, highlighting major items.

Success Metrics

Define how the success of the project will be measured.

Team Composition

List key team members involved in the project and their roles.

  • Team Member 1: Role
  • Team Member 2: Role
  • Team Member 3: Role

Timeline

Provide a timeline that outlines the sprints and key milestones.

Budget

Outline the budget allocated for the project, including any specific cost categories.

Risks and Assumptions

Identify potential risks and assumptions critical to the project's success.

Communication and Collaboration

Explain the communication and collaboration practices, including meetings (e.g., daily stand-ups, sprint planning, retrospectives).

Approval

Specify the approval process and who needs to sign off on the project plan.

Prepared by:
Name
Title
Date

Approved by:
Name
Title
Date

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the format of a project brief?

Your project brief should include the project summary, project purpose, project objectives, timelines, and target audience. Project briefs are short documents of project plans that high-level stakeholders and investors can read quickly, and project team members can check back on frequently. If you need personalized project briefs for specific cases, you can utilize TextCortex to create perfect-fit project brief templates.

How do you write a short project brief?

If you want to keep your project brief short and informative, we recommend that you write sentences that only highlight key elements and information. A project brief usually consists of six main sections. You can include only important information in each section to keep your project brief and concise. If you think that the sentences you will add to your project brief are too long, you can use TextCortex's text summarizer to get perfectly balanced and short phrases.

What are the six sections of a project brief document?

A well-structured project brief document should include the following six sections:

• Project Summary

• Project Purpose

• Objectives and Key Results

• Measurable Data

• Project Timeline

• Target Audience