• Try “portfolio”, “ink”, “branding” or a code like “PRS 101”.

CBE 205Creative Business and Entrepreneurship

Creative Proposal Writing

Write proposals that win the right projects: understanding the brief, scope, deliverables, timeline, usage terms, fees and clear next steps.

Planned

About this course

A proposal is where a client decides whether to trust you with their project. This course covers responding to briefs and requests for proposals, restating the problem, defining scope and deliverables precisely, laying out a timeline and process, stating usage and ownership terms plainly, presenting fees and options, and making the next step easy. You'll also learn what to leave to a contract and when to get legal input. Builds on Pricing Creative Services.

Who it’s for: Freelancers and small studios who respond to client briefs or requests for proposals. Pricing Creative Services is required.

You will be able to

  • Analyse a brief and list questions to clarify before proposing
  • Write a proposal with a problem statement, scope, deliverables, timeline and fees
  • State usage and ownership terms in plain language and flag what belongs in a contract
  • Design a proposal document that is easy to scan and approve

Prerequisites

Studio project

A complete, designed proposal responding to a brief, with clarifying questions, three fee options, plain-language usage terms and a contract checklist.

To complete this course

  • Complete every required lesson.
  • Have the assignment “A complete proposal” accepted by an instructor.
  • Records of completion are issued only for courses whose content has passed instructor review.

Part of

Syllabus

Working titles: they may change as the course is written.

  1. Module 1: Reading the brief

    Understand the job before you price it.

    1. 1.1Briefs and requests for proposalsReading · 25 min
    2. 1.2Clarifying questionsExercise · 25 min

  2. Module 2: Proposal anatomy

    The sections that build trust.

    1. 2.1The problem statementExercise · 30 min
    2. 2.2Scope and deliverablesExercise · 40 min
    3. 2.3Process and timelineReading · 25 min
    4. 2.4Fees and optionsExercise · 30 min

  3. Module 3: Terms in plain language

    Usage, ownership and what needs a contract.

    1. 3.1Usage and ownership termsReading · 30 min
    2. 3.2Proposal vs contractReading · 20 min

  4. Module 4: Design and follow-up

    Easy to read, easy to say yes to.

    1. 4.1Designing the proposalStudio · 45 min
    2. 4.2Follow-up and revising a proposalReading · 20 min

Educational information about Canadian and international practice, not legal advice. Rules differ by country and situation. For decisions about your work, contracts or a dispute, consult a qualified lawyer or other professional.

Sources

Author: Ricketts University curriculum team (draft for founder review) · Not yet reviewed

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