A brief is an outline of a project, that describes in detail the content, elements and scope of the project. Elements included in the brief are the layout, measurements, number of pages, deadline, color specifications, paper, and file format.
Planning
Identify the target audience, goals, content and delivery requirements. Your client can often help answer these questions. How will you communicate with your client? Make a list of deliverables, or pieces of the project that will be delivered to the client.
Scheduling project deadlines
Use the list of deliverables to create mini-deadlines for small pieces of a large project in order to stay on track with the larger picture. Keep your client in the loop as the project progresses.
The design process
The design process starts once the brief and schedule are complete. First you thumbnail ideas, then rough out a mockup to present to the client. Once you have client approval on the mockup, you can start on the design comp, or comprehensive.
Evaluation and alterations
Review the original brief and evaluate whether the project meets the goals and is targeted to the correct audience. Spellcheck, datecheck, and check the whole thing again before you present it to the client. It must be perfect!
Implementation
This is the completion stage, where the project is printed, or published.
1.4 Communicate with others (such as peers and clients) about design plans.
The project manager is responsible for keeping track of the many details of a large project, communicating with members of the team, and keeping everyone on schedule. If the project changes in scope, (usually it becomes larger that originally thought), it is important to contact the client immediately and review edit the original brief. This usually means the project will cost the client more. It's important to give the client the choice to limit the scope of the project or pay more for the larger project.
Click here to read Adobe's material on how to create comps.