Best Project Management Software For Creatives | Expert Recommendations

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2 years ago
This article showcases our top picks for the Best Project Management Software For Creatives. We reached out to industry leaders and experts who have contributed the suggestions within this article (they have been credited for their contributions below). We are keen to hear your feedback on all of our content and our comment section is a moderated space to express your thoughts and feelings related (or not) to this article This list is in no particular order.

Collato

This product was recommended by Catherine Norris from Collato

Collato was created as a solution for designers and creators to manage their assets and collaborate with other team members as well as externals on visual projects. With multiple templates for asset review and approval, creative file sharing, video production workflow, brand style guides, and creative project management, Collato has designers covered for any type of project or workflow. With the creative project managment template, for example, designers can map out milestones and track project progress with both a Kanban board and a calendar view. External or internal stakeholders can easily be involved with just a simple URL, so that they can collaborate without having to sign up for yet another tool. Assets can be added to cards, which support any file type as well as provide a screen recording function, precise commenting on visual assets and videos, and more.

Kissflow Project

This product was recommended by Susan Melony from OnlyStitch

The project management tool we rely on is called Kissflow Project. It’s a simple, intuitive, and customizable tool that has no learning curve for my team. All my employees are relatively young and tech savvy, which has worked in our favor. All we needed was to set up the information, take a look at the interface, and create a few specific workflows for the team, and then get started with the project. Another excellent feature of Kissflow Project that I beleive works perfectly is the template gallery. We at OnlyStitch use it a lot because of how amazing it is. The templates cut down our project setup time in half because they already cover a wide array of things we deal with. For the workflow that are not in the templates, we can quickly create them because the tool is quite customizable.

Trello

This product was recommended by Chris Grayson from InfluencerMade

I’ve been using it for years to manage all sorts of projects, from work projects to personal ones. It’s super flexible and easy to use, and it’s great for teams of all sizes. I highly recommend it to the influencers I coach because it’s such a great way to keep track of ideas, goals, and tasks. You can create boards for different projects, and each board can have multiple lists. You can also add labels, due dates, and comments to each task. Plus, you can assign tasks to other people on your team.

ClickUp

This product was recommended by Leslie Gilmour from Cube Digital

I manage a big team of copywriters and content creators. ClickUp allows us to set up quest accounts for clients to keep up with tasks. It also allows us to create custom forms and share them with other departments. They can then use them to submit orders.

Dramatify

This product was recommended by Marcos Isaias from Misaias

I’m a project manager, have project management friends, and even my partner is in the same world! I have seen all the software out there! I have friends in the movie industry, and I recommend Dramatify. First, it is user-friendly because it provides a Facebook-like messaging system for the crew with a UI that connects to email and other management systems. Moreover, it has a free plan to try it with up to 3 creators unlimited productions and or episodes. What I mean by this is that it is specially designed for media content production. Taking out all the extras and rigidity of traditional software makes it simple! It has a mobile version to use on set with ease. I have a more thorough review of my website misaias.com, where I generally review project management software and projects in general.

Monday

This product was recommended by Jacob Ratliff from Jacob Ratliff Coaching & Consulting

What I love about Monday.com is that it is the most flexible system I’ve found, has an intuitive automation builder, and is absurdly versatile. You can do almost anything in it, and I use it for my CRM, internal project management, external project management, collaboration with clients, and content management. One of the best parts is that it’s one of the few project management platforms that’s visually beautiful—the UI is so friendly and visually appealing that I actually enjoy using it. It’s a bit pricey compared to some of the other platforms out there, but for me it has been entirely worth it.

ProofHub

This product was recommended by Maria A. McDowell from EasySearchPeople

Proofhub is one of the best project management software for creatives. It enhances real-time collaboration for creative teams. ProofHub enables creatives to plan and schedule their tasks, keep an organized workflow, and collaborate with each other on a project. It also features easy-to-use proofing and editing tools that speed up review and feedback process. It provides a customized space for real-time project discussions and brainstorming. ProofHub enhances flexibility in how creatives work by offering multiple view features like Timeline, Board, Table Calendar, and List views.

