{"id":2609,"date":"2024-01-09T14:30:27","date_gmt":"2024-01-09T14:30:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/project.co\/?p=2609"},"modified":"2024-07-08T13:12:40","modified_gmt":"2024-07-08T13:12:40","slug":"project-management-for-designers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/project.co\/project-management-for-designers\/","title":{"rendered":"The Ultimate Guide to Project Management for Designers"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"bsf_rt_marker\"><\/div>\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><em>Last updated on 9th January 2024<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>People often refer to the two sides of the brain as very different creatures. The left-side is logical and analytical, while the right-side is creative and emotional.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As a designer, you probably think of yourself as more of a right-brained person who recoils at the sight of administrative tasks and project management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But, good project management is<em> essential<\/em> for creating efficient, successful workflows.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>So, what can you do about it?&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Will you be forced to slog through admin forever?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>No. We\u2019re going to show you how you can manage your projects <em>without <\/em>hurting your brain!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this ultimate guide, we\u2019ll be breaking down everything designers need to know about project management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Before your projects start&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Create a process<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Before you take on another project\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8230;Stop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And get your process in order.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/project.co\/creative-workflow\/\">Creating a process or workflow<\/a> that you can follow will help you to keep all of your future projects organised and consistent.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And if you\u2019re working for external clients it will also offer them a level of transparency that should help you manage their expectations and close projects more easily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are no hard and fast rules for what your process should look like. It should simply be a set of rules or a way of working that works for you. Here are some examples to consider that should help you get started:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Payment<\/strong> &#8211; perhaps you take a 50% payment upfront and the other 50% on completion<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Timeframes <\/strong>&#8211; create clear turnaround times for each piece of work so that you can schedule your projects effectively<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Amends<\/strong> &#8211; if you offer amends to your design work, allow time for this, and explain to clients how many rounds of amends they are entitled to and exactly when the next version will be delivered.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If you work with a team of designers then it would be useful to draw your process up and share it with the team. This way, no matter who a client deals with on your team they will always have a similar experience.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Select a preferred method of communication<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>When you\u2019re working on a design project for someone, <a href=\"https:\/\/project.co\/communication-statistics\/\">communication is <em>so<\/em> important<\/a>. You need to properly understand your client\u2019s requirements so that you can deliver something they\u2019ll be happy with.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are a growing <a href=\"https:\/\/project.co\/client-communication\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/project.co\/client-communication\/\">number of ways to communicate these days<\/a>, and while it can pay to be available on all of them, when it comes to your clients it\u2019s important to pick a reliable method of communication and stick to it.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This way you can keep the entire conversation in one place &#8211; useful if you need to review messages about a project later down the line.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Maybe you\u2019re currently relying on email, along with billions of other people. But that\u2019s not the most efficient way to communicate. For a start, it\u2019s not mobile-first, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.statista.com\/statistics\/277125\/share-of-website-traffic-coming-from-mobile-devices\/\">52% of global web users <\/a><em>are<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Also, email just isn\u2019t built for collaboration. And when you try and use it for that purpose you end up with a never-ending email thread that\u2019s confusing and bad for productivity.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/project.co\/\">Project management tools<\/a>, however, <em>are <\/em>built for collaboration. And most of them have great alternatives to email.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With the Project.co<strong> Discussions<\/strong> tab, you can keep all client communication in one place. It\u2019s easy to scroll and easy to search:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/project.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Discussion.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-288498\" srcset=\"https:\/\/project.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Discussion.png 1920w, https:\/\/project.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Discussion-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/project.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Discussion-150x84.png 150w, https:\/\/project.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Discussion-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/project.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Discussion-1536x864.png 1536w, https:\/\/project.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Discussion-400x225.png 400w, https:\/\/project.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Discussion-1080x608.png 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>All comments are sent to everyone who is part of the project, so they can keep up with the conversation.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Clients can simply reply by email and their comment will be posted into the project (<em>this is great if they don\u2019t want to log in or want to reply quickly<\/em>) or they can log in and view all comments and reply online.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Of course, email notifications can easily be turned on and off on a project-by-project basis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/project.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Project-People.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-288515\" srcset=\"https:\/\/project.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Project-People.png 1920w, https:\/\/project.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Project-People-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/project.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Project-People-150x84.png 150w, https:\/\/project.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Project-People-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/project.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Project-People-1536x864.png 1536w, https:\/\/project.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Project-People-400x225.png 400w, https:\/\/project.