Creative project managers are a rare breed. They’re leaders who understand both how to nurture the creative process and bring ideas to life and how to organize, orchestrate, and track the logistics of delivering projects on time and under budget.
Traditional project management tends to focus on helping software development, construction, or manufacturing teams increase productivity and consistently meet quality standards.
Creative PMs manage teams of “idea people,” documenting workflows, and coordinate input from beyond the creative team while sticking to tight deadlines. As such, traditional tools often don’t work for creative teams or their clients; they need creative project management software.
A creative project management software drives improvements by automating admin tasks, creating a centralized hub for communicating requirements, collaborating on creative projects, and sharing feedback.
What is creative Project Management?
The term “Creative Project Management” is all about handling those inventive ventures – think marketing blitzes, web facelifts, branding overhauls, and cinematic creations. While there’s some overlap with old-school project management, the real magic lies in the differences.
One standout? Flexibility. Traditional project management lives by the clock and fixed outcomes, but creative turf thrives on adaptability. Creativity plays by its own rules, demanding space to breathe and change.
Creative project leads are the chameleons of project management, ready to pivot on a dime and steer the ship through stormy seas.
Unlike software development or engineering projects, creative projects are hard to quantify, and PMs can’t rely on KPIs to monitor & track progress against a fixed set of standards.
Done right, creative project management offers a framework for aligning projects around customer needs, effectively managing resources, and keeping teams focused on the right ideas.
Why does your creative team need creative project management software?
Creative project managers ensure that all elements harmonize to produce exceptional projects within deadlines. Without proper tools, projects can unravel, leading to delays, quality concerns, and budget challenges. They juggle various tasks – from budget control to deadline management, quality assurance, and team motivation.
It’s challenging but equipped with the right tools, innovative project managers can streamline their work and succeed. Utilizing creative project management software unifies efforts and aligns teams toward common objectives.
Let’s have a quick look at some of the specific benefits of investing in a dedicated creative PM platform.
Creative project management software simplifies the creative brief and intake process
Instead of investing time in brainstorming sessions or awaiting stakeholder alignment on requirements, innovative project management software streamlines the feedback collection and brief creation process efficiently.
With crucial components like adaptable intake forms that modify fields based on the requester’s position, automated prompts, and centralized feedback consolidation, it accelerates project initiation. This enhanced efficiency results in timely project kick-off and smoother workflow progression.
Project management software with a creative twist aids in visualizing workflows effectively
Creative project management software offers teams visual tools to grasp the big picture using charts, graphs, and timelines linked to creative tasks. These visuals help project managers coordinate intricate workflows, enabling creatives to stay on track and meet deadlines effectively.
The software goes beyond the essential task lists and spreadsheets and offers a platform for collaboration, communication, and organization among team members. This is essential in creative projects where multiple individuals are involved in different aspects of the project.
Creative project management software provides a central hub for feedback and collaboration
Creative project management software consolidates all project materials in one location. It gathers various creative assets, Excel sheets, Google Docs, PDFs, and marketing and sales templates that teams need for their work. Additionally, it features an intelligent search function to find files swiftly.
Top platforms also provide built-in collaboration tools for discussions related to specific tasks or files. They centralize communication records, empowering users to assess situations and engage effectively and quickly.
Creative project management software provides a platform to review and approve assets
Software solutions need to encompass functionalities that tackle the review and approval process, a key bottleneck in extensive creative projects.
These tools gather and integrate feedback within digital assets, empowering administrators to automate approval workflows, notifications, and status updates for continuous progress.
Creative project management software automates tasks, so your team can focus on creativity
Not having a robust system, creatives might waste time on non-essential tasks or get sidetracked by manual project management duties such as checklist creation or data logging.
Creative project management tools often offer functions for automating repetitive activities such as project setup.
Essential features to consider when selecting a creative project management software:
The leading creative project management software empowers teams to deliver top-notch work by finding the perfect harmony between structure and adaptability.
Essentially, you need a tool that supports the creative journey by steering it towards goals without overwhelming the team with tasks like generating reports or inputting project data.
When opting for a project management software subscription, it’s crucial to prioritize key features such as robust collaboration tools, efficient digital asset management, thorough project monitoring capabilities, seamless integrations, and automation of time-consuming administrative tasks.
Given that each organization has unique needs let’s delve into a comprehensive overview of the essential features to consider during your selection process.
Usability
Usability is crucial, especially when considering solutions for handling complex creative projects. Software needs to be user-friendly, or else your team may not adopt it.
Within a creative agency, there are various stakeholders, many without technical backgrounds or time to master new features.
