Contractual:
A contractual brief is almost exactly as it sounds- a form of contract that binds you to do whatever your client asks of you. While oftentimes seen in many areas of work and other such things around the globe, this form of brief is most likely to be seen inside of a 'new job' environment: whilst getting a new job, one would be given a brief of what they are expected to do, how long they are expected to stay, and how much they will be paid- this is one form of contractual brief and it is usually only between two people. Though in some cases there are contracts between a group and one person, or two groups working together though not the same, or part of the same company.Most of the time it is near impossible to change what has been 'written' on the contract unless both parties agree to it, and have some sort of mediator there to act as a neutral party, or negotiator should one person change something in the contract that the other doesn't like- this role is usually there for acting as a peacekeeper of sorts, maintaining the relationship between the two whilst finding ways to appeal to both parties- oftentimes a third-party is either contractually obligated, or does so of own free will to help prevent any misgivings or misunderstandings between the two contractually obligated parties.
The budget that the parties are both restricted to simply relies on what the client pays them, and how they manage their money wisely and do not go over the budget- which could cause some undue mistakes, which would then lead to legal action being taken, which solely depends on how the client reacts. As the one contracted, the person working for the client is actually at fault, and legal action can be taken if the client deem it a big enough issue.
Time Management; In a contractual Brief, time management depends solely on the allotted time given within the contracts bindings, or whatever the client specifies- Usually within the year that the contract was made, but sometimes can extend to two or even three years if sufficient payment is provided and no breaching of a contract occurs.
Communication: Communication between the client and the person/group they are contractually bound to is an important factor in the overall success ad completion of the contract's terms- though, and I stress this, it is NOT completely necessary for completion f the contract's terms. For example, if the contract was for a concept artist to create and complete a drawing within the given year, the client would have to provide input as to what, exactly, they wanted, but aside from that and monthly, possibly bi-monthly, updates of progress from the artist, further communication is not strictly necessary.
Between the two parties, and mediator if they have any, any form of communication is needed when negotiating- whether it be formal or informal does not matter, as long as a contract is sorted out and both parties are happy with the terms of said contract that can benefit them both positively.
Technical Skills: Technical skills, for a concept artist, would include the use of- inevitably- computer technology to clean up the final piece of the work. Depending on the contractor/client, the contracted artist would either be given a set amount of software to help with their art, or would be given a list of said software for them to purchase, usually with the contractor/client's money or as part of the budget they would be given. Software such as Photoshop would be used to 'clean up' a piece of artwork that had been scanned in to a computer. After that, Illustrator would be used to sharpen the image, and in some cases add lines where the drawn lines or Photo-shopped lines hadn't shown through, or even to delete some lines that are 'mistakes' that Photoshop was unable to get rid of.
Career Progression: Career progression for a contracted concept artist would be both fast and useful if the artist has more contract briefs 'under their belt'. When potential contractors know that you ave already been in a successful contract before, they are more likely to hire you than someone who hasn't been in one before or has failed more than once with said contracts.
Pros and Cons:
Pros:
- A chance to impress potential future employers becomes available, which may later lead to employment.
- Being part of a contract can also be used as both work experience- experiencing what it might be like working for said person while being paid- and a way to ensure yourself at least a mental place of recommendation. As an example, one may use the terms of the contract to act as a form of agreement that the employer, once done, would make a recommendation to any future employers the contracted artist has, therefore securing him a recommendation.
- As a contracted artist, it is completely irrelevant for you to get involved in the employer's company politics or inner workings- you need only know the name and who you are working for personally, or what group you are working with if that is part of the contract.
Cons:
- As you are only working at that company for a set amount of time, many other employees may not socialise much with you, and therefore withhold or otherwise not share information with you.
Internet-found definition:
"A contractual brief is when a contract exists between a client and a production company; the production company is usually employed by the client and will discuss the contract with the client before agreeing to the terms."
