At my former company, we received over 600 Work Orders a year, many of which had less than a week's runway. To that end, having a well-established workflow was a must; I was a critical driver of processes and efficiencies, incorporating project management and communication tools that increased my team’s capacity and impact.
Here's an example of the workflow I put into place in that role:
Here's an example of the workflow I put into place in that role:
Project Initiation
Job Ticket, Creative Brief, Work Order: Project requests go by many different names, whatever you call them, they are in important tool for managing and organizing work. At my previous company I developed a robust electronic Work Order form to help streamline the creative request process. Prior to this, requests were sent piecemeal over email or via a phone call and were often missing key information. No, thanks!
Job Ticket, Creative Brief, Work Order: Project requests go by many different names, whatever you call them, they are in important tool for managing and organizing work. At my previous company I developed a robust electronic Work Order form to help streamline the creative request process. Prior to this, requests were sent piecemeal over email or via a phone call and were often missing key information. No, thanks!
The benefits of a Work Order were immediately apparent:
Clarity
Work orders provide a clear description of the task that needs to be completed, including the scope of work, materials needed, and any specific instructions. This ensures that everyone involved in the task understands what is expected of them, which can reduce confusion and errors.
Work orders provide a clear description of the task that needs to be completed, including the scope of work, materials needed, and any specific instructions. This ensures that everyone involved in the task understands what is expected of them, which can reduce confusion and errors.
Organization
Work orders can help keep track of tasks that need to be completed, who is responsible for completing them, and when they are due. This can improve organization and help prioritize tasks.
Work orders can help keep track of tasks that need to be completed, who is responsible for completing them, and when they are due. This can improve organization and help prioritize tasks.
Accountability
By assigning specific tasks to individuals and tracking their progress, work orders help ensure that everyone is held accountable for their responsibilities. This can help prevent tasks from falling through the cracks and improve overall productivity.
By assigning specific tasks to individuals and tracking their progress, work orders help ensure that everyone is held accountable for their responsibilities. This can help prevent tasks from falling through the cracks and improve overall productivity.
Planning
A goal without a plan is just a wish! During the planning phase we determine the project's goals, objectives, and expected outcomes. This helps ensure that everyone involved in the project understands what is expected of them and what the end result should be.
A goal without a plan is just a wish! During the planning phase we determine the project's goals, objectives, and expected outcomes. This helps ensure that everyone involved in the project understands what is expected of them and what the end result should be.
The information gathered here will serve as a roadmap to the successful delivery of a project.
Development
Once scope is determined we can dig into creative development. The Creative Director and the Designer meet for a kickoff call where they:
Once scope is determined we can dig into creative development. The Creative Director and the Designer meet for a kickoff call where they:
Review the Work Order
Share any reference visuals or brainstorm visuals together
Allow the designer to ask questions
Discuss deadlines for internal review and client review
Share any reference visuals or brainstorm visuals together
Allow the designer to ask questions
Discuss deadlines for internal review and client review
With this information in hand, the Designer gets down to work. They develop beautiful concepts and send them out for feedback. They incorporate the feedback into their work and send it out again - review, revise, review, revise... This cycle can repeat many times before final delivery!
It’s at this point that I like to remind people that the design process is not a linear process. The road to an approved graphic can be long as there are several approvals to meet both internally and with the client. It’s important to have patience with the process and to be thoughtful about providing feedback so that the project is delivered on time and meets the client’s objectives.
Delivery
Cheers to another successful project! At this point, I always like to have a debrief with the team to see what went well and what things we can improve upon for future projects.
Cheers to another successful project! At this point, I always like to have a debrief with the team to see what went well and what things we can improve upon for future projects.