A good material brief
starts with the end use.

Describe the object before the material

Begin with the product you want to make and the component you are considering. “A small cardholder with a folded edge” gives a material discussion more direction than “something sustainable”. Include what the product needs to do and what matters to its users.

Separate priorities from assumptions

Write down your essential requirements, useful preferences and questions that remain open. Appearance, hand feel, flexibility and processing behaviour may all matter, but they should not be treated as identical or interchangeable.

Include the construction

A material behaves within an assembly. Share the proposed cutting, joining, stitching, lining and finishing approach. If these decisions are open, flag them so the evaluation can address them explicitly.

Map the use conditions

Consider contact, repeated flexing, rubbing, cleaning, heat, light and moisture. Work with the responsible technical team to select relevant tests and acceptance criteria. A general guide cannot replace a product-specific assessment.

Agree what the sample represents

Record the sample identifier, configuration and information available with it. Clarify whether the evaluation is visual, practical, technical or a combination. Avoid extrapolating the behaviour of one sample to every possible finish or format.

Turn feedback into the next decision

Capture what worked, what did not and what remains unknown. Use those findings to decide whether to refine the design, request further information or define a new scope. An honest unknown is more useful than an assumed specification.