Negotiated:
A negotiated brief is when the two parties come together to decide, between them both, the best options, outcomes and ideal benefits that suit each side of the party. Usually sorted out through lawyers or a different contract as a mediator, the two sides come together for the sole purpose of making the brief as painless as possible for each side and without removing any beneficiary incentive for either the client to pay or the one being contracted to work. Usually negotiations are formed to either add to the contract, or remove parts that neither party finds attractive to work with- in some cases though the contract can only benefit one person and the other has to create a new contract or stick with the newly negotiated terms. Some contracts can be completely re-written through negotiation, though not very common.Negotiations an also be 'brainstorming' between the two parties- for example, if your client has one idea and you have another, this negotiation could be used as a mediator to find the best course of action with the least amount of surprises or drawbacks.
Time Management: In a negotiated brief the time you need to keep to should depend n your client's needs above your own, but both needs can be sated through the negotiation process that is usually associated with this particular brief. Under loose negotiation circumstances, where one side is simply too lax to decide what they want done about their half of the negotiation process, the times needed to be kept differ all depending. The same rule of time management matters here as it does for everything else surrounding any other contract- making sure your client is comfortable before you are is immensely important, and this is also to do with the negotiated times needed for the task to be completed.
Communication: Communication between the client and you is important in many aspects- especially during negotiation fazes, or if you are reporting to them for feedback on your works. Usually, during negotiations, the client is more formal and directive, as you should be as well. When outside of negotiations however, it should continue on in a professional yet somewhat informal manner when approaching them about something. During negotiation briefs, outside of negotiations one should socialise with their client as much as possible in order to establish some sort of trust relationship, or even a pseudo-friendship as it may increase the odds of your half of the negotiations working towards your favor.
Technical Skills: Technical skills should stay the same throughout the career as long as the negotiations don't demand you to use anything you are not familiar with.
Career Progression: Becoming adept fairly early o in your career at negotiating towards your favor can earn you more reputation down the road, and completion of the job assigned to you while keeping to your negotiated terms gives the general idea that you are trustworthy, which in the gaming industry is an especially good thing.
Pros and Cons:
Pros:
- Allows you to know more about what you are doing and how you are working for your client while negotiating.
- Brainstorming while negotiating may occur, therefore lowering the chances of future conflicts within you and the client, and therefore lowering chances of failed negotiations.
Cons:
- Very difficult to get out of once negotiations have been completed.
- Negotiations may end up backfiring or turning on you in the end.
- if the amount of money to be earned wasn't specified within the contact, then you may end up with less than expected or even noting at all.
Internet-Found Definition:
"Negotiated brief is where the media company may possibly have a disagreement or a possible issue with the assignment/brief that they have been given and then negotiate with the client on how they can work their way around it while still sticking to the guidelines of the brief."
Formal:
A formal brief is nothing more than the clientele
telling you what to do and in what time frame to do it in. Essentially, a
Formal brief makes you understand that the client is in control of everything
to do with the project you are hired to do, regardless of your feelings about
it, and you are kept in the dark about most things- only being told what is
necessary to the completion of the project, or at least your half of it.
In a way it is similar to the way a contractual brief
works, as it allows some amount of flexibility through negotiation- payment and
working conditions can be sorted out through either lawyers or a contract, but
it essentially forces the client/company and you, the hired one, to come to
terms with an agreeable state of contract, to which is then unchangeable from
thereon.
Time Management: This is completely dependable on the fact that the client may or may not set boundaries or rules for times that need to be kept, and if so times you need to report in to them about your work/creations. Time management also relies on the time frame in which you need the work completed by, or in the very least presentable.
Communication: Communication for one of these briefs is a necessity to the completion of the overall task given to you by the client. For example the client's task's time frame may coincide with your personal or family life, and therefore be detrimental to an downtime you ma need. Communication is important in this scenario because without it you would never be able to negotiate a time tat works around your personal time instead of through it.
Another thing about communication in this brief is that any steps taken towards negotiations or 'extras' to a contract you may have signed could all be similar- eerily so- to any techniques you may use during a negotiation brief.
