Design Brief Skill

• Use the Competition Submission Structure (Section 4). This is a concise, persuasive document designed to win a jury's attention and demonstrate design excellence within strict page or word limits.

If the user asks for a "design narrative" or "design statement":

• Produce a narrative-format text (not tabular) that tells the story of the design. Typically 1,000-3,000 words. Combine the vision, design principles, and key moves from the Design Report Structure into flowing prose.

If the user asks for a "presentation document" or "stakeholder presentation":

• Structure the content as a slide-by-slide outline with talking points, using key content from either the Design Brief or Design Report structure depending on whether the project is pre-design or post-design.

If unclear, ask the user which document type they need.

2. Design Brief Structure

A design brief is the most important document in the pre-design phase. It establishes the project's purpose, requirements, and aspirations. A well-written brief empowers designers; a poorly-written brief produces poor design.

Section 1: Executive Summary (200-400 words)

Purpose: Give decision-makers the essential information in one page. Content:

• Project name, location, and client
• Site area and approximate development quantum
• Project purpose in one sentence
• Key objectives (3-5 bullet points)
• Timeline and budget range (if known)
• The single most important aspiration for this project

Guidance: Write this section last, after all other sections are complete. It should be comprehensible to someone who reads nothing else.

Section 2: Project Vision (300-500 words)

Purpose: Articulate the aspirational intent that will guide all design decisions. Content:

• Vision statement (1-2 sentences capturing the essence of what this project should become)
• Context for the vision: why this project matters to the city/community
• How this project relates to broader city strategy or policy goals
• The legacy this project should create (20-year and 50-year perspective)
• Precedents that embody aspects of the vision (reference 2-3 exemplar projects)

Guidance: The vision should be ambitious but credible. Avoid generic statements ("create a vibrant, sustainable community") in favor of specific, memorable ones ("become the car-free neighborhood that proves dense urban living is the best way to raise a family").

Section 3: Site Analysis Summary (400-600 words)

Purpose: Summarize the key site conditions that will shape the design. Content:

• Location and address
• Site area (gross and net developable)
• Current use and condition
• Ownership and land tenure
• Topography and ground conditions
• Climate (key data: temperature range, rainfall, prevailing wind, sun path)
• Surrounding context (adjacent land uses, building heights, character areas)
• Access and connectivity (existing roads, transit, pedestrian/cycle routes)
• Constraints (flood risk, contamination, easements, heritage designations, utilities, noise sources)
• Opportunities (views, water frontage, heritage assets, existing trees, transit proximity)
• Key site plan or map reference

Guidance: Be objective and factual. The brief should state site conditions, not interpret them; interpretation is the designer's job. Include quantitative data (areas, distances, levels).

Section 4: Design Principles (300-500 words)

Purpose: Establish the non-negotiable design values that must guide the response. Content: Define 5-8 design principles, each with a title, a one-sentence statement, and a brief explanation (2-3 sentences). Example principles:

• Walkable Urbanism: Every dwelling must be within a 5-minute walk (400m) of daily shopping, a park, and a transit stop.
• Active Ground Floors: All street-facing ground floors on primary and secondary streets must contain active uses (retail, food, community, workshop, lobby). Residential ground floors are permitted only on local/tertiary streets with direct front-door access.
• Climate-Responsive Form: Building massing, orientation, and street design must respond to local climate conditions (wind, sun, rain) as demonstrated through environmental analysis.
• Heritage First: Existing heritage assets must be retained, celebrated, and integrated as anchors for identity and community.

Guidance: Principles should be specific enough to guide design decisions and evaluate proposals. "Good design" is not a principle. "Maximum block perimeter of 400m with mid-block pedestrian connections on blocks exceeding 300m" is a principle.

Section 5: Spatial Requirements (Quantitative Program) (400-600 words)

Purpose: Define the required quantum of development by use category. Content:

Additional requirements:

• Dwelling density range (DU/ha, net)
• FAR range (gross and net)
• Building height range (stories, meters)
• Public space per capita target (m2/person)
• Green space per capita target (m2/person)

Guidance: Provide ranges, not single numbers, to give designers flexibility. State minimum requirements and aspirational targets separately.

Section 6: Performance Targets (300-400 words)

Purpose: Define measurable outcomes the design must achieve. Content:

Guidance: Targets must be measurable. Avoid vague targets like "high-quality public space." Instead: "All public spaces to score minimum 3.5/5.0 on the Gehl 12 Quality Criteria assessment."