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Project-People-1080x608.png 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Have a kick-off meeting<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The very last thing you need to do <em>before<\/em> you start working on a project is have a kick off meeting.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>What\u2019s that, you say?&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019re an introverted creative and hate the thought of client calls.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We get that.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We really do. <a href=\"https:\/\/project.co\/\">Project.co<\/a> was built <a href=\"https:\/\/project.co\/managing-creative-teams\/\">by creatives <em>for<\/em> creatives<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But, we\u2019ve also found along the way that a kick off call can really send you in the right direction and improve client satisfaction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can ask important questions up front, such as asking the client what styles they like and what they\u2019re hoping to achieve with this piece of work. And you can also start to build a rapport.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/gsuite.google.com\/intl\/en_uk\/products\/meet\/?utm_source=google&amp;utm_medium=cpc&amp;utm_campaign=emea-GB-all-en-dr-bkws-all-all-trial-e-googlemeet-1008069&amp;utm_content=text-ad-none-none-DEV_c-CRE_435230185355-ADGP_Hybrid%20%7C%20AW%20SEM%20%7C%20BKWS%20~%20EXA_1:1_GB_EN_Neutral_Google%20Meet%20Core-KWID_43700053723586191-kwd-299356619278-userloc_1007092&amp;utm_term=KW_google%20meet-ST_google%20meet&amp;gclid=EAIaIQobChMIiMfRh-qm6gIVVOvtCh0ROA2EEAAYASAAEgLdS_D_BwE\">Google Meet<\/a> is great for kick off meetings. It\u2019s a free video conferencing tool that\u2019s easy to use.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You simply login using your Google account and get a shareable link or a dial-in number to share with your clients\/team:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/project.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Bq4dfyXLn23pER5i7sTnRcO8LqNYv4ZANumIdbOtgSp77sE5ESPmLm8KsqWSXV6Bu431Q_ptSK-2_NvztsprQvXTQ2ayYLQiyRZhascakZkMayaQSihed7Hpzk3kYWUaZpWAU1QT.png\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>You can turn your camera on or off, present your screen, share links in the chat feature &#8211; and more!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Alternatives include <a href=\"https:\/\/zoom.us\/\">Zoom<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.webex.com\/\">Webex<\/a> &amp; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gotomeeting.com\/\">GoToMeeting<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Day-to-day project management&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Create a schedule<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/project.co\/how-to-create-a-project-schedule-that-works\/\">Creating a schedule<\/a> will help you to work productively and ensure you have enough time to complete the tasks on your list.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The <strong>Tasks <\/strong>feature in Project.co is great for creating a schedule that helps you understand what work you need to do today, tomorrow, or next week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Tasks Tool Overview | Project.co\" width=\"1080\" height=\"608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/IWKe9cP7FEQ?feature=oembed\"  allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Your tasks can be organised as a list, so you can scroll through and see what work you have coming up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/project.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Tasks-List.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-288534\" srcset=\"https:\/\/project.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Tasks-List.png 1920w, https:\/\/project.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Tasks-List-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/project.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Tasks-List-150x84.png 150w, https:\/\/project.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Tasks-List-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/project.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Tasks-List-1536x864.png 1536w, https:\/\/project.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Tasks-List-400x225.png 400w, https:\/\/project.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Tasks-List-1080x608.png 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Tasks can also be organised with a calendar view, so you can see what you\u2019re working on, and when. You can also drag work across to different dates if you need more time to work on a task.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/project.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Project-Tasks-Calendar.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-288516\" srcset=\"https:\/\/project.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Project-Tasks-Calendar.png 1920w, https:\/\/project.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Project-Tasks-Calendar-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/project.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Project-Tasks-Calendar-150x84.png 150w, https:\/\/project.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Project-Tasks-Calendar-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/project.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Project-Tasks-Calendar-1536x864.png 1536w, https:\/\/project.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Project-Tasks-Calendar-400x225.png 400w, https:\/\/project.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Project-Tasks-Calendar-1080x608.png 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/project.co\/kanban-project-management\/\">The Kanban view<\/a> allows you to organise tasks into different columns. Tasks can easily be dragged and dropped to the next column.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/project.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Project-Tasks-Kanban.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-288518\" srcset=\"https:\/\/project.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Project-Tasks-Kanban.png 1920w, https:\/\/project.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Project-Tasks-Kanban-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/project.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Project-Tasks-Kanban-150x84.png 150w, https:\/\/project.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Project-Tasks-Kanban-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/project.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Project-Tasks-Kanban-1536x864.png 1536w, https:\/\/project.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Project-Tasks-Kanban-400x225.png 400w, https:\/\/project.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Project-Tasks-Kanban-1080x608.png 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>This ability to visualise your tasks makes it easy to manage your workload.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Communicate with the client<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>We\u2019ve already mentioned the importance of selecting <a href=\"https:\/\/project.co\/communication-styles\/\">a preferred method of communication<\/a> <em>before <\/em>you get started on a project.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When your project starts, you need to make sure you <em>use <\/em>that communication tool to regularly update your clients &#8211; even if your client is simply someone else in your business!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The <strong>Discussions<\/strong> feature on Project.co makes it easy for everyone to remain updated on the progress of the project, because the entire conversation is kept in one place.