Time Management for Graphic Designers: Meeting Design Briefs and Deadlines
In design, deadlines are a fact of life. Many designers will find themselves juggling different projects simultaneously in order to stay on top of things. This can be stressful and contribute to fatigue, which could lead to mistakes or missed opportunities. In this blog post, I will outline practical steps you can take to avoid such pitfalls and keep your project on track, meeting your deadline day after day without giving up!
How does time management apply in graphic design? A graphic designer's job is never done! The fields that most commonly require deadlines are advertising & marketing, branding and identity design (logo), illustration & painting (artwork), print design (print layout) as well as web development & digital artistry. Graphic designers are often required to work under tight deadlines, working through a few stages such as developing initial concepts and then moving into mock-ups or the actual illustrations. If you have to create an illustration of a product, for example, you would need to provide a number of sketches or rough ideas before the client approves one, so that the project can move forward.
The best way for managing your time as a graphic designer working under deadlines is to be clear on how long each stage of your project will take; this includes initial meetings with your client(s), sketching and developing ideas, creating mood boards and colour palettes etc. Chances are the stages may overlap, so it's important to consider how long each stage will take.
The key to keeping your projects on track and managing your time has nothing to do with how much you get done. It's all about being clear on exactly what needs to be done. Would you want a part for your car that was half-baked? No! This is the same situation in graphic design where too much time spent working on a piece will lead to a poorly finished and unattractive piece. Avoiding this scenario is all about knowing what areas need work and when it is imperative that you get them right.
Similarly, in graphic design deadlines are often the best way to ensure a project is completed in a timely manner. For many commercial clients, they are a necessity since deadlines help them to meet their own goals and objectives. Understanding that you have to work to someone else's schedule forces you to stay on track and manage your time wisely.
What are some practical steps I can take? There are several practical steps you can take that will allow you not only to manage your time better but also help you not miss any important stages of your project:
1. Create a Work Plan: Before even beginning the project, it's important to create a work plan outlining the various stages of your project e.g. initial meetings with clients, mood boards, sketches etc. You may also want to include the main phases of your project development in your work plan so that you have a clearer picture of how you will proceed. This will not only allow you to keep your project on track but it will help you identify areas where more planning is required or where tweaks or modifications can be made.
2. Stick to your Work Plan: It goes without saying that any work plan needs to be followed! The best way for staying on track is to stick with what you have planned, including the time periods required for each stage (e.g meetings with clients, developing concepts etc.); this will help you to avoid any confusion and ensure that things are being done in the correct time frame. If you are running short of time, be sure to prioritize your important tasks so that you can get them done on time!
3. Remember, deadlines work for both of us! Some clients may not have clear expectations as to when their project will be finished. Take the time to make sure that you know exactly what they want and when it is due in order to avoid any delays in the future. You don't want to spend an entire day working on a project only for it not representing your best work, do you?
4. Eat right! When working long hours it's important to remember that it is also essential to have a balance of healthy eating. Eating well is vital, and you should be sure to ensure you are getting enough nutrients, which will provide your body with all the energy needed for the day.
5. Sometimes it takes a break! Although time management principles are very important in all areas of our lives, sometimes they don't work so well when applied to graphic design. A few days off can be absolutely essential for you personally and for the success of your project as well (this would include having a rest period after working long hours too!). Remember, resting is important!
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Title: The Best Time Management Apps for Your iPhone or iPad [INFOGRAPHIC]
How do you stay productive and organized? If you're like many people these days, it's impossible to manage all of your tasks without some help from technology. In this article we review four different apps that will help you to better manage your time and become more effective in life and at work.
Calendly: This app offers a wide range of calendaring features including appointment management, advanced scheduling, and in-app meeting creation. The interface is very clean and easy to understand. One feature that I particularly loved was that you can create both one-time and recurring meetings using the calendar. Additionally, you can even add notes to your meetings to make organizing them easier. You can copy contacts directly from your inbox or use the drag and drop editor to quickly add notes about your meeting. This app is great for anyone looking to manage their appointments more efficiently .
Conclusion
This app allows you to create a wide variety of events that are stored in the calendar. You can also schedule recurring events, and individual meetings can be set up for each person you're trying to reach. This is a great way to organize your work related meetings, since it makes it easier to track who you're meeting with and when they're supposed to be there. The interface is extremely easy to use and the app will allow you to create recurring meetings that you can extend with notes if needed.
Price: $4.99 (one-time) or $17..