Purpose: Guide for naturally incorporating existing materials into conversational PB workflow.
Phase 0 asks: "Do you have existing materials?" (website, brief, guidelines, research)
Stored in outline:
existing_materials:
has_materials: true/false
website: "[URL]"
previous_brief: "[path]"
brand_guidelines: "[path]"
research: "[path]"
context_notes: "[brief notes]"
If materials exist: Read them before starting PB steps
Without materials:
"Let's start with vision. What are you envisioning?"
With materials:
"I see you mentioned [reference from materials]. Let's build on that - tell me more."
Apply to all conversational steps (2, 3, 5, 7, 7a, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12):
| Step | No Materials | With Materials |
|---|---|---|
| Vision (2) | "What are you envisioning?" | "You mentioned [vision]. Tell me more." |
| Positioning (3) | "Let's explore positioning." | "Your brief positions this as [quote]. Still accurate?" |
| Users (7) | "Who are ideal users?" | "You described [archetypes]. Still primary users?" |
| Concept (7a) | "What's the core concept?" | "I see [concept from materials]. Tell me more about that principle." |
| Success (8) | "What does success look like?" | "You mentioned success means [quote]. Still the goal?" |
Pattern: Reference existing → Validate → Build on it
When materials exist, capture:
Template:
**Existing context:** [What was documented]
**Opening:** "I see [reference]. [Question]"
**User response:** [Confirmed/refined/changed]
**Key exchanges:**
- [Exploration]
- [Gaps filled]
- [Evolution]
**Reflection checkpoint:**
"Building on your earlier work: [synthesis].
Keeps [solid parts], adds [new], refines [changed].
Does that capture it?"
**User confirmation:** [Confirmed / Corrected]
**Final:** [Updated artifact]
Scenario: Previous brief exists
Scenario: Existing website
Scenario: Brand guidelines exist
Scenario: Research exists
❌ Ignore existing materials (if outline says they exist) ❌ Make users repeat documented work ❌ Assume everything is still current (validate!) ❌ Judge quality of existing work ❌ Create separate "refinement workflow" (same conversational pattern, just adapt openings)
✅ Efficiency - Don't re-explore documented areas ✅ Continuity - Build on previous work ✅ Respect - Acknowledge existing thinking ✅ Focus - Spend time on gaps/unclear areas ✅ Natural flow - Same pattern, context-aware ✅ Rich dialog - Captures refinement, not just creation
Check: existing_materials.has_materials in outline
If true:
Dialog pattern: Existing → Validate → Refine → Synthesize → Confirm
Remember: Not a separate workflow - same conversational pattern, just context-aware. If materials exist, read and adapt. If not, explore from scratch. Either way, natural conversation.