How to Plan a Successful Creative Project

Working for large retail companies I was never short on creative projects or campaigns, the pace was extremely fast and often paired with short deadlines. The expectations were high; not just on the quality of ideas but on production levels and team performance, and this goes for majority of businesses. 

So when it comes to planning a successful creative project there needs to be a good structure in place with two key areas to focus on –

1) Project management strategies

Whether you are new to managing a team, lacking structure or purely looking to improve on project management with or without a team then these helpful tips will guide you in the right direction. Without a good strategy then your project will fail and you will have failed yourself or team, so put these best practices to use for optimal results. 

Share your vision and goals

Lay down the foundations on all aspects of the project from beginning to end, to ensure a streamline process and set out priorities. You can define this with milestones or as I like to call it ‘a critical path’ – something that I’ve always worked with for my creative projects and is usually shared with my clients, so they are clear on expectations. 

Project Budget

Knowing what funds you have at the start of a project is important to know whether you can outsource some services or cover each stage of the project. You don’t want to be in a position where the project comes to halt due to the lack of funds and then have to head back to the drawing board.  

Good communication 

While on lockdown working from home may be a little more trickier to manage online and not in person, so management needs to be clearer through good communication. We have to overcompensate on this as there are more distractions while outside of an office environment, it’s good to  also be clear on your preferred methods of communication for instant speed, i.e. Slack, Telegram, WhatsApp.  

If you are still working from home then make sure all communication is logged and shared, whether it is recorded or in minute form, just like how you would in a real life meeting. 

Assign the right person for the team 

There’s never a better saying than ‘the best man (or woman) for the job’. If you are under time pressure to get the project finished without delay then you should assign a team member with skills that are best matched for the project. You want the project to run as smoothly as possible. 

Be clear on the objectives 

Having a concise brief that captures all the information for the project will save time and any miscommunications within the team.  

Review and ensure realistic timelines are put into practice and set clear expectations.

Motivation 

Keeping a team motivated is key, so it’s important to support and acknowledge, reward team members and give positive feedback. If the project has junior team members, this may be a good opportunity for career progression and for them to prove that they are ready for more responsibility. Being valued is the best motivator. 

2) Creative strategies

Getting completely creative with design doesn’t mean you sit on bean bags all day and think out of ideas on the spot or do a few sketches on a white board. This still requires discipline and a process to get the desired results. It takes time to create a masterpiece and arguably the hardest part for some. 

Here some practical techniques that can help –

Market research  

A research session is fundamental and a good practice to have when you start a new creative project. Keeping on top of new trends and researching on a project can be sourced in many ways, such as online, inspirational visits. If there is an existing product you want to make improvements on then it would be beneficial to conduct and gather new data research, with focus groups or online surveys for feedback. It’s helpful to know how you can improve a product or areas where it may be failing. 

Brainstorm

Having a brainstorming session to allow your team to think more freely without fear or judgement is the quickest way to generate ideas, as well as scope out the pain points of this task and weigh out the project risks. It is inclusive and most importantly the best way to problem solve as a team, communicate and bounce ideas off each other. 

Invested improvements 

Investing in product modifications or upgrades may be what the product needs, especially if the market has changed or got tired of the existing product. Adding an element of freshness. 

Fresh pair of eyes

Sometimes it’s healthy to have a fresh approach and get an outside opinion, so whether it’s hiring a contractor or agency (if you have the budget) it’s worth considering. This is particularly helpful if you have been much too close to see alternative options, a fresh pair of eyes may be just what the project needs. 

More creative freedom 

Although it doesn’t always work this way design teams welcome less constraints on creativity. The ability to think out of the box and have creative reign is something I’ve always been used to. It doesn’t mean go crazy as there is still an objective in mind.  

As we come out of lockdown with most people still working from home, it is ever more important to remember to keep a momentum going from all sides of the team. This is the surest way to see successful results for your creative project.