How to Create a Character Design Brief for Your Custom Plush Toy

The quality of your custom plush toy is directly proportional to the clarity of your design brief. A vague or incomplete brief leads to prototypes that miss the mark, costly revision rounds, and delays. A thorough brief means your first prototype is close — sometimes perfect — right out of the gate. Here is how to write one that sets your project up for success.

Section 1: Character Overview

Begin with a plain-language description of your character. Cover:

• Character name and any associated lore or personality traits that might affect design decisions
• Species or type (cat, robot, human, fantasy creature, abstract mascot)
• Intended audience (children under 3, collector adults, brand gift recipients)
• Overall aesthetic (cute/kawaii, realistic, stylised, chibi, scary-cute)

Section 2: Visual Reference

This is the most important section of your brief. Include:

• Front, side, and rear views of your character (even rough sketches help enormously)
• Colour reference: Pantone numbers or hex codes for every colour in the design
• Texture reference: Images of plush toys or fabrics that capture the look you are aiming for
• Detail close-ups: Facial features, paw pads, accessories, logo placement

If you do not have finished artwork, our team can produce a production-ready character sheet for you — just describe your concept in detail and we will sketch it out before production begins.

Section 3: Specifications

Be specific about physical requirements:

• Dimensions: Total height in centimetres when standing or sitting, plus any critical proportional ratios (e.g., head-to-body ratio)
• Fabric type: Minky, short-pile, long-pile, or combinations
• Fill type: PP cotton, memory foam, bean fill, or weighted
• Features: Sewn accessories, removable items, sound modules, scent pouches
• Safety standard: ASTM F963 (US), EN71 (EU/UK), or both

Section 4: Packaging Requirements

Specify whether you need:

• Hang tags (include artwork or copy if so)
• Poly bags vs. box packaging
• Retail barcode placement
• Inner packing configuration for shipping

Section 5: Commercial Details

Include your target quantity, desired delivery date, destination country, and any hard deadlines (event dates, retail launch windows). This allows our team to confirm lead times and advise on the most efficient production schedule.

Submit Your Brief

Once you have assembled your brief, submit it via our quote form and we will review it within one business day and come back with a full production quote and timeline.