Knowing that LHA is a hydraulic and pneumatic cylinder manufacturer in Italy will not help you at all. Probably you don't even know what a hydraulic cylinder is but this is only good news. Forget hydraulic and pneumatic cylinders because you will be asked to do something completely different.
WHAT IS IT ?
In this step you will find information about the Brand Builder, who is asking you to propose a Solution for the challenge. He introduces himself (as a Brand of course :) The more you understand about the Brand, the more chances you have to create what is wanted.
IMPORTANT: There is a possibility that the Brand Builder prefers not to disclose who he is, usually for confidentiality reasons. Such Briefs will be published in an anonymous way. In this case the Brand Builder will say as much as he feels comfortable saying.
Here are two EXAMPLES
In case there is no problem with disclosing the identity (VISIBLE):
“NMN -No More Nicotine- is a Brand that promises to counteract the damages to the skin that can be caused by smoking. NMN is distributed in pharmacies and drugstores and its price positioning is middle-high; it is mainly promoted through professional endorsement and is not massively advertised.”
In case the Brand doesn’t want to disclose his identity (ANONYMOUS):
“Brand counteracting the damages to skin caused by smoking. Its products are distributed in pharmacies and drugstores with a middle-high price positioning; they are mainly promoted through professional endorsement and are not massively advertised.”
In summary: Who is your client (in a visible or “anonymous” way :)
We have many obsolete components in stock. Just to start we ask the Creators to redesign two of these components. We don't expect to obtain other industrial components but something completely different. The Creators will be absolutely free to use their imagination. For istance they could become an ornament, a gadget, a toy, a symbol, a lamp, a tool, a clock, a piece of modern art or design, a container, etc. or they could be part of another object if assembled with other elements or adding some details.The two redesigned components will have a separate life or will be combined becoming a single object.
WHAT IS IT ?
This is the task the Brand Builder asks you to accomplish. If you don’t understand it, you are completely out of luck !
EXAMPLE
“We ask the Creators to develop a print advertising campaign in order to increase Brand’s visibility. It will be used in national magazines this spring.”
In summary: It’s the objective of the client, therefore your objective too !
The redesigned products will be really nice, quite expensive and exclusive, produced in small quantities, may be numbered.
May they also be personalized according to some custom specifications or directed to a specific category of people? Why not.
Changing twice a year some design details, colours and surface finish may they become collectible objects? Why not.
Creators, don't put limits on your creativity but don't forget that the final results must be salable!
WHAT IS IT?
People that the Brand Builder wants you to entertain and persuade to think, feel or do something using your creation. Usually you will read about their age, sex, social level and behaviors. You should always keep that information in mind while creating, as the target audience is the final recipient of what you create.
EXAMPLE
“Smoking girls and women who would like to quit smoking but can’t. Usually health-conscious adults who care about their looks. They feel guilty about smoking because they know it is harmful. They read books about it. This is a real problem for them: it’s like “My brain wants something, but my body acts of its own accord”. They don’t relate to my brand, they are just waiting for a trustworthy “helping hand”.
In summary: Get under their skin !
The products will be quite emotional and people will think :" there is a new idea out there".
WHAT IS IT?
The thing that the Brand Builder wants to make the target audience think/feel/do because of your creation.
Here are some very concrete examples:
∞ Some things people can think/feel:
- There is a new Brand (or product or idea or...) out there
- This Brand is better than the alternatives or than it used to be
- This Brand is worth paying more for
∞ Some things people can do:
- Start buying the Brand’s products
- Buy the Brand more often
- Stock more products of the Brand in their outlets
The above written examples are very concrete whilst often the proposition of the Brief is emotional. That’s even better as it can be more inspiring!
EXAMPLE
“We’d like to encourage smokers to use NMN in order to minimize the damage to their health while they are keeping giving up smoking (especially if they’ve already tried and failed before).”
In summary: Get inside their brain !
WHAT IS IT?
This is the key to achieving the objective. It is what supports the proposition and makes it believable. Usually it is a rational statement.
EXAMPLE
“Every cigarette you smoke is causing damage to your appearance. A recent study took several pairs of identical twins where one twin was a lifelong smoker and the other had never smoked. The smokers’ skin was a quarter thinner than that of non-smokers, and in some cases there were differences of up to 40%. NMN contains thinning-blocking anti-oxidants which counteract the effect of nicotine on the skin.”
In summary: You are looking for arguments? You’ll find them here!
The new Brand which will be created to market the outcome of the project will have to communicate armony, good taste, originality and exclusivity.
WHAT IS IT?
It’s who the Brand is. Yes... who!
Treat the Brand as a human being, as it has its own personality. To know the personality of the “client” is fundamental in order to provide a tailor-made job. So, read carefully the listed adjectives...
EXAMPLE
“Scientific, trustworthy, result-oriented, ‘a party’ to achieve your goals.”
In summary: Imagine the live person !
It depends on what the Creators will create! In any case the web and the world of mouth will be preferred to reach the target audience.
WHAT IS IT?
A list of places (or media, or things) where the target audience will see the outcome of your creation. In this step sometimes the Brand will also acknowledge you how much he plans to invest into production. This information will give you an insight whether to create a BIG project or make it small... :)
EXAMPLE
“This campaign is going to appear in lifestyle- and health-focused women magazines of New Zealand, during the spring of 2009. We plan to invest 500,000 USD, which means approximately buying 100 single pages.”
In summary: Consider the medium !
In the attachments the Creators will find two technical drawings plus some pictures of the parts to redesign. Both parts (M1-111T-X and M1-131T-2X) are made in different sizes as shown in the tables above the drawings. All dimensions are in millimiters (1 inch=25.4 millimiters). The attached pictures show the part number M1-111T-63 and M1-131T-63. The part number M1-131T-40 is the smallest one while M1-131T-200 is the biggest one of its "family". Similarly M1-111T-40 is the smallest one and M1-111T-200 is the biggest one of its "family". The Creators should also consider that the components are made with steel and so they are heavy. For example the part number M1-131T-63 (see the table above the drawing M1-131T-2X) weighs 1.9 kilograms (4.2 pounds) and the part number M1-111T-63 (see the table above the drawing M1-111T-X) weighs 2.1 kilograms (4.6 pounds). The outcome of the project (the redesigned components) will be realized in a specific size chosen by the Creators amongst those available in the table or if it's possible in all the sizes shown in the table.
If the Brand has preferences or technical requirements that your Solution has to match, you will find them here.
Here are some items that you may find in this section:
∞ Guidelines or mandatory inclusions (do’s and/or don’ts)
∞ Business objectives
∞ Market and competitors overview
∞ Good and bad samples
Depending on the Brief, you may also find some files attached with a logo, pictures of product(s), a template that you should use in order to submit your ideas, or any other file that the Brand wants to share with you. So, study the attachments before starting creating.
In summary: Anything else you need to know (not written in the 7 steps before) !
