A product brochure is easier to design when the information behind it is ready. Before choosing a layout, gather the details a customer needs to compare products, the photographs that show the right variants, and the next step you want them to take.
For an Australian business preparing a printed booklet or a downloadable PDF, the most useful starting point is one approved content pack. The checklist below is our recommended preparation process.
Define the buying decision
Write a short brief: who will read the brochure, where they will receive it, and what they should understand afterwards. A showroom visitor comparing finishes needs different information from a purchasing manager checking dimensions and compatibility.
Choose one main action, such as requesting a sample, booking a consultation or asking for a quote. Give that action a clear destination and someone responsible for responding.
If you have not yet settled on the document’s purpose, start with our guide to choosing between a capability statement and a brochure. Once that decision is made, keep this brief focused on the product range.
Build one approved product record
Use a spreadsheet with one row per product or clearly identified variant. Agree the comparison fields before writing descriptions, so readers can compare the same information across the range.
Include:
- Product name and code, plus the customer problem it addresses.
- Relevant dimensions, materials, finishes, compatibility and included components.
- Approved description, source document, information owner and approval date.
Example record layout (hypothetical):
| Code | Name | Dimensions | Finish options | Included | Source document | Info owner | Approved date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PL-120 | Pendant light, 300 mm | 300 mm diameter, 450 mm drop | Black, brass | Cable, ceiling rose | Supplier data sheet v3 | Product manager | 1 Oct 2026 | Approved |
| PL-121 | Pendant light, 400 mm | Awaiting confirmation | Black | Awaiting confirmation | Data sheet requested | Product manager | Not ready |
Mark unknown information as awaiting confirmation in the working file. Do not ask the designer to infer specifications from a photograph or tidy up an uncertain claim into something that sounds definite.
If the same products appear online, resolve differences at the source. Our ecommerce product catalogue audit covers checking the underlying product information; the brochure should use that approved material rather than become a separate, conflicting record.
Match every image to a product
Provide original image files in a shared folder and name them with the matching product code and view. Identify which photograph is the main image and which shows a detail, scale or available finish.
Ask the designer to check suitability at the intended printed size. A picture that looks fine in an email may not suit a full-page layout. Supply the original rather than a screenshot from the website.
Keep an image register that records the product shown, approved uses and any restrictions. For a factual product brochure, avoid illustrations that could be mistaken for an accurate photograph of features the product does not have.
Include the approved logo files and brand guidance. Our logo file handover checklist explains how to distinguish everyday exports from editable originals.
Sketch the reading order
Make a rough page list before commissioning polished artwork. Start with the customer need, introduce the range, group comparable products, and finish with the enquiry route. Reserve space for information that helps someone choose; avoid filling pages simply because material already exists.
For example, a hypothetical lighting supplier could group pendant lights by intended setting, then show the same fields for every model: dimensions, finish options and supplied components. A close-up could explain a material choice, while a comparison spread helps readers shortlist products.
That example is a planning suggestion, not a claim about a client project. The page count should follow the useful content and agreed production format.
Agree print, PDF and approval requirements
Tell the designer whether you need print artwork, a screen PDF or both. Confirm the printer’s specifications before final layout, including page dimensions, finishing and export requirements. Nominate one person to consolidate feedback and one person to approve product facts.
Technical checking and factual approval are separate jobs. Adobe’s InDesign preflight documentation describes checks for issues such as missing fonts, overset text and low-resolution images. Those checks do not establish whether your product measurements or contact details are correct.
Review the exported PDF itself. Follow every link, scan any QR code, read the smallest text and compare selected product entries with their approved records. Confirm how dated or frequently changing information will be maintained.
Pre-design checklist
Tick each item before the designer starts. If a check fails, use the next step in the last column.
| Check | Pass looks like | If it fails |
|---|---|---|
| Brief written | Reader, where it is received, and the one action are on one page | Write it before any layout work |
| Product spreadsheet complete | Every product has every agreed field filled or marked awaiting confirmation | Chase the source; do not let the designer guess |
| Facts approved | Each row has an approver and a date | Name the approver and get sign-off |
| Images matched | Every image is named by product code and view, original files supplied | Rename and request originals |
| Brand assets supplied | Logo files, colours and fonts in one folder | Collect from the previous designer or printer |
| Reading order sketched | A page list exists from customer need to enquiry route | Draft it before polished artwork |
| Format agreed | Print, PDF or both is confirmed with printer specifications | Ask the printer for their specification sheet |
| Responsibilities named | One person consolidates feedback and one approves facts | Assign both roles |
Hand over a pack someone can use
Your final preparation pack should contain the brief, approved product spreadsheet, matched image folder, brand assets, proposed reading order and approval responsibilities. Record a version date and keep superseded material separate.
DonutLabs’ brochure design service can help organise that material into a readable product booklet and the agreed print or digital files. Bring the content you have, identify what is missing, and agree who will resolve each gap before artwork approval.
