We’re excited to announce the release of our latest blog series: Creative Collaboration Tools.
In this series, we’ll be covering the tools that many successful creatives and businesses use to help them collaborate more effectively, streamline their processes, and maximize productivity. We’ll cover everything from basic software to cutting-edge apps that make it easier than ever to work together seamlessly. Even if you’re not a creative or a business owner, there are still a lot of great tips here for anyone who needs to work with others on projects.
Stay tuned for our first post in the series, which will be out next week!
Creative Collaboration Tools
We’re entering a golden era of collaboration tools. Distributed teams are much more common, and it’s easier than ever to work with individuals in different cities… or even different continents. Collaboration tools make it easier and faster for designers to get feedback and approve artwork in a professional manner, with nothing getting lost in translation.
In this article, we gather together some of the best online collaboration tools that enable creatives to work together in real time. Some are created specifically for designers, others serve as a concept crafting whiteboard. We’ve also included some more full-on project management tools for when you need to take your collaborative project to the next level.
After something different? Take a look at our guides to the best infographic tools, web design tools, or tools for graphic designers.
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- Slack
Best collaboration tools: Slack
Keep in touch with your team – wherever they may be – with Slack [Image: Slack] (Image credit: Slack)
Want to improve communication within your team? Or work remotely but still stay in touch? Collaboration tool Slack is a fantastic solution for clear, real-time communication that keeps everyone in the loop. It’s so popular now, chances are you’re using it already.
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Perfect for anyone managing a team of remote employees, Slack enables project development to move forward more smoothly. Different channels help keep conversations on track, while having all team communication in one place ensures no one gets left out of the loop. Slack can also help you grow your design business by reducing email and meeting times.
- InVision
Best collaboration tools: InVision
InVision is a top tool for prototyping [Image: InVision] (Image credit: InVision)
Created specifically for designers, InVision is a web-based tool and mobile app that turns your designs into fully active prototypes, complete with gestures, transitions and animations. Clients can provide feedback in the form of comments on your designs , and you can keep them up to date with the project’s progress in real time through actionable to-do lists. Getting started on your first project with InVision is free, but any more than that and you’ll need to move to a paid plan.
- Asana
The best collaboration tools: Asana
Keep track of your tasks on an Asana ‘board’ [Image: Asana] (Image credit: asana)
Asana will help you stay on top of your workflow by enabling you to create to-do lists, keep track of tasks via a project ‘board’, set deadline reminders, comment on others’ posts, and send requests to colleagues. Employers can also use it to keep track of how projects are progressing. This collaboration tool first launched in 2008, and is still very popular.
- Trello
Best collaboration tools: Trello
Share your to-do list with others in real time using Trello [Image: Trello] (Image credit: Trello)
This project management tool is like a magical customisable to-do list on a single interface, which you can share with others in real time. Based on a system of ‘cards’ (which are essentially Post-it notes), you can categorise and order text, photos, drawings and mockups whichever way you want. There’s also a nice progress gauge so you can keep an eye on your project’s pipeline, as well as the ability to set appointment reminders. Most brilliantly of all: Trello is completely free.
- Visme
best online collaboration tools: Visme
Visme puts all your team activities in one central place [Image: Visme] (Image credit: Visme)
Browser-based collaboration tool Visme collects all your team activities in one place. It’s especially good for designers because it enables you to create a variety of visual projects, including presentations and infographics. There are built-in features to help you monitor on each user’s workload, progress, and activity on ongoing jobs.
- Google Keep
Online collaboration tools: Google Keep
Share lists and ideas with Google Keep [Image: Google]
Google Keep is a fantastic way to share lists and ideas (or keep them to yourself). You can access Google Keep through its website or using the iOS or Android App. If you’re looking for an easy-to-use list app, check is a collaboration tool that’s definitely worth checking out.
- appear.in
best collaboration tools: appear.in
Put a face to a name with this video conversation app [Image: appear.in] (Image credit: appear.in)
You want to see all your team’s smiling faces, right? That’s not always possible when working remotely, but online collaboration tool appear.in is the next best thing. This brilliant video conversation app allows up to eight people to converse in a chatroom, with no login or downloads required. It’s free to use, or you can bump up to a paid Pro plan for extra features.