Seek a platform that simplifies file management, syncs data across applications, and provides communication tools.
A clean interface and visual aids can enhance users’ comprehension of essential information.
Additionally, it is essential to consider the accessibility of the software for all team members. This includes features such as keyboard shortcuts for individuals with disabilities or visual impairments. Providing multiple options for navigation and organization can also improve usability for a diverse group of users.
Intake forms
Creative briefs provide a comprehensive overview of project objectives, milestones, and target audience, ensuring alignment before starting. However, creating them manually demands significant input from various individuals, consuming considerable time.
To streamline this process, dynamic intake forms enable teams to collect insights from internal stakeholders, external partners, and clients. These forms allow users to customize question flows based on the requester’s role and request type and efficiently route responses back to their project management software.
Creative briefs play a crucial role in project management by offering a comprehensive overview of essential project elements. They act as a blueprint, directing teams toward their objectives and ensuring focus throughout the project lifecycle.
Within a creative agency, there are various stakeholders, many without technical backgrounds or time to master new features.
Seek a platform that simplifies file management, syncs data across applications, and provides communication tools.
A clean interface and visual aids can enhance users’ comprehension of essential information.
Additionally, it is essential to consider the accessibility of the software for all team members. This includes features such as keyboard shortcuts for individuals with disabilities or visual impairments. Providing multiple options for navigation and organization can also improve usability for a diverse group of users.
Media versatility
A successful creative project management platform consolidates all assets in one location, irrespective of file format, enabling users to review, edit, and approve content within the same interface.
When seeking a solution, prioritize compatibility with diverse media types such as HTML5, video, and audio, as well as static Word documents, Excel sheets, PDFs, and beyond.
Creative workflows
A comprehensive project management platform should offer diverse reporting tools to present essential project data effectively.
Visualizations reduce time spent on spreadsheets, enabling all stakeholders to monitor progress toward critical milestones and access tasks, deadlines, and dependencies from a centralized dashboard. Visual reporting and workflow management tools enhance usability, providing contributors, clients, and project managers with quick access to crucial information to direct their efforts efficiently.
These tools provide a range of report options that can be tailored to specific criteria like tasks, deadlines, dependencies, and milestones. The data is presented in a user-friendly format, facilitating stakeholders in tracking the project’s advancement.
Creative collaboration
Project management software tailored for creative agencies should encompass content and creative collaboration, enabling users to streamline the review and approval processes within a shared digital workspace.
This facilitates teams in capturing and implementing feedback efficiently, engaging in direct collaboration within files, and automating approval workflows, ultimately expediting project deliveries.
Feedback is crucial for creative success, but involving many stakeholders, complex review processes, and differing opinions can cause project delays.
A platform with real-time collaboration tools is essential for teams to overcome obstacles efficiently. Look for functionalities such as side-by-side version comparisons, status monitoring, and the capability to annotate content, provide comments, and respond directly to the relevant asset.
Project templates
Although each project is unique, creative teams typically kick off projects with a familiar structure.
The top creative project management tools enable you to store workflow templates for recurring projects and automatically retain all related settings as the default settings – including task dependencies, reports, milestones, and team members involved.
Project templates not only spare project managers from redundant setup work but also eradicate mistakes and guarantee that all assets align with brand standards and other regulatory requirements.
Reporting
Creative project management tools should feature real-time, self-service reporting capabilities for users to uncover insights instantly. Look for a solution that reveals team time allocation, project statuses, and detailed resource utilization and budget insights.
Data visualization and visual management tools enhance project data accessibility for all involved parties. This allows for quick decision-making and effective communication between team members.
Search for features like task assignment, file sharing, and team messaging to maintain project progress and streamline communication among team members. Look for tools with customizable workflows and automated notifications for enhanced coordination and accountability.
Integrations with design and creative production tools
To optimize workflow efficiency, consider a platform that seamlessly integrates with creators’ primary tools, such as the Adobe Creative Suite. This integration reduces time wasted on window-switching or file searching.
Ziflow, for instance, enables project collaboration in a centralized space, offering full access to Photoshop, InDesign, Premiere Pro, and Illustrator functionalities.
Compliance
Project managers should also make sure to choose a solution that protects brand assets, employees, and clients.
Look for a compliant platform that offers secure sharing, version control, and data encryption–both when in transit and at rest.
Best creative project management software for 2024
1. Ziflow
Ziflow‘s creative collaboration software is trusted by major companies like Amazon AWS, Toyota, and Weber to simplify the creative review and approval process.
With features including a comprehensive digital workspace, real-time collaboration, feedback collection, and workflow automation, Ziflow enhances clarity, visibility, and efficiency in the creative workflow for quicker results.
