Creative Brief Template - Phase 1 Create a Video Brief - Video Script and Design Resources

Sep 12, 2026

Upload by Mason

A practical creative brief and design guidance handout for developing video and visual assets. It walks through defining a video’s purpose, distribution channel, target audience, and call to action, then structuring a script with beginning, middle, and end. It also provides writing tips for clarity and visual language, plus useful links for resources, file preparation, and design principles. A design checklist covers brand alignment, technical specs, readability hierarchy, white space, message clarity, photo selection, accessibility via alt text, and media permission form preparation.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryPresentations

FormatPDF

Pages6

Reading Time2 min

AccessFree to download

Creative Brief Template

Phase 1: Create a video brief

Phase 2: Write a script or talking points

Creative Resources: Useful Links

Free stock image sites

Design programs and tools

Design Checklist

Brand, specs, readability, and accessibility

Media Permission & Release Form

SESSIO N 4 Creative Brief Template Phase 1: Create a video brief Map out your video project before spending valuable time on production. Use this guide to determine the purpose of the video, who you want to reach, how the audience will view it and a call to action: | Purpose
What is the main goal of your video? | | | --- | --- | | Distribution
How will people see this video? Where will the video live? | | | Audience
Who are the key audiences for this video? | | | Call To Action
Are you making an appeal for action?
What’s the most compelling and succinct way to ask the viewer to act? | | Phase 2: Write a script or talking points Writing a script in advance ensures that your messaging stays on target. Scripts and talking points should be succinct statements that are easy to listen to and follow along. Before diving into a script, write out some ideas for narrative structure using the following: | Beginning
What is your organization?
What are you trying to accomplish? Is there a problem you’retrying to solve? | Middle
How is your organization tackling the problem? What are key accomplishments that you can share? | End
What idea, impression oremotion are you leaving the viewer with? What’s the takeaway? | | --- | --- | --- | | | | | Tips on writing the strongest language for video • Less is more! Spend time choosing your language carefully in order to convey more. Keep in mind the shortened attention spans for videos online. • Write visually. Use language that reinforces what your audience is seeing on screen. • Avoid homonyms or convoluted sentences. Make sure that your words flow clearly. • Read your draft out loud to test its oral legibility and length of time to read. SESSIO N 4 Creative Resources: Useful Links Useful links: • Social media image sizes › When in doubt or ifyou don’t have capacity to create multiple sizes, a square image (1080 x 1080px) will work across most platforms. • Preparing files for print • Difference between digital and print design • Design principles Free stock image sites: • Unsplash, Pexels and Pixabay • Vecteezy (free if you include attribution) • Nappy (specifically features Black and Brown people) Design programs: • Canva: Nonprofits can apply for a free premium account. • Adobe Creative Cloud › Photoshop: Best for photo editing, digital graphics, single page print materials and light animation/video editing. [Beginner tutorial | Free alternative: GIMP] › InDesign: Best for copy-heavy documents with multiple pages (e.g., annual reports, brochures) [Tutorials | Free alternative: Scribus] › Illustrator: Best for creating graphics and illustrations, especially logos. Since it is a vector-based program and images created in it can be enlarged without losing quality, it is suitable for both digital and print materials. [Beginner tutorial | Free alternative: InkScape] • Google Slides: Best for online collaboration, similar to PowerPoint. [Beginner tutorial] • Adobe Express: Very similar to Canva. [Comparison of Adobe Express and Canva] Sites for finding freelance graphic designers: • Upwork • Women Who Design; API Who Design; Blacks Who Design (+ other sister sites) SESSIO N 4 Design Checklist Questions to consider when developing creative assets: □ Does this tactic fit my strategy? • Write a creative brief (see next page for template) before starting the design, and make sure the materials you create make sense for your goals and audience. □ Do these designs reflect my organization’s brand? • Make sure to follow your organization’s brand guidelines if they exist. • If you don’t have a brand guide, look at existing materials on the website, social media and other collateral to get a sense of your organization’s main colors, fonts, types of imagery and general visual style. □ Does my file fit the correct technical specs needed for the platform or printer? • Ensure you have

FAQs

What should a video brief define before production starts?

It should define the video’s main purpose, where it will be distributed, the key audience segments, and the call to action—how you want viewers to act.

How can you structure a video script or talking points?

Use beginning, middle, and end: introduce the organization and the problem, explain how the organization tackles it and key accomplishments, then state the idea and takeaway you want viewers to remember.

What design checklist items help ensure creative assets work on the right platform and are easy to read?

Confirm the tactic fits strategy, match brand guidelines, use correct file type and dimensions, and create a visual hierarchy with strong contrast so the most important information is read first; also include a clear message or CTA when appropriate.

Sep 12, 2026

Upload by Mason