Technical Skills: Technical skills needed vary depending on which brief you are working on and which task you have been given, alongside the client's preferences, needs, tastes, and your own styles and formats. For example, someone used to cel-shaded animation may use Illustrator to draw out their animations first, and then switch to something like Lightwave Layout, or other such pieces of software.
Career Progression: Career Progresses is as it normally would if you took any other brief. Formal briefing is no exception to the 'norm' of progression these days- start low, work high. In a scenario, one would begin as a lowly QA tester, or a simple level tester or beta tester, thusly securing a 'foot in the door' so to speak, and ensuring they have at least some sort of future in the gaming industry.
While very little progression can be made through this brief type as compared to others, one can learn what being in the industry takes- dedication to succeed in the task given, a good time-keeping sense, a good way to manage money (Be it lawyer, friends, bank, etcetera) and, of course, a willingness to pursue the job you want no matter how long, arduous or tough. Also, teamwork is a good skill to have for this, though not necessary.
Pros and Cons:
Pros:
- Client may be open to more ideas than most.
Cons:
- May force someone to be formal for the sake of one client.
- Could prove to be more detrimental to newer Freelancers and/or parties.
Internet-Found Definition:
Communication: Communication for one of these briefs is a necessity to the completion of the overall task given to you by the client. For example the client's task's time frame may coincide with your personal or family life, and therefore be detrimental to an downtime you ma need. Communication is important in this scenario because without it you would never be able to negotiate a time tat works around your personal time instead of through it.
Another thing about communication in this brief is that any steps taken towards negotiations or 'extras' to a contract you may have signed could all be similar- eerily so- to any techniques you may use during a negotiation brief.
Technical Skills: Technical skills needed vary depending on which brief you are working on and which task you have been given, alongside the client's preferences, needs, tastes, and your own styles and formats. For example, someone used to cel-shaded animation may use Illustrator to draw out their animations first, and then switch to something like Lightwave Layout, or other such pieces of software.
Career Progression: Career Progresses is as it normally would if you took any other brief. Formal briefing is no exception to the 'norm' of progression these days- start low, work high. In a scenario, one would begin as a lowly QA tester, or a simple level tester or beta tester, thusly securing a 'foot in the door' so to speak, and ensuring they have at least some sort of future in the gaming industry.
While very little progression can be made through this brief type as compared to others, one can learn what being in the industry takes- dedication to succeed in the task given, a good time-keeping sense, a good way to manage money (Be it lawyer, friends, bank, etcetera) and, of course, a willingness to pursue the job you want no matter how long, arduous or tough. Also, teamwork is a good skill to have for this, though not necessary.
Pros and Cons:
Pros:
- Client may be open to more ideas than most.
Cons:
- May force someone to be formal for the sake of one client.
- Could prove to be more detrimental to newer Freelancers and/or parties.
Internet-Found Definition:
"A document with specific details about the goals that needs to be achieved for the project
Mainly aimed at a group of people or a business company rather than individuals.
Not always a legal document."
Informal:
An informal brief is usually of the verbal kind, with very little to no written documentation of the encounter existing other than the other party's word and that of any spectators. That said, this is usually a reliable way to gauge someone's trust levels if you are just starting out. For example; if one has just started out as a freelancer in concept development and art, then one has very little to no knowledge beyond any research one may have made. To this end, that person may have to start out with a couple of informal briefs to figure out which companies/parties may be trustworthy to work with in the future, or those that may need to be avoided due to them breaking the verbal promises.Time Management: Time management with an informal brief being incorporated into the mix is of very little importance, as both parties would usually lay out a verbal agreement or written agreement of when the project they wish to complete should be completed by. Most of the time the basics of time management are the only thing one needs in this situation- generally keeping in contact with the client on a regular basis and showing some knowledge of time-zone differences, if there are any between you and said client in the first place.
Communication: Communication between the client and you can and should only be described as informal; anything other than that would negate the purpose of this brief. Informality with a hint of formality and respect for the person you are working for, as well as passable time management skills and some background research on your client/clientele is all that is needed.