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can also communicate with your internal team directly on your tasks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/project.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Task-Modal.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-288528\" srcset=\"https:\/\/project.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Task-Modal.png 1920w, https:\/\/project.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Task-Modal-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/project.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Task-Modal-150x84.png 150w, https:\/\/project.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Task-Modal-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/project.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Task-Modal-1536x864.png 1536w, https:\/\/project.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Task-Modal-400x225.png 400w, https:\/\/project.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Task-Modal-1080x608.png 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>This is useful for keeping conversations that are specific to certain tasks out of the main discussions feed.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Organise your files<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019ve organised your tasks. You\u2019ve organised your conversations. Now you need to organise your files.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By keeping all of your files in one place, and organising them into different folders, you can lessen the risk of losing the latest version of your work or sharing the wrong files with clients. This is especially important if some of your clients have asked you to sign an NDA (non-disclosure agreement).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/drive\/\">Google Drive<\/a> is a great, free cloud storage service with 15GB of space. You can, of course, upgrade to get up to 30 terabytes of space.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition to giving you instant access to your work across a range of devices, Google Drive is also secure, and makes it easy to share your files with clients.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Alternatives include <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/\">Dropbox<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/microsoft-365\/onedrive\/online-cloud-storage\">OneDrive<\/a> &amp; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.box.com\/home\">Box<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When using Project.co, each client will have their own projects &#8211; so you can be sure that all files will be kept separately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Embeds Tool Overview | Project.co\" width=\"1080\" height=\"608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/QvXHpg_48ao?feature=oembed\"  allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>What\u2019s more, you can also directly embed your Google Drive files to Project.co so that your clients can view and collaborate, all without leaving the platform.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to our <a href=\"https:\/\/project.co\/communication-statistics\/\">Communication Statistics 2024<\/a>, <strong>70% of brands who use a project management tool to communicate with clients and co-workers rate their business as having \u2018excellent\u2019 or \u2018above average\u2019 organisation<\/strong> \u2013 vs. 39% of those who don\u2019t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Track time<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Tracking how much time you spend on a project is a great way to find out how profitable your projects are.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This information can then be used to update your pricing or even change the way you work, to make projects more efficient.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While <a href=\"https:\/\/project.co\/time-management-matrix\/\">time tracking<\/a> is essential, there are lots of different ways to go about it. Some people like to track their time with handwritten notes, others use spreadsheets, others still <a href=\"https:\/\/project.co\/time-management-apps\/\">use apps and browser extensions<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However you track your time, with Project.co it\u2019s easy to record it on a project-by-project basis &#8211; so you know where every minute you spend has been allocated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>All you need to do is click on the <strong>Time<\/strong> feature and add how much time you\u2019ve spent on a project on any given day:.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When the project is complete you can see if you came under or over budget (based on your hourly rate and how many hours it took you to complete the project).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To make this even easier, you can add allocated time to each project. Then, when the project is complete all you need to do is see if you came in under or over your <a href=\"https:\/\/project.co\/time-management-strategies\/\">allocated time<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Time Tool Overview | Project.co\" width=\"1080\" height=\"608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/AY4v2BQVTIk?feature=oembed\"  allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Review internally<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Before you send your work to the client, it helps to show it to <a href=\"https:\/\/project.co\/cross-team-collaboration\/\">a couple of people first.<\/a> An internal review will help to uncover any small mistakes that you may have missed, and this will reduce the amount of time you need to spend on feedback and edits later on.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Of course, if you\u2019re working alone then this won\u2019t always be possible. But you could take a step back from your work for a couple of hours, or even an entire day.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This should give you enough breathing room to look at your work with a more critical eye, before sending it off to the client.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We know that a few hours or even a full day\u2019s breathing room may sound ridiculous, especially if you\u2019re someone who works up until the wire.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But <a href=\"https:\/\/project.co\/project-management-best-practices\/\">great project management<\/a> will help you to kick this habit. When you put systems in place and get on top of your project management, you\u2019ll find that you have more time to finish work early &#8211; and you may even receive less feedback and amendments from your clients as a result!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>5 Top tips for project management<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>1. Make notes about your client<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you have a lot of clients to juggle then it can be really difficult to remember specific details that could be important later on.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By making some notes about each client you can ensure that you give each one the best service possible.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You could make notes about practical things, such as their requirements for the project and what timezone they are in (<em>in case you need to call them<\/em>). <a href=\"https:\/\/www.worldtimebuddy.com\/\">World Time Buddy<\/a> is a great site that allows you to see what time it is in other countries at a glance:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/project.