Organizing Your Creativity
One of the ways I have been able to differentiate myself from some other graphic designers is through my love of organization. I have learned over the years that this is a unique quality for a highly creative person to have (that being said, I wish my bedroom floor and closet would benefit from my organization skills - sometimes you have to choose where to spend your organizational energy!)
Work. Marketing. Design. Branding. Storytelling. It’s these areas where I love and need organization. As a business owner, organization is a must otherwise all the administrative crap is going to kick your butt. Sometimes, I hear the argument that it takes “too much time” to sit down and map out to-dos, deadlines, projects, clients, your...etc. Yes it does take time, but you know what it also does? Being organized saves you time.
Being organized saves you time by keeping you on task and preventing from distractions, as well as identifying project goals, and timeline.
A lot of creative people struggle with organization, and they believe it is against their nature. This was not the case for me (and I argue that being creative doesn’t mean organization has to be neglected). While I am a creative person, I have found I am only creative when I have given myself the time and space to be that way. How do I do that? By being organized. If I am overwhelmed or stressed, my creativity suffers. So, I have learned to take steps to organize my work life so I can be creative for my clients. Here are a few of my favorite tips:
Organized client to-do lists - I use Trello to help me keep everyone on the same page. I have a board for each client broken out by marketing category which helps projects stay on-task. In addition, I’ve built a weekly to-do board and work off of it during the week. This allows me to stay focused on all the items I have listed for each client in one single spot.
Organized processes - I’ve built several processes for client onboarding, as well as a client portals for sharing files and information. This helps with keeping all the details in an organized flow. I also set up monthly check-in meetings to stay in the know with clients.
Calendar blocking - This tool has been extremely helpful in allocating time for projects and clients. I turn all other client work “off” (including text/email notifications) and focus on the task you I reserved for that time. When I am done, I will revisit my to-do list and work on the next item.
Batching tasks - This organization tool includes keeping similar projects in the same time-frame. Sometimes this means working on similar projects for different clients in the same period of time, or it can mean working on all work for one particular client in the same period of time. I am still experimenting with the best system for KAdesign but I know this will continue to grow and evolve in my organization process.
Turn off email - I turn off email notifications when I am working on a project and minimize the screen. Don’t treat your email like your to-do list, don’t let someone else’s agenda derail yours.
While there are some creatives that have a difficult time being organized, this should not be the rule for working with a creative person. I take pride in offering my clients an organized process, and they enjoy working with someone who is able to keep projects and ongoing marketing campaigns on-task!
