Does having a process really boost productivity?

One of the things that I've learned on my journey as a creative is the importance of having a process. When I first started out, I quickly realized that not having a process was not a sustainable way to work. I was constantly stressed and overwhelmed and quality of work tanked. Beyond having a process, are you also calculating how much time it takes for you to complete a smaller task in a set of tasks?

Once I started to develop a process and tracking time, things started to improve dramatically. I was able to work more efficiently and effectively, leaving clients impressed with my timely and quality delivery.

Here are some of the benefits of having a process:

• It can help you to save time and be more efficient.
• It can help you to avoid mistakes and errors.
• It mitigates overpromising and under-delivering (Nothing like 'I'd send it in before 7pm on Monday' only to get stuck in a rut).
• It can help you to stay organized and on track.
• It can help you to produce consistent results.
• It can help you to collaborate more effectively with others.

My design process is largely dependent on the type of project. For example, for a branding project, it starts with having discovery calls with the client to understand their goals for the project. We then move on to brand strategy, where we nail the brand direction, after this stage, I come up with 2 stylescape options for the client. The client and I then have a detailed discussion about which style they're leaning more towards. After this, I work with my team at pixxis to start ideating and sketching concepts that align with the approved visual direction from the moodboard sharing process.

Having a process doesn't mean that you have to stick to it rigidly, infact as creatives it's hard to work under this type of structure. There will always be times when you need to deviate from the plan. But having a process in place will give you a solid foundation to work from, and it will help you to stay on track and be more productive.

If you're looking to improve your productivity as a creative, I encourage you to develop a process and track your time. It's one of the best things you can do for your career.

So how do you develop a process?

• Start by identifying the key steps involved in your work.
• Break down each step into smaller, more manageable tasks (Pomodoro)
• Sequence the tasks in a logical order.
• Set deadlines for each task and stick to it.
• Document your process so that you can refer to it later or can effectively outsource a part of the work for upcoming projects.

Also project management tools like Fullgap or Trello can greatly help with your process and deliver great work. This is something we take very seriously at the design studio Pixxis Agency .

Never be afraid to deviate from your process if necessary. The most important thing to take home is that you should always have a plan to work from.

As a creative are you interested in developing a brand process? Book a free 15mins 1v1 clarity call with me. Link in my bio.