Tag: project-management-system

From Plan to Pixels: Creating Your First Passion Project Deliverables
You’ve done the research, built your project management board, and collected your sources. Maybe you used Trello, Asana, or Monday.com to organize every little task. Now you’re staring at your screen thinking, “Okay, now what?” It’s time to roll up your sleeves and start bringing your ideas to life.

Getting Started: Trust the Plan You Already Made

Starting your deliverables can feel overwhelming, but here’s the good news: you’ve already laid the groundwork. If you created a detailed project management plan, you’ve already mapped out what you need to do. That’s exactly what helped me when I began creating my infographics this week. I returned to my Trello board, looked at the tasks under “Week 3,” and followed them step by step: conduct research, outline content, and design the drafts.

Still unsure what to do next? Go back to your board. It’s like a creative GPS for your project.

Let the Process Evolve

Here’s a little secret: the plan doesn’t need to stay perfect.

As I moved through my Week 3 checklist, I realized I needed an extra step. Creating wireframes wasn’t originally in my plan, but when I added it, everything clicked into place. These quick sketches helped me visualize the structure of my infographics before I even opened up my design software. So, if you find yourself needing to shift things around, go for it. That’s not a failure; that’s part of the process.

Your project tasks should work for you, not the other way around.

Designing Impactful Infographics: Tips from the Experts

If your project involves creating infographics, you have come to the right place! I began this process by reviewing two fantastic resources that gave me a solid framework and design confidence. In Educator’s Blueprint: A How-To Guide for Creating a High-Quality Infographic, Gottlieb, Ibrahim, Martin, Yilmaz, and Chen break down creating an infographic into six helpful steps:
- Know your audience
- Curate relevant content
- Create a clear structure
- Use strong visual design
- Choose your tools wisely
- Ask for and apply feedback
These tips helped me when creating my infographics this week. In Creating Effective Infographics: Visualizing Data for Impact, Eddy emphasizes balancing text with visuals and making sure data shines without overwhelming the viewer. That advice really stuck with me. I made sure to write my content first, then build visuals that supported and enhanced the message, not the other way around.

When designing your own infographics, don’t forget about:
- Consistent branding
- Thoughtful color choices based on color theory
- Clear typography with limited, legible fonts
These small choices make a big difference.

A Peek Behind the Curtain: My Process

To see my outline, wireframes, and final infographic drafts, click here.

The transition from sketches to polished designs took time, but having a structure in place helped me stay focused. The wireframes acted like a blueprint that made design choices easier.

Stay on Track with a Production Journal

Want to keep tabs on your weekly progress? Start a production journal.
I learned this tip from Pattie Belle Hastings, who recommends documenting:
- The tasks you completed
- How long it took
- The current status (in progress or done)
- The tools or software you used
It doesn’t have to be fancy. Just keep it consistent. By the end of your project, you’ll have a clear picture of how your work unfolded and a record you can reference later or include in your portfolio. Here is my production journal:

One Last Thing: Embrace the Process

The most important thing I’ve learned while creating deliverables?
Enjoy the ride.

Creative projects are never perfectly linear. Plans change. Ideas evolve. You’ll make mistakes, try new things, and discover better ways to communicate your message. Let yourself experiment, and have fun with the process.

You’re building something you’re passionate about, so let that excitement show in every step you take.
July 28, 2025
A 101 Guide to Organizing Your Passion Project
You’ve got a big idea, the creative juices are flowing, and your passion project is finally taking shape. Now comes the tricky but fun part: getting organized. Whether you’re crafting a social campaign, building a website, or developing a multimedia series, staying organized will make the creative process much smoother.

Let’s be honest: starting something new can be overwhelming. Where do you begin? How do you wrangle all your ideas into something cohesive? What tools actually help?

Good news: I’m in the thick of this myself, and I’ve got your back. Here’s your go-to guide for organizing your passion project, featuring real tips from my experience working on “Preserve the Peaks,” a multimedia conservation campaign about Rocky Mountain National Park.

Why Project Management Tools Are Game-Changers

My “Preserve The Peaks” Project Plan in Trello.

When you’re juggling tasks, ideas, deadlines, and research, using a project management system is a must. It gives you a visual structure for your work, helps you prioritize, and ensures you actually finish what you start.

Some of the most popular tools out there include Trello, Asana, Notion, and Monday.com. Which one should you use? It all depends on your personal preferences and project style. Explore the features of each, and see which fits your organization style best.

I chose Trello for my campaign. I love the card-based system, which lets me:
- Create task checklists (there’s nothing more satisfying than checking something off)
- Set due dates
- Assign collaborators
- Attach images and resources
- Leave notes and updates
For “Preserve the Peaks,” I divided my Trello board into sections by week and topic. Here’s a glimpse into how I broke it down:
- Week 1: Research
- Week 2: Organization
- Weeks 3–4: Infographics and interactive posters
- Weeks 5–6: Digital guide (PDF)
- Week 7: Final packaging and project promotion
Within each section, I created individual task cards and broke them into bite-sized and actionable to-do lists. The more detailed your checklists, the easier it is to stay on track.

Mastering the Art of Annotated Bibliographies

When your project management system is up and running, it’s time to dig into your research. You’ve probably already gathered sources, which is great! Now comes the part where you actually make sense of them.

Start annotating your bibliography. For each source, write a few short paragraphs answering:
- What is the source about?
- Why is it important to your project?
- How will you use the information?
This make your research easier to reference later and also gives you a clearer picture of the themes and takeaways you want to emphasize.

Some of the resources I used include:
There are plenty of great resources out there on how to write an annotated bibliography if you want a template or tips!

Creating a Project Plan That Works for You

You’ve got your management tool. Your research is being annotated. Now it’s time to bring it all together in a clean, strategic project plan.

Here’s what I included in my project plan:
1. Project Management Approach: A quick overview of what platform I’m using (Trello) and how I’ve structured my boards and cards.
2. Week-by-Week Action Plan: Each week has a clear focus with tasks tied to it, making progress feel achievable and steady.
3. Visuals & Screenshots: Including screenshots of my Trello board helped make the plan more dynamic and transparent.
Design your plan to match the tone of your campaign. Mine features the earthy, natural tones of the Rockies and a clean layout that’s easy to navigate. Treat it like an extension of your brand, and it will set the tone for the rest of your work.

Let’s Get Creating

Organization might not sound glamorous, but it’s the secret sauce to making your ideas a reality. By using tools that work for you, breaking tasks down into actionable items, and making sense of your research, you’re setting yourself up for success.

I’ll be diving into infographic design next week. Stay tuned as I bring “Preserve the Peaks” to life!
July 21, 2025