Technical Skills: Many of the skills needed for a brief such as this will be 'dumbed down' so to speak; the project you are to be given will most likely not require much skill to complete, as with many informal briefs the client wishes something rather simple to be done. That said, do not underestimate what the client wants to be done based on the type of contract; you may get given a lengthy task that you were under-prepared for, but being over-prepared is better than the former.
Career Progression: While this kind of brief may hinder rather than help your progression throughout your career, as a starting point it can show loyalty to complete whatever you were assigned to, and a willingness to go without formalities for the sake of the client. This, as a starting point to your career, can show other, bigger clients that you are willing to work for them, and thus can escalate your career slowly but surely.
Pros and Cons:
Pros;
-
Information References: http://image.slidesharecdn.com/workingtoabrieffinal-130304053708-phpapp02/95/working-to-a-brief-4-638.jpg?cb=1362375469
[NOTE]: Unable to find internet definition, most of the information above is speculation and/or experience.
[NOTE- UPDATE (15/06/2016)]: Found Internet Definition.
"An informal brief is not documented and is usually of the verbal kind. It is where the client and the company which they have employed simply discuss the requirements for the product they will be making and ultimately agree upon the project."
Commission:
A commission brief is usually between two companies; a larger company will usually commission a smaller company to work for them or complete a task that their staff, for one reason or another, could not do themselves. It usually brings in quite a large amount of money, and can bring that smaller company some light from the public as their works have a high chance of being acknowledged- this may also increase the chance said company has of being commissioned again by either a similar company, or the same one with bigger rewards.Time Management: The amount of time one would have for this project that you would be given for the brief in the first place would depend solely on the larger company that had contracted the smaller company in the first place- usually the deadline has already been set before they were commissioned and they are working to tight schedules and the likes. Oftentimes the schedules are created and regulated by the company they are commissioned by, but in some cases they are given limited freedom to create their own schedules, as long as if doesn't overlap with the main company's deadline, if they have one.
Communication: Formality and generally good mannerisms help a great deal during this type of brief, as they show that you understand that they are the bosses, and it is simply your job to obey and complete the task handed to you. Some companies however don't like stoicism or formality, and usually end up being quite laid back and relaxed about the whole situation- though this tends to balance on whether or not they send someone laid back or stern. In retrospect, it all edges on the kind of person they send to seal the deal, rather than the company as a whole.
Technical Skills: Obviously technical skills such as liberal use of editing software and the ability to draw will be needed. The ability to manage and use technology bigger companies may use is also something that is needed, with such technologies being either engines to run games or 3D models on, software specifically designed to edit or create, and hardware strong enough to run it all. While very little skill is needed, equipment is needed in abundance, along with some general knowledge on how to use said equipment.
Career Progression: For a career to progress within the games industry, this is a sure-fire way to get shot up the ladder in terms of importance very quickly. being a small company or a simple party of people all commissioned by the same person, one would- if the task was satisfactorily completed- be seen as someone you needed to have help with whatever it is you needed. In short, this could open up many other opportunities.
Tender:
A Tender brief is often noticed through gratuitous advertisement on the client's behalf, and once someone else picks up on the advertisement- usually a call for help with a project or some form of temporary position within a company- they come together to form a pitch for the item/product/idea that the client wishes to create. This form of brief is usually the shortest amount of time one will spend working with a client, as usually all that is needed is to help them accomplish some- usually- menial task or other. When they are advertising their product, it is usually alongside an estimated price that they are willing to pay, alongside- in some cases if it advertised over the internet- conversion rates and other such pieces of information.Time Management: Considering that the brief you are working with is only a temporary thing, usually deadlines last as long as the product's completion lasts- if that is what is being advertised. As an example; if one were to be given an offer to help complete some work, the deadline would last as long as it would take to complete said work, usually between one and three weeks, though can unusually drag on for a month or two.
Communication Skills: Usually for this, the type of tone you should address your employer with is completely dependent on the client themselves, their attitude, and whether or not they actually permit informality. With this type of brief, usually overseas communication is unnecessary, as the person advertising their product is, more often than not, nearby in the vicinity.