Key features:
- Centralized asset management: Ziflow users have the ability to upload, review, and approve digital assets all within a centralized workspace. With support for over 1200 file formats, including videos, PDFs, live websites, GIFs, static Word documents, and more, the platform offers a comprehensive solution for creative collaboration and asset management.
- Workflow automation: Ziflow’s powerful workflow automation removes the repetitive review and approval processes that lead to bottlenecks and delays. Users can streamline approval flows by setting up parallel and sequential stages with adaptable triggers. Furthermore, users can synchronize checklists and status updates with workflow stages to ensure everyone stays aligned as creative assets evolve.
- Intake forms: Ziflow’s intake forms enable easy submission of proofs by various stakeholders, such as clients, contractors, and in-house employees. Users can follow a link to a straightforward submission form, ensuring efficient routing of content to approvers.
- Centralized collaboration & review: Ziflow serves as the ultimate reference point for creative projects, enabling reviewers to provide actionable feedback within project files. Through project dashboards, reviewers can annotate assets, engage with comments, and compare versions side by side for quicker validation of changes. Moreover, automated audit trails meticulously document all updates and decisions for each project.
- Pricing: Ziflow offers a variety of plans, from free options for individual creators to enterprise pricing tailored for large creative teams.
2. Monday.com
Monday is a versatile tool for resource management, catering to cross-functional teams in various industries. This platform assists teams in handling tasks, assets, and workflows through a comprehensive feature set. It encompasses digital asset management, time tracking, client management, team collaboration, and project planning.
While Monday.com is not tailored exclusively for creative agencies, users can integrate it with online proofing and personalized features to align with their organization’s creative processes and needs.
Key features:
- Project management
- Creative asset management
- Team collaboration & management
- Customizable workflows & templates
Pricing: Plans start at $7.80 per month per user.
3. Teamwork
Teamwork stands out as an intuitive project management platform trusted by a vast user base worldwide. Offering various views and formats for real-time project tracking, along with time tracking, team chat, and workload management, it streamlines project management effortlessly.
While beneficial for any business, Teamwork truly shines in agency settings with its exceptional client permissions. This feature enables precise control over client access to time tracking and invoicing, enhancing operational efficiency.
Key Features:
- Project Management
- Team Collaboration
- Individual workload Management
- Time Tracking
- Client Permission Management
Pricing: Plans range from a free option to $18 per month per user and custom enterprise software options.
4. FunctionFox
FunctionFox is a time-tracking and project management platform that aims to simplify the creative project management process, making it easy to stay on top of things like budgeting, expense reports, and estimates, as well as automating repetitive admin tasks so that creatives can spend more time doing what they do best.
While FunctionFox is easy to use, it doesn’t integrate with any third-party tools–meaning, it doesn’t provide the data-driven decision-making or asset management capabilities that really transform this process.
Key features:
- Collaboration tools
- Track milestones, cost-to-completion, and time & expenses
- Resource management
- Gantt charts
Pricing: Plans start at $5 per user per month
5. Paymo
Paymo strives to assist agencies in efficiently handling the entire creative process. It offers tools for project estimation, task management, time tracking, reporting, and in-app communication to enhance collaboration.
Paymo also seamlessly integrates with various business tools such as Adobe Creative Cloud, Slack, QuickBooks, Google Drive, and Zapier for added convenience.
Key features
- Project planning & scheduling
- Team collaboration
- Task management
- Resource management
- File management
Pricing: Paymo plans start at $9.95 per user, per month
6. VOGSY
VOGSY is a professional services automation tool integrated with Google’s G Suite. It streamlines project management, resource planning, and real-time reporting within Google Drive, providing a centralized hub for accessing project files, tracking progress, and collaborating effectively.
Moreover, VOGSY seamlessly connects with popular business tools like Salesforce, HubSpot, Quickbooks, and Zapier.
Key features:
- Team collaboration & management
- Customer relationship management
- Resource management
- Project planning
- Change & decision alerts
Pricing: VOGSY plans start at $19 per user per month, with the option to unlock all features for a $2400 flat rate.
7. Hive
Hive, a creative project management and collaboration tool, is trusted by major players such as IBM, Starbucks, and Uber. Offering time-tracking, visual tools like Kanban boards, Gantt charts, and calendars, plus detailed reporting for process transparency.
It includes automated workflows and a proofing & approval feature for seamless customer and stakeholder feedback collection and implementation.