Notion

This product was recommended by Vivi Mintara from Eye Makeup Lab

Notion has been my most-used software for years. Its layout is very easy to follow, and you can clearly follow what each member of your team is doing, even if they are purely creative tasks. I also love that you can actually use it to get some brainstorming done! It is an intuitive piece of software that isn’t constrained by tables or logical order, which is perfect for anyone in a creative industry.

Airtable

This product was recommended by Agnieszka Yordanova from Guide2Cloud

Airtable has particular potential for creatives – it’s a fantastic platform that brings tables, kanban and galleries into one place so you no longer have to use multiple platforms to visit your projects. As a content writer, I use it for all things related to my work, from keyword research to archiving content and ideas, creating content calendars and even simple task monitoring. Their gallery view is another strong point that is perfect for all things graphics and designs.

Paymo

This product was recommended by Laura Bais from Julie’s Cafe Bakery

Paymo is a simple project management tool that has fewer options and views that its big competitors, but that’s what makes it the best for creative agencies. Some of the things that I like the most are that you have a free version if you have a small team; you can easily add new projects and members to each of them; you can easily set up the tasks and due dates. The best feature is that it calculates how the members will be paid (by project or hourly) and gives you a summary at the end of the month.

ScreenDragon

This product was recommended by Steven Walker from Spylix

Screendragon is a creative project management software aiming to lower project risks and expenses while speeding up creative delivery. Kellogg’s, BP, The International Olympic Committee, TBWA, and McCann World Group are among the companies that utilize and adore it. Screendragon’s user interface is simple and allows users to personalize it. It includes capabilities for SOW development, creative briefs, project management, visual proofing, file sharing, review and approval procedures, resource management and forecasting, and financial tracking to cover all areas of creative project management.

Smartsheet

This product was recommended by Steven Walker from Spylix

Smartsheet’s online project management application meets a number of the boxes in my criteria for innovative project management software. Members are aware of significant real-time changes, and the platform offers shared views, detailed history, activity logs, automated notifications, reminders, and status reports to keep everyone aligned and informed. Content collaboration tools such as pinned feedback, approvals, and annotations make working together on creative projects easier.

FunctionFox

This product was recommended by Kimberly Silva from FindPeopleFirst

FunctionFox is for creative people and businesses. It has both project management and timecard management tools. Classic, Premier, and In-house are the three versions of FunctionFox that you can buy. The Classic version has a simple way to track your time and expenses. And furthermore, users get powerful reports that can help them get into the specifics of a project quickly. FunctionFox looks complicated and has a dated user experience. But it has a free plan that could work for a small group of experts.

VOGSY

This product was recommended by Lyle Florez from EasyPeopleSearch

VOGSY is a Google G Suite-based professional services automation solution. Project management, production planning, and real-time reporting are integrated within the platform. Salesforce, HubSpot, Quickbooks, and Zapier are all integrated with VOGSY. Plans start at $19 per user each month, with a flat fee of $2400 available to unlock all services.

Hive

This product was recommended by Katie Lyon from Allegiance Flag Supply

Hive has amazing proofing and approval functionality which is essential for creative teams. It also offers document and time management capabilities, and allows you to consolidate and centralize your team’s workflow. You have the ability to view tasks and projects in different ways, allowing you to choose the view that works best for your department. There’s also an Adobe plug-in specifically designed for Hive adding to its’ ease of use. Lastly, they offer over 1,000 integrations with tools such as Zoom, mail, and Dropbox, making Hive a one-stop shop project management tool for creatives.

Toggl Plan

This product was recommended by Erica Tan from Best in Singapore

Toggl Plan is a simple yet flexible project management tool. It comes with an intuitive, drag-and-drop interface that makes it easy for creative teams to plan and track projects. Project plan timelines make it easy to manage project schedules and milestones. Additionally, you can zoom in on a week, month, quarter, or year of the timeline. This way, you can look into the details or get a high-level overview of the project. Team timelines help plan and allocate team members to projects. Also, they provide a clear overview of the team’s availability and workload. Toggl Plan also has task boards that you can use to manage tasks. Plus, you can customize these boards to match your workflow. Pricing & additional features Toggl Plan’s free plan is suitable for solo users. It comes with almost all the features mentioned above. Paid team plans start at $9 per user per month. Toggl Plan also has these features in addition to those mentioned above: – Share a read-only timeline view. – Recurring tasks. – Time tracking with the Toggl Track integration. – Integrate with Slack, GitHub, and Google Calendar. – Favorite projects and quick search for easy access. – Role-based access control.