Section 7: Constraints and Regulatory Context (200-300 words)

Purpose: Summarize the regulatory and physical constraints the design must respect. Content:

• Zoning and land use designation
• Height limits (statutory)
• Setback requirements
• Heritage constraints (listed buildings, conservation areas)
• Environmental constraints (flood zones, contamination, protected species)
• Easements and rights of way
• Utility corridors
• Noise contours (if relevant)
• Aviation height limits (if relevant)
• Key planning policy requirements
• Community concerns identified through engagement

Guidance: Distinguish between absolute constraints (statutory, non-negotiable) and guidelines (negotiable through design quality or planning negotiation).

Section 8: Process and Deliverables (200-300 words)

Purpose: Define the design process, milestones, and required outputs. Content:

• Design stages (concept, scheme design, detailed design, construction documentation)
• Key milestones and dates
• Required deliverables at each stage (plans, sections, models, reports, visualizations)
• Review and approval process
• Community engagement requirements at each stage
• Design review panel process (if applicable)
• Sustainability assessment requirements at each stage

Section 9: Evaluation Criteria (150-250 words)

Purpose: Define how design proposals will be assessed. Content:

• List the assessment criteria with weightings. Example:
  • Design quality and urban form (30%)
  • Sustainability and environmental performance (20%)
  • Social and community value (15%)
  • Economic viability and deliverability (15%)
  • Innovation and vision (10%)
  • Responsiveness to brief (10%)
• Reference any frameworks to be used (e.g., "Proposals will be assessed using the Composite Scorecard from the Design Evaluation framework")

3. Design Report Structure

A design report documents and justifies the design after it has been developed. It must explain not just WHAT was designed, but WHY each decision was made.

Section 1: Executive Summary (300-500 words)

Content:

• Project overview (name, location, client, scale)
• Design concept in one sentence
• Key metrics summary (site area, GFA, dwellings, FAR, green space, parking)
• Headline design moves (3-5 key decisions)
• How the design responds to the brief's core requirements
• Key sustainability achievements
• Phasing summary

Section 2: Site Context and Analysis (500-800 words)

Content:

• Location and surroundings description
• Climate analysis findings and implications for design
• Site history and cultural significance
• Constraints and opportunities mapping
• Connectivity analysis (existing and proposed)
• Character area assessment of surrounding context
• Key analysis diagrams described in text (figure-ground, movement, green/blue network, noise, microclimate)

Section 3: Design Concept and Vision (400-600 words)

Content:

• Design concept statement (the "big idea" in 1-2 sentences)
• How the concept responds to site conditions and context
• How the concept addresses the brief's vision and principles
• Conceptual design evolution (describe key alternatives considered and why this approach was chosen)
• Reference to precedents that informed the concept

Section 4: Masterplan Description (600-1000 words)

Content:

• Overall spatial organization (grid, organic, hybrid; axes, nodes, districts)
• Block structure and grain (typical block dimensions, variety, rationale)
• Land use distribution (where each use is located and why)
• Building typologies (types used, heights, densities, and their distribution logic)
• Street hierarchy (primary to local; dimensions; character of each level)
• Public space network (hierarchy: squares, parks, pocket parks, linear spaces; location rationale)
• Green and blue infrastructure (ecological strategy, SUDS, tree planting, habitat corridors)
• Edge conditions (how the project meets existing neighborhoods, landscape, infrastructure)
• Phasing strategy (what gets built when, and why in that order)

Describe the masterplan as if guiding someone through it on foot: "Arriving from the train station, you enter the main boulevard..." This makes spatial relationships clear even without images.

Section 5: Design Principles and How They Are Achieved (400-600 words)

Content: For each design principle stated in the brief, describe specifically how the design responds:

Section 6: Mobility Strategy (300-500 words)

Content:

• Pedestrian network (routes, priority areas, key crossings, path widths)
• Cycling network (infrastructure type, parking, connections to citywide network)
• Public transit integration (existing and proposed routes, stop locations, frequency)
• Vehicle access and parking strategy (car parking provision, management, electric vehicle charging)
• Servicing and emergency access
• Mode share targets and how the design achieves them
• Street cross-sections for each hierarchy level (described in text with dimensions)

Section 7: Public Realm and Landscape (300-500 words)

Content:

• Public space hierarchy and schedule (name, area, character, primary function)
• Streetscape strategy (trees, paving, furniture, lighting)
• Planting strategy (native species, seasonal interest, habitat value, maintenance regime)
• Water strategy (SUDS, rain gardens, water features, stormwater management)
• Play and recreation provision (all-age approach)
• Public art strategy (if applicable)
• Microclimate strategy (wind, sun, shade, shelter)

Section 8: Sustainability Strategy (400-600 words)

Content:

• Energy strategy (building fabric, renewables, district energy, operational carbon pathway)
• Water strategy (demand reduction, rainwater harvesting, greywater recycling, SUDS)
• Materials and circular economy (embodied carbon, recycled content, design for disassembly)
• Biodiversity and ecology (habitat creation, biodiversity net gain calculation, ecological corridors)
• Climate adaptation (urban heat island, flood resilience, drought preparedness)
• Certification targets (LEED-ND, BREEAM, or other - level targeted and key credits)
• Monitoring and verification (how performance will be measured post-completion)

Section 9: Social and Community Strategy (300-400 words)

Content:

• Housing mix and affordability (unit types, tenures, affordability percentages and definition)
• Community facilities (schools, health, libraries, community centers - capacity and location)
• Inclusive design approach (universal access, age-friendly design, cultural sensitivity)
• Community engagement summary (how the community influenced the design)
• Management and governance (stewardship model, community involvement in management)
• Employment and economic development (job creation, local enterprise support)

Section 10: Metrics Summary (200-300 words + table)

Content: Present a comprehensive metrics table comparing the design against the brief's targets:

Section 11: Phasing and Implementation (200-300 words)

Content:

• Phase descriptions (what is built in each phase, approximate GFA, timeline)
• Phasing rationale (why this sequence; infrastructure prerequisites; market absorption)
• Early phase activation strategy (what creates life and identity in Phase 1)
• Infrastructure phasing (utilities, roads, transit; what must come first)
• Temporary uses during construction phases

4. Competition Submission Structure

Competition submissions require maximum impact in minimum space. Typically constrained to 2-4 boards or 2,000-5,000 words.

Cover Sheet:

• Project name (memorable, evocative)
• Tagline (one sentence capturing the concept)
• Team name and composition

Design Statement (500-800 words):

• Open with the "big idea" - the single most important concept
• Explain why this concept responds to the site and brief
• Describe the masterplan through a spatial narrative (arrival, movement, discovery)
• Highlight 3-5 key design moves with brief justification
• Close with the legacy statement (what this project will mean in 50 years)

Concept Diagram Description:

• Describe the organizing concept as a simple diagram (even in text: "The design is organized around a central green spine running north-south, connecting the train station to the riverfront...")
• Explain the diagram's logic and how it generates the masterplan

Masterplan Description (300-500 words):

• Spatial organization and block structure
• Land use distribution
• Key public spaces (name and character of each)
• Street hierarchy and movement strategy
• Building typology and height strategy

Sustainability Strategy (200-300 words):

• 3-5 headline sustainability strategies
• Key performance targets
• Innovation or unique environmental approach

Phasing Summary (100-200 words):

• Phase 1 scope and rationale (what creates critical mass)
• Subsequent phases (brief)
• Final buildout vision

Key Metrics (table, 50 words):

• Site area, GFA, FAR, DU/ha, green space per capita, parking ratio, affordable housing %, sustainable mode split target

5. Writing Guidelines

Voice and Tone

• Write in active voice ("The design creates..." not "A design has been created...")
• Use present tense for design descriptions ("The central boulevard connects the station to the park")
• Use future tense for outcomes and impacts ("The district will house 5,000 residents")
• Be authoritative but not arrogant (state decisions confidently; justify them with evidence)
• Be specific, not vague ("200 dwellings per hectare" not "high density"; "4 meters of clear footpath width" not "generous footpaths")
• Be concise (every sentence must earn its place; cut filler words)

Quantitative Discipline

• Always provide numbers: areas (m2 and hectares), distances (meters), ratios (FAR, parking), densities (DU/ha), percentages
• Use consistent units throughout (metric, SI)
• Round appropriately (areas to nearest 100m2; distances to nearest 10m; ratios to 1 decimal place)
• Present ranges where precision is not yet possible ("150-200 DU/ha" not "approximately 175 DU/ha")

Visual Description Conventions

When images, plans, or diagrams are not available, describe spatial qualities with enough precision for a designer to understand or recreate the intent:

• Plan organization: "An orthogonal grid of 80m x 120m blocks oriented north-south / east-west, with a diagonal boulevard connecting the northeast corner (transit station) to the southwest (riverfront park)"
• Street cross-section: "The primary boulevard is 24m total width: 4m footpath / 2m tree planting strip / 3.5m cycle track / 3m carriageway / 3m carriageway / 3.5m cycle track / 2m tree planting strip / 3m frontage zone (cafe seating)"
• Public space: "The central square is 80m x 60m, enclosed by 5-6 story buildings on three sides (H:W ratio approximately 1:1.5), open to the south toward the park. A double row of plane trees lines the eastern and western edges, with a central open lawn and a linear water feature along the north building edge."
• Building typology: "Perimeter block apartments of 5-7 stories with ground floor retail/community, a semi-private courtyard garden of 40m x 25m, underground parking accessed from the rear lane, and setback upper floors (6th-7th) with private roof terraces."

