Navigating Ambiguous Design Directives: How to Approach Vague Project Requirements

In the world of web development and design, clarity is key to delivering successful projects. Today, I’d like to share a recent experience that highlights the importance of precise communication and thoughtful interpretation when working on design specifications.

A Vague Brief: “Create the Brand’s Look and Feel”

I was assigned a task with a very open-ended description: “Create the brand’s look and feel.” There were no accompanying visual references such as Figma files, mockups, or style guides—only the company logo was provided. Naturally, I interpreted this as an instruction to develop the visual identity, including color schemes, typography, and consistent design elements across the application.

Developing a Scalable Theming Solution

Considering the broad scope, I designed a flexible theming system where a single configuration change could propagate colors and fonts throughout the app. The goal was to create a solution that was both scalable and maintainable, ensuring consistency and ease of updates—an approach I believed aligned well with creating a cohesive brand experience.

Misalignment and Unexpected Feedback

Later that week, I presented my implementation, only to learn that the actual expectation was different. The client wanted the login screen specifically to “look nice” using the brand’s colors—much more limited in scope. I suggested extending the theming logic to that screen as well, but I received little response. Hours later, I was unexpectedly informed that I was being removed from the project.

Reflections on Communication and Expectations

Up until that point, there had been no negative feedback, and the project’s direction seemed unclear at best. A comment during a team meeting—“I’m busy because I actually work”—felt unprofessional and further muddled the situation.

Key Takeaways and Questions

This experience raises important questions for developers and designers alike:

• How should one handle ambiguous instructions like “create the brand’s look and feel”?
• Was my approach to develop a scalable, system-wide solution misguided, or was it a valid strategy given the information?
• How can teams improve communication to prevent such misalignments?

Your Insights

If you’ve encountered similarly vague directives, I’d love to hear your strategies for clarification and scope management. Do you have tips for advocating for detailed requirements or handling project ambiguity effectively?

Thanks for reading, and I look forward to your thoughts on managing unclear project specifications.