Project Onboarding Questionnaire: What to Prepare
TL;DR
In this guide
- Describe the task. Say what you want the design or website to achieve.
- Identify the gaps. Mark content, assets and decisions that are still outstanding.
- Use the project form. Submit the details through the dedicated questionnaire.
The project onboarding questionnaire brings the business goal, requested services, timing and available assets into one starting brief. Clear answers help identify the work and the questions that need discussion. You can state that a requirement is undecided rather than guessing.
The guide at a glance
What useful answers clarify
01
Business and audience
Explain who the work is for and the action it should support.
02
Deliverables and timing
Name the work needed and distinguish a preferred date from a fixed deadline.
03
Content and assets
Identify the material available, who owns it and what still needs preparation.
A clear response does not need to be long
Illustrative example: We provide commercial cleaning services. We need a website that explains three service options and helps facility managers request a site visit. Our logo is ready, but service copy needs editing. We hope to launch before a trade event; the event date is fixed. The brochure should use the same visual direction.
This response explains the audience, task, deliverables and dependencies. It is more useful than a request for a “modern website” without context. If a feature is only an idea, describe the need it might solve and say that it requires advice.
Gather the useful information first
Have the current website and relevant reference links ready. Explain what you like about each reference rather than asking for an exact copy. Record whether text, photographs, logos and brand guidelines are approved, need updating or still need to be produced.
Name the person who can approve the work and provide final content. If a deadline depends on an event, print booking or another supplier, explain that dependency. A budget range can help assess suitable scope; it does not replace an agreed quotation.
Open the onboarding questionnaire
Complete the project onboarding questionnaire on its dedicated page. This guide is preparation for that form; it does not create a second intake process.
Keep passwords, private customer records and other confidential access information out of a general project brief. If access is required later, arrange a suitable sharing method with the team.
Put it into practice
Prepare these details
- Business name, contact and current website
- Main audience and the task the work should support
- Services and deliverables to discuss
- Available copy, logos, images and brand guidelines
- Required date and any external dependencies
- Budget context, decision maker and outstanding questions
Keep in mind
Honest gaps are useful information
An unfinished page list or missing photograph can affect scope and timing. Identify the gap and its owner so it can be discussed early.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Listing a style preference without a business purpose
- Presenting an unconfirmed feature as agreed scope
- Omitting a deadline tied to an event or supplier
- Sending credentials in a general project description