Workamajig

This product was recommended by Erica Tan from Best in Singapore

Workamajig is an all-in-one creative team management software for large-scale agencies. It comes with tools for project management, sales CRM, and resource management. For project management, Workamajig has a robust set of features. Using pre-made templates, you can quickly create a project schedule, allocate resources and finalize budgets. Keep track of tasks using simple task lists. Tasks can be matched to in-house resources or freelancers based on their skillset.. Also, you can track conversations and file attachments as well as review and manage approvals. Pricing & additional features Workamajig does not have a free plan. However, you can sign up for a paid plan starting at $50 per user per month. The first month is free across all plans. You also get the below features in Workamajig: – Project finance and accounting. – Keep track of project invoices and expenses. – Time-tracking with forecasting reports.

ProProfs Project

This product was recommended by Erica Tan from Best in Singapore

Proprofs is an easy-to-use, online project management tool. It comes with features for planning, tracking, and invoicing client projects.The ProProfs task timeline helps you plan and visualize project schedules. Kanban boards help you organize tasks and ideas with customizable workflows.Larger tasks can be divided into subtasks. And team members collaborate on tasks via comment discussions and shared files. Plus, they also get real-time notifications when things change. ProProfs Projects also supports time tracking. Also, you can invoice clients based on the billable hours recorded. Pricing & additional features Proprofs Projects does not have a free plan. But you can try the tool out with a 15-day free trial. The premium paid plan costs $6 per user per month, for a minimum of 5 users. A lighter, Essentials plan costs $3 per user per month. Proprofs Projects comes with the following additional features: – Recurring tasks. – Timeline reports for each task. – Native apps for Windows, Mac, and mobile.

Asana

This product was recommended by Harriet Chan from CocoFinder

Asana has been one of the most popular project management software for creatives. It has an exceptional interface that makes it a favorite for most creatives. While it is pleasing visually, it also has various features to share, track and manage work with multiple employees easily. It also has kanban boards for easy visualisation of tasks and boards for team communication.

Wrike

This product was recommended by Stella Scott from EasyPaydayLoan

This is a cloud-based project management software with a marketing and creative team-specific plan. Some of its features include Gantt charts, calendars, custom dashboards, and real-time updates. Wrike bills itself as an end-to-end creative solution with tools for every stage of a project’s lifecycle. The project lifecycle starts from brief creative management (using form functionality to ensure all essential details are completed) to reporting once the work is complete. It is ideal for creatives because it integrates with various third-party tools such as Dropbox, Slack, and Adobe Creative Cloud and provides an open API.

Taskade

This product was recommended by John Xie from Taskade

Taskade is an ideal project management software for creative teams regardless of size as it can be used to organize and assign tasks, set due dates, and for setting project roadmaps (Taskade also has design templates to give creative teams a headstart). You can also collaborate on your project in real-time with free built-in chat and video call functionality so that you can get work done in one unified workspace.