Key features:
- Agile project management
- Kanban
- Collaboration tools
- Workflow management & automation
Pricing: Professional plans start at $12 per user per month
8. Asana
Asana is a versatile project management tool accommodating various workflows, from Agile sprints to remote work. It offers features tailored for creative projects, without burdening your team. Admins can automate task dependencies, track changes, and adjust deadlines flexibly.
Asana seamlessly integrates with your existing toolkit, streamlining collaboration and increasing productivity. Its user-friendly interface promotes efficient task management, enabling teams to focus on innovation and growth.
Key features:
- Visual project management tools–project timelines, lists, boards, calendars, & progress reports.
- Rules-based workflow automation.
- Create & save templates you can reuse for similar projects & processes
- Collaborative task management & communication features–status updates, priority scoring, in-app inbox.
Pricing: Asana offers a free version with limited features. Paid plans start at $10.99 per user per month and enterprise pricing is available upon request.
9. Trello
Trello, an intuitive project management platform, facilitates team collaboration through its digital Kanban board, cards, and lists. It offers a built-in “Butler” for setting up automated workflows with rules-based triggers, playbook templates for quick team setup, and “power-ups” to link Trello cards with Slack channels, Adobe projects, or Jira issues.
Key features:
- Kanban boards, cards, & lists
- Advanced checklists
- Power-ups & integrations
- Workflow automation
Pricing: Trello offers a free plan that supports up to 10 boards per team and unlimited cards & lists. Paid plans start at $9.99 per user per month.
10. Clarizen
Clarizen’s project management software empowers teams to navigate intricate creative projects through their entire lifecycle. It offers a robust array of features that facilitate organizational alignment around a shared vision. These include automated project planning tools, resource allocation, and a centralized platform for project discussions.
Clarizen furnishes teams with a singular source of truth, providing a real-time, comprehensive view of all project tasks, timelines, and progress. It also grants one-click access to all associated resources.
Key features:
- Project management
- Portfolio management
- Capacity & resource planning
- Reports and dashboards
Pricing: Subscriptions start at $45 per user per month
11. Podio
Podio’s comprehensive project management and collaboration software is designed to enhance efficiency throughout the entire organization. With a rich array of features such as customizable dashboards, integrated CRM, automated workflows, social collaboration, and sophisticated reporting tools — including data visualizations aimed at facilitating decision-making.
Key features:
- Project management
- Centralized collaboration hub
- Advanced workflow automation
- Personalized dashboards & reporting tools
- In-app CRM
Pricing: Plans start at $7.20 per month, per user
12. Avaza
Avaza offers a complete business management solution with project management, team collaboration tools, resource scheduling, expense reporting, online timesheets, and a central collaboration space. Assign tasks and share files easily with Avaza’s drag-and-drop feature. The platform includes visual management tools like Kanban boards and Gantt charts for better organization and efficiency.
Key features:
- Project management
- Resource scheduling
- Time & expense tracking
- Quoting & invoicing
Pricing: Avaza offers a free version with limited features. Paid plans start at $9.95 per user, per month
13. ProProfs Project
ProProfs Project is a comprehensive project management platform designed to streamline team workflows by organizing tasks, monitoring progress, and fostering collaboration through a unified dashboard. Furthermore, users can effortlessly generate reports with just a few clicks and seamlessly integrate with popular tools such as Dropbox and Google Drive for convenient file sharing.
Key features:
- Project management
- Resource management
- Project estimation & budgeting
- Team collaboration
Pricing: Plans start at $19 per user, per month
14. LiquidPlanner
LiquidPlanner serves as a project management solution enabling teams to oversee their complete creative portfolio, fostering remote collaboration while efficiently handling resources, budgets, and time. Furthermore, the platform features a scheduling engine that autonomously creates schedules according to priorities and delivers estimated task completion times.
Key features:
- Team collaboration
- Project management
- Real-time delivery estimates
- Resource management
Pricing: Plans start at $45 per user per month, enterprise quotes available upon request
15. RedBooth
Redbooth is a comprehensive project management platform offering communication and collaboration tools, such as built-in video conferencing, task management, time-tracking, and seamless integration with various apps for efficient file-sharing and comprehensive reporting.
Key features:
- Project management
- Team collaboration tools
- Visual task management–timelines, Kanban boards, and customizable dashboards
- Dedicated iOS & Android apps
Pricing: Plans start at $9 per user, per month, enterprise pricing available upon request.
Every business possesses distinct requirements, yet the aim remains to select a platform that facilitates team cohesion around a shared vision and timely delivery of tasks.
Essentially, your creative project management toolkit should empower teams to produce their finest work, enabling them to concentrate on creativity rather than mundane administrative duties.