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Making Projects Easy

Brett Harned
October 09, 2013

Making Projects Easy

This talk was presented at the Future of Web Design 2013 in NYC.

Making “cool stuff" for the people of the Internet is fun, but not always easy. Your clients hire you for your ability to make amazing experiences on the web and in apps, but they also want to be sure that you can keep your projects on the rails. That's where it can get tricky. Relationships between teams and clients can be difficult to navigate, even if the "big idea" comes easily. But that's okay! There are ways to build common goals and processes between client and design teams to lighten project stress and foster a shared creative language. Whether you're a designer, developer, or project manager, you'll find value in improving your communication and collaboration skills.

Brett Harned

October 09, 2013
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Transcript

  1. Making Projects
    FUTURE OF WEB DESIGN NYC
    Brett Harned | @brettharned
    Easy
    Easy

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  3. ★ All the brains

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  4. Make projects easier by:
    ˒ Communicating e ectively
    ˒ Playing nicely with others
    ˒ Setting expectations
    ˒ Managing time e ectively

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  5. Easy!

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  6. 1
    1
    Good
    Communications

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  7. communicate
    often

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  8. Set
    communication
    expectations

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  9. ★ I may look like I’m sleeping, but I’m really working

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  10. Listen

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  11. Take
    notes

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  12. ★ Make your notes clear and concise (happy robots edit)

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  13. feedback
    Be open to

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  14. Be
    proactive

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  15. Status
    Updates
    Provide

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  16. ★ Team status meetings: helping get things done!

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  17. ★ Client status calls make everyone happy

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  18. Every status should include:
    What’s important?
    ˒ What was done last week
    ˒ What will be done this week/next week
    ˒ Action Items
    ˒ Update on Timeline
    ˒ Update on Budget
    ˒ Blockers & Risks

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  19. Be
    Honest

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  20. Learn to say...

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  21. No.

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  22. 2
    2
    Playing Nicely
    with Others

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  23. ★ Got my new project. Life is good.

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  24. ★ Team and clients want a piece. Play nice!

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  25. Explain
    your process

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  26. Collaborate

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  27. ★ What does “collaboration” mean to you?

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  28. Some common practices
    How do you collaborate?
    ˒ Face-to-face communication/events
    ✦ Sharing ideas: brainstorming, sketching,
    impromptu meetings
    ˒ Shared to-do lists
    ˒ Real-time communication
    ˒ Being “open”

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  29. Make
    it work

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  30. 3
    3 Setting Expectations

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  31. ★ Robots worry too

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  32. Scope
    Understand Your

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  33. meline
    Lock down your

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  34. Roles
    Establish

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  35. ★ Who’s doing what? When?

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  36. 4
    4 Managing Your Time

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  37. ★ Your To-Do List can be your bestest friend

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  38. To-Do List
    Create a love-worthy

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  39. ★ What to do?

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  40. ★ Classics

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  41. ★ Record Tasks

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  42. ★ Prioritize your list

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  43. Set Task Priorities
    ˒ Highest Priority: Must be done today
    ˒ Medium Priority: You’d like to get it done today, but
    it can wait until tomorrow
    ˒ Low Priority: It can be done tomorrow or even the
    next day

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  44. ★ Complete a task. Update your list.

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  45. ouble
    Having
    Completing Tasks?

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  46. Focus
    on one task at a time

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  47. ★ I know when you’re busy.

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  48. distractions
    Turn o

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  49. meetings
    Schedule around

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  50. otect
    your work time

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  51. Control
    your own calendar

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  52. Structure
    your days/weeks

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  54. Plan
    for the unplanned

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  55. So Easy!

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  56. Thanks!
    Brett Harned | @brettharned | brettharned.com
    dpm2013.com | ownercamp.com

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