Commission a Research Brief
Design a research-service intake that clarifies the decision, evidence standard, sources, deadline, and review process.
The brief
Understand the problem
Background
Organizations request research for many purposes, from market scans to policy reviews. A topic alone does not define the decision, acceptable evidence, geography, depth, or deliverable.
User context
Helene leads strategy at a food company and needs a rapid review of reusable packaging programs in three European markets before a planning workshop.
Product problem
Ambiguous scope creates weak findings, hidden assumptions, and disputes about what constitutes a credible source or complete answer.
Objective
Create the brief, proposal, evidence review, and delivery workflow for a commissioned research project.
What to design
Define the experience
Required experience
- Decision-focused research brief
- Proposal with questions, methods, exclusions, and milestones
- Source and evidence quality review
- Final deliverable with limitations and follow-up questions
Screens and states
- Research brief
- Proposal review
- Evidence log
- Draft findings
- Final delivery
Core user flow
Follow the critical path
- 01
Helene states the business decision and target markets
- 02
She defines source requirements, deadline, and expected format
- 03
A researcher proposes questions, method, and exclusions
- 04
Helene reviews sample sources and approves the approach
- 05
She receives findings with citations, confidence, and limitations
Product rules
Requirements and constraints
Requirements
- Frame the brief around a decision rather than only a broad topic
- Record geography, date range, source types, and evidence standard
- Separate confirmed scope from optional follow-up work
- Keep citations connected to specific claims
- Label gaps, contradictory evidence, and researcher judgment
- Track feedback against the correct deliverable version
Constraints
- Some sources require paid access or permission
- The deadline may limit research depth
- Commercially sensitive documents need restricted access
- Evidence quality varies across markets
Reality check
States worth considering
Finish line
What to deliver
- Design five desktop screens from decision framing through evidence-backed delivery.
Optional direction
Visual resources
Use these as a starting constraint if you want one. They are not part of the required solution.
Playfair Display & Slabo 27px
Clear interface writing gives people the confidence to understand what changed and decide what to do next.
Playfair Display & Slabo 27px
Clear interface writing gives people the confidence to understand what changed and decide what to do next.