Source: flickr
I’ve just recently been saddled with a big design project, and truthfully its been getting to me. So to help myself compartmentalize and begin tackling this huge project, I used a simple method of dividing things up.
Its called a roadmap (yes I’m quite original) and its easy to make.
So when building a roadmap, you first need to define what your big goal is. For me, that simply means getting this huge design piece done. So I’m marking down at the top:
Goal: Complete Design Piece
Then I divide that goal into the steps I know I need to complete in order to achieve my goal. I call these steps Checkpoints, as their purpose is to make your goal into a easy to read checklist. So now my list looks a bit like this:
Goal: Complete Design Piece
Rough Sketch –> Final Sketch –> Finished Design
From that point on I divide my Checkpoints down into multiple tasks, and suddenly things finally become doable for me. So for the Rough Sketch Checkpoint, the tasks would most likely consist of:
1) Brainstorm multiple ideas, settle on final idea
3) Sketch out elements and make a composition sketch
3) Revise composition, start sketching rough draft
4) Complete rough draft, revise if necessary
Once I’m able to get to that level, things become as simple as going down the list one item at a time. It may seem a bit OCD, but it works for me, and thats the important part, is finding a system that fits your needs.
So try it out, modify it, and see what works for you!