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DHBqjlNZWggw6mh85LULziU3gJfpvbdd_Z1wtw_x6crSBVoJVm3nqHAbMNYgMI8RBcQA-wzWjhEN_jJpSN_YOVkXSsfa2pXa6TT2MHbezekd5ky8oUSl0JlO6bOxdG1KrsQc_Wob.gif\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>It could also be helpful to note down the not-so-important stuff. For example, if your client mentions their children or an upcoming holiday, you could note these things down and bring them up in later conversations &#8211; creating a more memorable customer service experience, and potentially increasing customer loyalty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can store these notes easily within Project.co:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/project.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Project-Note.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-288512\" srcset=\"https:\/\/project.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Project-Note.png 1920w, https:\/\/project.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Project-Note-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/project.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Project-Note-150x84.png 150w, https:\/\/project.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Project-Note-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/project.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Project-Note-1536x864.png 1536w, https:\/\/project.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Project-Note-400x225.png 400w, https:\/\/project.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Project-Note-1080x608.png 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Each project has a notes tab for information just like this. And <strong>the notes tab always remains private to you<\/strong>, so your clients never see what you write there.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>2. Avoid \u2018scope creep\u2019<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>As a designer, you\u2019ve probably dealt with <em>scope creep<\/em> at some point or another &#8211; also known as <em>kitchen sink syndrome<\/em>!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s when clients slowly make what seem to be incremental changes, but they keep making more and more until you realise that you\u2019ve crept <em>waaaaay<\/em> outside the scope of the project.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The project becomes something totally different to what was agreed upon, and you\u2019ve likely ended up doing twice the amount of work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether working for clients or internal team members, <a href=\"https:\/\/project.co\/scope-creep\/\">you can avoid scope creep<\/a> by setting out the parameters of the project in your initial kickoff meeting.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you sense any hint of scope creep then it\u2019s important to highlight this straight away with your client, so that you can keep the project on track and get it signed off in-time, and on-budget!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>3. Make sure your tools can be used on the go<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The office is quickly becoming a thing of the past. And, even if you don\u2019t currently work remotely, your clients might, so it\u2019s important to use tools that can be used on the go.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>All of the tools mentioned in this article &#8211; Google Drive, World Time Buddy, and Project.co &#8211; are mobile-friendly.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What\u2019s more, both Google Drive and <a href=\"https:\/\/project.co\/apps\/\">Project.co<\/a> have apps so that you (<em>and your clients<\/em>) can continue to collaborate on your designs offline.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>4. Allow for buffer time<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>We\u2019ve talked a lot about time management in this guide, so it\u2019s important to mention that it\u2019s practically impossible to map your time out <em>to the minute<\/em>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When managing your projects, be sure to <a href=\"https:\/\/project.co\/time-blocking\/\">allocate yourself some buffer time<\/a>. <strong>Buffer time<\/strong>, as the name suggests, is a short amount of time between each task &#8211; just 5 or 10 minutes. This can give you time to reset, check your email, make a coffee &#8211; whatever you need to do so that when you start your next task you\u2019re ready and focused.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/project.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/PjtjIRQObUW7FeYms1q1MMkHPN7LDu25WqFDhY5nKRiYR8-OdeqRqtu1gOVBYamf4CDu4PeyBWkGDQ8hL3-kELbL5sZ4U4k2v7_7i_3f9gf4E8Y9EajAxjUmFsrXGr4cLnRrto5q.png\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>5. Keep everything in one place<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you only take one point away from this guide, then make it this one. <strong>Keeping everything in one, organised place is the <\/strong><strong><em>best<\/em><\/strong><strong> way to manage your projects<\/strong> and ensure you remain productive.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you have some first drafts in a sketch pad, some notes in your email drafts, files on a USB, and other files in Google Drive &#8211; that\u2019s <em>not <\/em>project management. That\u2019s project chaos.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The best way to ensure that most of your time is spent on creative work and not on admin tasks, is to use <a href=\"https:\/\/project.co\/\">a project management tool<\/a>. After all, the clue is in the name &#8211; it\u2019s a<em> tool <\/em>that <em>manages<\/em> your projects!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Final thoughts<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Project management may not be the most exciting part of being a designer, but it most certainly <em>is<\/em> part of it. And, if you can get your project management under control then you\u2019ll be able to spend less time on admin tasks and more time on creative work!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you like what you saw in this article then sign up for <a href=\"https:\/\/v2.project.co\/register\">a Project.co account<\/a>. There are lots of creative work templates to choose from and you can set these up in just one click!\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/project.co\/design-request-template\/\">Check out our design request template.&nbsp;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Project management isn&#8217;t exactly the most exciting part of being a designer. So get it under control using our guide, and spend more time on creative work!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":287733,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2609","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-productivity"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/project.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/The-ultimate-guide-to-project-management-for-designers-.png","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pgGBe0-G5","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/project.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2609","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/project.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/project.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/project.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/project.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2609"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/project.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2609\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/project.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/287733"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/project.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2609"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/project.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2609"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/project.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2609"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}