You can contact a designer with a rough idea. That is normal. But once you are ready to turn the idea into a real scope, collecting a few things in one place helps everyone make better decisions.
1. Describe the goal in plain language
What should be different when the project is finished? Maybe customers need to understand your services, guests need to RSVP, staff need a dashboard, clients need a portal, or you need to replace a manual spreadsheet process.
The goal is more useful than starting with “I need five pages” or “I need an app.”
2. Know who will use it
List the main audiences and what each one needs to do. A public customer, administrator, employee, driver, organizer, donor, or event guest may each need a very different experience.
3. Gather the content you already have
- Logo and brand files
- Business or event name
- Approved text or notes
- Photos and artwork
- Service descriptions and pricing
- Contact information
- Policies, FAQs, schedules, menus, forms, or other existing documents
Do not worry if everything is not polished. Knowing what exists and what is still missing is enough to plan.
4. Save examples — and say what you like about them
A link is more helpful when you explain the reason you saved it. Maybe you like the navigation, the mood, the amount of whitespace, the way a form works, or the mobile layout. The goal is not to copy another site; it is to understand what you are reacting to.
5. List required features separately from “nice someday” ideas
This protects the budget. Put launch-critical features in one list and future possibilities in another. A second phase is usually easier than trying to solve every future scenario before version one exists.
6. Know which accounts already exist
Domain registrar, website hosting, business email, payment processor, scheduling platform, email marketing account, analytics, social accounts, and databases may all affect the project. Do not email passwords. A good developer can tell you the safer way to provide access or make changes with guidance.
Goal • audience • must-have features • content/assets • examples • budget range • ideal timeline • existing accounts • decision maker.
7. Decide who approves the work
Projects slow down when feedback comes from several people with no final decision maker. Decide who can approve scope, design, content, and launch.
You can still start before all of this is finished
If you only have an idea and a problem to solve, that is enough for an initial conversation. Discovery exists to turn incomplete thoughts into an understandable project. The checklist simply helps when you are ready to move from conversation to build.
Tell us what you want people to be able to do.
Start with the goal. Purpose Built Digital can help determine whether the right next step is a website, app, event experience, dashboard, portal, or another custom digital tool.