Action Verbs for Design

Use precise verbs that describe spatial relationships:

• Connect (links two things), frame (encloses or defines), anchor (provides a fixed reference point)
• Activate (brings life to), define (gives shape to), mediate (transitions between)
• Reinforce (strengthens existing character), contrast (deliberately differs from), complement (harmonizes with)
• Orient (faces toward), address (turns to face), shelter (protects from)
• Reveal (makes visible through sequence), terminate (closes a vista), punctuate (marks a moment)

6. Metric Summary Template

Include this standard metrics summary table in both design briefs (as targets) and design reports (as achieved values).

## Key Metrics Summary

### Site
| Metric | Value |
|--------|-------|
| Gross site area | [X] ha |
| Net developable area | [X] ha |
| Existing building retention | [X] m2 / [X]% of existing |

### Density and Quantum
| Metric | Value |
|--------|-------|
| Total GFA | [X] m2 |
| Residential GFA | [X] m2 ([X]% of total) |
| Commercial GFA | [X] m2 ([X]% of total) |
| Retail GFA | [X] m2 ([X]% of total) |
| Community/Institutional GFA | [X] m2 ([X]% of total) |
| Gross FAR | [X.X] |
| Net FAR | [X.X] |
| Ground Space Index (GSI) | [X.X] |
| Open Space Ratio (OSR) | [X.X] |

### Housing
| Metric | Value |
|--------|-------|
| Total dwellings | [X] units |
| Dwelling density (net) | [X] DU/ha |
| Estimated population | [X] residents |
| Housing tenure split | [X]% market / [X]% affordable / [X]% social |
| Unit type mix | [X]% 1-bed / [X]% 2-bed / [X]% 3-bed / [X]% 4-bed+ |
| Average unit size | [X] m2 |

### Public Realm and Green Infrastructure
| Metric | Value |
|--------|-------|
| Total public open space | [X] ha / [X] m2 per person |
| Green space | [X] ha / [X] m2 per person |
| Tree canopy coverage (at maturity) | [X]% of public realm |
| Biodiversity net gain | [X]% |
| Permeable surface area | [X]% of site |
| Play space provision | [X] m2 / [X] per 100 children |

### Mobility
| Metric | Value |
|--------|-------|
| Car parking spaces | [X] ([X] per dwelling) |
| Cycle parking spaces | [X] ([X] per dwelling) |
| EV charging points | [X] ([X]% of car spaces) |
| Distance to nearest bus stop | [X] m |
| Distance to nearest rail/metro station | [X] m |
| Target sustainable mode split | [X]% walk / [X]% cycle / [X]% transit |

### Urban Form
| Metric | Value |
|--------|-------|
| Building height range | [X]-[X] stories |
| Average block perimeter | [X] m |
| Active frontage (primary streets) | [X]% |
| Active frontage (secondary streets) | [X]% |
| Intersection density | [X] per km2 |
| Street hierarchy | [X]m primary / [X]m secondary / [X]m local |

### Sustainability
| Metric | Value |
|--------|-------|
| Operational carbon target | [target] |
| Embodied carbon target | [X] kgCO2/m2 |
| Renewable energy provision | [X] kWp / [X]% of demand |
| Water demand reduction | [X]% vs. baseline |
| Stormwater attenuation | [X]-year event at greenfield rate |
| Waste diversion target | [X]% from landfill |
| Certification target | [system] [level] |

7. Reference Links

Templates for immediate use:

• templates/design-brief-template.md - Complete fill-in template for an urban design brief
• templates/report-template.md - Complete fill-in template for an urban design report

Related skills for content generation:

• site-analysis skill - For generating the site analysis content needed in briefs and reports
• design-evaluation skill - For evaluating design proposals against the brief's criteria
• sustainability-scoring skill - For detailed sustainability assessment content
• precedent-study skill - For selecting and analyzing precedents referenced in briefs and reports

External references:

• RIBA Plan of Work 2020 - Stage definitions and deliverables
• Urban Design Compendium (Homes England) - Design guidance
• National Design Guide (UK MHCLG, 2019) - 10 Characteristics of Well-Designed Places
• LEED-ND v4.1 Rating System - Certification requirements
• Global Street Design Guide (NACTO / GDCI, 2016) - Street design standards