Project planning tips for creatives
My favorite planning tools.
Once upon a time, I had an unglamorous, but very stable, job as a project manager. I was really good at helping teams identify their goal, figure out how to get there, and actually make it happen.
Good planning requires a lot of creativity! To do it well, we need to imagine a different future, then work backwards to identify all the steps necessary to get there.
Now that I am in my second career as an illustrator and graphic artist, I still use my project planning skills every day. As creatives, we have more ideas than we can ever implement! That said, the world needs our creative vision, and that requires a little planning.
Here are my top five tips for planning a creative project for success, based on my 20+ years of experience as a project planner and project manager.
1. Get clear on your values and your project goal.
What do you really care about? How does this relate to the goal of your creative project? For example, I deeply value mental wellness, so I developed a goal to create a series of illustrations to support that value. Last year I released my Neurotransmitter Constellations collection, which accomplished that goal and supported my values.
2. Make a list of your needs and wants.
Let’s face it; we can’t do everything. Make a list of all the things you feel you need to accomplish with your creative project. Then, put a star next to anything that needs to happen for the project to succeed. Those go on your “needs” list. Everything else goes on your “wants” list.
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3. Brainstorm a list of tasks for the project.
During the brainstorming tasks phase, it can be helpful to put each task on a separate sticky note. This makes it easy to reorganize them in steps 4 and 5.
This is where it gets fun! Bust out your sticky notes, whiteboard, notes app or dictation software. Set a timer for 20 minutes, then brainstorm every task you can think of to implement your project. Write it all down, from the initial sketches to the final draft to the marketing and everything in-between.
4. Filter out any tasks that don’t support your values (#1) and needs (#2).
This is the hardest part! Once you have your list of tasks, filter them through your values (#1) and needs (#2). This exercise should help you to whittle down the to-do list for your project to just the essential tasks you need to complete your creative project. No more, no less.
5. Put the tasks in order, then on your calendar.
When you are done with step #4, put the remaining tasks in a sequence that makes sense to you. Then, put them on your calendar. Making the time for the project to happen helps give you the ability to make it a priority when life’s demands threaten to derail your progress.
BONUS tip: 6. Go easy on yourself.
Life happens! Remember to build in extra time for each phase of your project. And when your project gets off-track, give yourself some compassion and remind yourself you are doing your best, and that is good enough. Then get back at it!
Got a great creative idea but no game plan?
Struggling to get past your perfectionism?
Feeling isolated and need some encouragement?
Sound familiar?
As your creative coach, I will meet you where you are today to support you in meeting your goals tomorrow.
I am a working artist myself, and I also have 20 years of experience as a project manager.
Let’s get your creative project DONE.
What planning tools work for your own creative process? Tell me in the comments below!