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Agile development stands at the forefront of the software industry, championing an iterative, high-speed approach reliant on effective team communication and collaboration for success. This piece underscores the indispensable role played by dedicated development teams in agile projects, shedding light on their significance, advantages, challenges, and vital management techniques. Engagement Models in Software Development As businesses embark on software development endeavors, they confront a pivotal decision in choosing the most suitable engagement model for collaborating with skilled teams. Fixed-Price Model Ensures project completion within set timelines and budgets, but may lead to increased costs for desired changes, limiting customization options. Time and Material Approach Offers flexibility by compensating teams based on hours dedicated to the project, allowing for easy adjustments and ideal for projects needing intermittent attention. Dedicated Team Model Balances fixed-price and time & material models, employing specialized teams for adaptable project scopes, ensuring reliability and flexibility in long-term delivery. The Importance of Dedicated Teams in Agile Development Agile development relies on dedicated teams, diverging from traditional project management methods. These teams prioritize frequent collaboration and communication to swiftly adjust requirements and task priorities. Comprised of professionals fully committed to the project, dedicated development teams collaborate to deliver innovative solutions and top-tier results. This section explores their crucial role in agile development and essential strategies for effective team management. Success in agile development depends on the expertise and cooperation of dedicated teams. Efficient communication, coordination, and excellence from every member are crucial for timely results, highlighting the necessity of dedicated software developers. Clear alignment with core business goals and expectations is essential for project success. The Advantages of Employing a Dedicated Team in Agile Development Using a dedicated development team in agile projects has many benefits. Firstly, their commitment ensures excellent results, boosting project success. Secondly, their teamwork increases productivity. Lastly, having a dedicated team improves oversight and control over the project's progress, aiding in accurate outcome estimation. Improved Collaboration and Communication Engaging a dedicated development team in agile projects also yields enhanced collaboration and communication advantages. This dedicated group fosters close cooperation among remote team members, bolstering comprehension of roles and responsibilities and accelerating progress towards business objectives. Establishing dedicated software development teams helps alleviate miscommunication and ensures alignment towards shared goals. Employing a dedicated team also fosters transparency, encouraging open expression of thoughts, seeking advice, and addressing concerns. Quality Assurance and Timely Delivery A dedicated development team in agile development leads to enhanced quality assurance, expedited delivery times, and early issue detection. Collaborative efforts enable swift and effective resolution of such matters, facilitating prompt progress to subsequent tasks. Implementing a dedicated software development team helps minimize delays and ensures alignment with quality expectations. Furthermore, dedicated teams operate with heightened productivity, enabling swift completion of development tasks and adherence to project deadlines. Flexibility and Scalability By enlisting a dedicated development team, projects become more adaptable and scalable. This enables easy adjustment to changes in market conditions or requirements. Businesses can readily modify the team size to match project needs without interrupting ongoing work, ensuring projects remain on schedule and are delivered punctually. Comparing In-House and Outsourced Development Teams In-House Development Team: An in-house dedicated team comprises full-time employees working solely for one company. They have deep knowledge of the company's culture, practices, and technology, smoothly handling projects from start to finish. However, there are challenges with in-house teams: Cost Concerns: Maintaining an in-house team can be expensive, including expenses like recruitment, training, salaries, and benefits, which may strain smaller companies or startups with limited budgets. Expertise Limitations: Internal teams may lack specialized knowledge, technical skills, or industry-specific expertise compared to external teams, particularly in niche industries or specific skill sets. Scalability Issues: In-house teams may struggle to adjust their capacity swiftly to meet changing project demands or priorities. Flexibility Constraints: Internally-based teams may find it challenging to accommodate varying working hours, meet project deadlines, or adapt to different methodologies compared to outsourced teams. Outsourced Development Team: External dedicated development teams, sourced from third-party providers, focus solely on the organization's projects. These professionals offer numerous advantages: Cost Savings: Outsourced teams often provide competitive pricing, reducing expenses on infrastructure, technology, and overhead costs. Access to Expertise: Engaging with a software outsourcing company grants access to specialists from a global talent pool with the required skills and experience. Scalability: Outsourced teams can adjust their workforce to match fluctuations in project scope and priorities, making them valuable for businesses. Flexibility: Remote outsourcing allows for greater flexibility in working hours, project deadlines, and delivery processes. Outsourced development team offers benefits despite challenges like language barriers and time zones. Good communication and teamwork can help overcome these issues. Leaders should consider these advantages when deciding on the best approach for their company's goals. Wrapping Up Having a dedicated team is crucial for success in agile development. Consider the pros and cons of internal versus outsourced teams. While internal teams offer control, they can be more expensive, whereas outsourcing provides expertise at lower costs. If you decide to go with an outsourced dedicated team, VT Labs can provide skilled engineers to meet your agile development requirements.

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