As with any project, it’s ideal to keep your web design work as efficient as possible. The less time and revision you put into a given project, the more profitable it is. Since the primary goal of most companies is to increase revenue, web design project efficiency should be at the core of your processes.
If you’ve noticed your web design projects are slowing your team down, it’s time to rethink your strategy. We put together this guide on how to manage web design projects so they’re quicker, yet simultaneously more effective.
Have a concrete structure in place
Without structure, you create chaos, which is certainly not the answer to how to manage web design projects. Structure gives a clear path to your goals, eliminating opportunities to idle or go off course.
Your structure should be broken down into achievable phases. Think of each phase as individual tasks necessary to complete the larger-scale project. Create a checklist for each phase, so you can cross them off as you go. This checklist should be universal from project to project, so you have a go-to standard for getting projects done as effectively as you can. Of course, the checklist can (and should!) evolve as you discover better, more effective processes.
For web design, phases can include task items, such as: planning, designing, developing, revising, etc. Each phase can be broken down into subtasks for greater specificity. A list of phases and tasks not only ensures you’re working as efficiently as possible, but is one of the best team collaboration tools, because it can be shared from employee to employee.
Every time you complete a project, you learn a newer, faster, more effective way to do things. Your structure should be revised as you learn these tricks to continuously improve your company’s processes. Remember: your web design project is a living document, meant to be updated regularly.
Communication is king
One of the best answers to how to manage web design projects effectively is to over-communicate. Even the best designers and developers can see their efforts fall apart if they have not properly communicated with each other, their clients, and any relevant stakeholders. Communication is one of the most powerful team collaboration tools, so be sure to use it to your advantage.
Communication is paramount in terms of working with a client. You need to know exactly what they want and what their expectations are before diving in.
One of the most common reasons why web design projects are delayed is because the designer did not properly translate the client’s vision. It’s important that the client, the account executive, and the designer are on the same page to keep things moving smoothly, so be sure to ask thorough questions from the get-go, delineate who is responsible for what, define scope, provide some type of information architecture (like a wireframe), and provide frequent updates.
Maximize team collaboration tools
Consider adopting a collaborative task management system that allows teams to be more agile and streamline their projects. With the right collaborative task management software, you are better able to create a structure through workflow automation, as well as communicate more effectively through shared project boards.
Streamlining your web design projects is one of the best ways to increase revenue for your company, while reducing overall headache. You can speed up the web design process by creating a universal (yet adaptable) structure for your projects, developing a planning system that breaks up the bigger project into smaller, achievable tasks, communicating effectively throughout the lifeline of the project, and using team collaboration tools, such as Planview AdaptiveWork Go.
If you’re interested in learning more about the features and benefits of our cloud-based task management software, get in touch for a free 30-day trial.
