5 questions to ask yourself before starting a design project

We're not all born project managers, are we?

The ambition to become a project manager came to me two years ago. But after trying my hand at this role - I realized that I wasn't suited for this job.

Then why this article?

Because, if you are, like me, employed in a small or medium-sized company / agency / startup, you will try this costume one day or the other. A project can be entrusted to you. Or you'll wake up at 3am with an absolutely brilliant project idea, but you wouldn't know how to build a solid case for your boss to give you the green light. If that's the case, I can tell you that it's better to be prepared and have the right tools in hand to manage the team and above all - to manage the project.

Ultimately, what counts in a project manager's job is the ability to adapt and navigate in order to adjust to the slightest change of direction or priority. Because it is not uncommon for a project to skid or deviate from where it was initially imagined and, in these cases, it is necessary to know how to use its nerves of steel to be able to stay the course.

Here I will talk about design projects in the broadest sense. Whether it is a digital project, a web project, an audiovisual project, a product or a graphic design project, the approach remains the same. Only the duration, number of people involved and workload will vary from one project type to another.

How to succeed in a project?

Far be it from me to pretend to be an expert on the subject. But after having caught 2 or 3 rakes during many projects, I started to learn how to avoid them.

So I would like to share my method with all those who are looking to be reassured on the net about it, because I love doing this myself and it helps me a lot.

Define project objectives

For what purpose will the available resources and working time be mobilized? It's as dumb as that. Why exactly this project? Why do you want it now? What will it bring to your customers and above all, what will it bring to your business?

Find a target

No, we can't talk to everyone. Especially in an era where everything is tailor-made, personalized and adjusted according to the needs and desires of each individual. Take it wide. But know how to tighten your target circle to find the target heart.

Exchanges within the team must take place from a healthy base. Avoid innuendoes, unspoken words, private jokes during your meetings. It is important that at the end of each meeting / brief everyone knows where the project is at this time and what needs to be done to move forward. Define clear and precise objectives for each roundtable and, above all, ask for everyone's opinion. That's how, step by step, we reach our objectives.