Technical Skills: for this type of brief, usually the most basic of editing software and other essentials will be needed- oftentimes it is someone completely new to the video game industry that only wishes for something simple to be done as they either can't care enough, or are simply not bothered enough, to perform the task themselves. Adobe PhotoShop, Adobe Illustrator and many more basic dealings s should be simply enough. In the odd case it isn't, however, being prepared may also count as technical skills.
Career Progression: Career progression through a Tender brief is often minimal, as it is quite rare a Tender brief would be considered, in any way, official; through this logic it is common to see many people that have done plenty a tender brief not very high up on the food chain, and the only reason they are even part of that chain is to to with the other things they may have done. that said, with the Tender briefs from people well known in the game community, or someone highly respected, it is often that a tender brief, while it wont take anyone far, would indeed boost their standing with that individual in question and therefore could mean more jobs from that person in the future.
Co-operative:
A cooperative brief is when two companies- or more- come together with the similar goal of pleasing a shared client, whether it be completing the same task, or completing two different tasks that may come together in the end. In essence, it is one person or party hiring multiple people or parties to complete a simple task, ranging from- say- completion of a model, to full-blown animation of a character. With one or more person it may be difficult, but with the right coordination, it could very well turn out better than just one person.
Time Management: Time Management relies mostly on the client and the other parties surrounding you while you work with them. During this brief, the management of the group's time is mainly based around the perosn handling the group, AKA, the client.Schedules may need to be created for the sole purpose of keeping the group together without falling apart due to incoordination and lack of a sense of time.
Communication Skills: Communication is key for this kind of brief, as lack of communication can lead to many things- insubordination, distrust and failure of the brief being just a small amount of what could happen. With dissidence amongst the masses, as it were, a good communicative way of relaying information would be needed to abate client curiosity and co-workers' frustrations or lack of acknowledgement as to how far they are into their assigned task. One good way would be a skype call with multiple channels to ensure that everyone gets their say, but in a controlled environment. Another example is the ever-popular e-mails.
Technical Skills: Technical skills that are involved in this focus mainly on the many different potential skills one may bring to the table- in this sense, it would be safe to assume that the team would fall apart and the client would not get what he wanted.
Career Progression: Cooperating with others would prove that you, as an individual can work with others in the stead of your client. This leads to show that you have excellent teamwork skills, and therefore should be eligible for a bit more teamwork exercised should they ever be thrown at you in the future.
Competition:
A Competition brief is as the name suggests; a massive contest, a competition for those around, to complete the client's workings first- unlike others, this type of contract is extremely public, so any person you know ta as taken the same job as you might one day become an enemy, he main point of this is to get as much wiling help as possible, while also using the least amount of money as a reward to attract the right kind of people that will willingly complete the work given.
Time Management: Time management for a competition brief is completely up to the client in question, and oftentimes one would find themselves unable to complete the task within the frame due to the competition that may have started earlier, or due to the stress of knowing that this is a 'make or break' situation. when on the job, however, managing your time shouldn't be to hard; and letting the client know isn't as hard either- one would simply need to complete whatever the task was, and then letting the client know as son as possible. It is important not to rush things though, as that may make your work sloppy or otherwise useless to the very client you are trying to impress.
Communication Skills: Communication should be, at best, a one time thing only- the client has asked numerous people to complete something, which means they don't care how it was done and only that it was, in fact, done. usually, all that is needed is the completion f the task, along with a short message nof notice as to who you are and how you did it, and then details for the client to pay you with if you are chosen out of the numerous other candidates.
Technical Skills: Such a thing doesn't usually matter to such a brief, and thus this will be kept short- the only technical skills needed ae those that would allow you to complete the task at hand, and those that would allow you to safely hand over your work to the client.
Career Progression: As this is usually done with a 'first come first serve' mentality by the client, and b man of the 'employees' as well, career progression is usually halted by such a thing. While it can elevate you in the eyes of others in some cases, generally you are lowly paid and barely remembered.