A file is only useful when its role is clear
Creative requests often arrive with a deck, a folder, meeting notes, and a link to last year’s campaign. The team has plenty of material and no reliable way to tell which part is approved.
Another attachment rarely settles which source is approved. Label what each file controls.
Give every source a job
Label important material with the role it plays in the assignment.
- Approved source: copy, claims, product facts, photography, or requirements the team may use
- Working source: material still being reviewed or completed
- Background: context that helps understanding but should not appear automatically in the work
- Reference: an example used to discuss tone, structure, craft, or an approach to avoid
Resolve conflicts before they reach creative
When two sources disagree, name the person who can settle the conflict. Do not ask the maker to choose between a current product page and an older planning deck.
For large files, point to the exact section. “Approved photography is on slides 8 through 11” is actionable. “See deck” transfers interpretation work to the team.
Keep the brief focused
Summarize the assignment and point to trusted material instead of copying every source file into the brief.
When an input changes, update its status and tell the people whose work depends on it. A source of truth stays useful because ownership and approval remain visible.