- Basecamp
Online collaboration tools: Basecamp
Basecamp has been around for over 10 years [Image: Basecamp] (Image credit: Basecamp)
The daddy of project management, Basecamp was created when 37Signals couldn’t find a project management app that wasn’t insanely complicated, and so decided to build its own. It worked so well that clients wanted to use it, too, and things grew from there.
Featuring a whole suite of collaborative tools including to-do lists, wiki-style documents, file sharing and messaging, it packs in just about everything you need to keep any project running smoothly. You can use it via the web or with iOS and Android apps, and if you want to get a feel for it you can sign up for a 30-day free trial.
- Podio
Best online collaboration tools: Podio
Podio gives you a way to organise confusing workflows [Image: Podio] (Image credit: Podio)
Online collaboration tool Podio aims to help you improve the structure of your workflows by offering a way to organise unwieldy stacks of work and assign different employees specific tasks. It enables you to share files, get feedback on work, and view the status on ongoing projects. One of the most enticing features is its third-party integrations – it works with a whole load of services, from Dropbox and Google Drive to Evernote. There are also mobile apps for use while you’re out of the office.
- Red Pen
Online collaboration tools: Red Pen
Want constructive criticism? This feedback tool makes it easier [Image: Red Pen]
More fun than a teacher’s marking pen, this feedback tool is particularly great if you’re a freelancer looking for some constructive criticism on a project. Specifically created for designers, Red Pen lets you drag and drop your designs into a dashboard and invite specific colleagues (or even clients) to let you know their thoughts in real- time as you roll out your latest updates. One of Red Pen’s best features is that it keeps track of the numerous versions so you can always reclaim that earlier design if you change your mind.
- Mural
Gather and sort ideas and resources in different formats [Image: Mural]
Gather and sort ideas and resources in different formats [Image: Mural] (Image credit: Mural)
Mural is a creative tool for you to drag-and-drop rich media files, links and documents onto a big HTML5 drawing board, which is a great way to collect inspiration and gather your thoughts. It also supports collaboration that allows designers to brainstorm cool ideas remotely. Plus, it is optimised for iPad and gesture-friendly.
Mural is not just designed as a pinboard like Pinterest – its main goal is gathering and organising ideas. Anyone can join you to edit and collaborate, and changes are reflected on the board in real time. Just send an email invitation or set up a password for the board and you are ready to go.
Tools like Mural are lighter than some of the more traditional brainstorming tools, and if you’re new to collaborative brainstorming then this could be a good place to get started.
- GoVisually
Best online collaboration tools: GoVisually
GoVisually allows you to comment, annotate and discuss a project [Image: GoVisually] (Image credit: GoVisually)
Free tool GoVisually allows you to mark annotations and place comments on any part of your project. With it, designers and clients can collaborate to revise projects online without sending painful emails, which should ultimately increase productivity.
For your annotation you can chose an elliptical, rectangular or lasso selection, as well as customising its colour and weight. These functions are very useful, and are as simple to apply as you’d find in a basic drawing app (see our guide to the best drawing apps for iPad.
When multiple team members are on the same page, GoVisually applies layers for each user, like in Photoshop. Clicking on each user hides or displays relevant content, which is particularly useful when collaborating with different departments. Revisions can be easily upload and it is simple to switch between different versions of the same document or project.
- MindMeister
best collaboration tools: MindMeister
MindMeister is a collaborative mind-mapping tool [Image: MindMeister] (Image credit: Mind Meister)
Mindmeister is a powerful mind-mapping tool, but also has the functionality of many collaboration tools, so designers can use it to craft ideas and concepts. It might feel a bit quirky to organise a design idea through mind mapping, but this is still a great collaboration tool to try out. You can create up to three mind maps for free, or swap to one of the paid plans if you find this tool works well for you.
- Conceptboard
best collaboration tools: Conceptboard
Conceptboard is an instant whiteboard tool [Image: Conceptboard] (Image credit: Conceptboard)
Conceptboard is an instant whiteboard for teams and projects, and designers can also reap benefits by using it as a collaboration tool. Indeed, it’s optimised for creatives and is more like a one-stop solution for crafting concepts, managing projects, and providing feedback at any time. There’s a free version, but you’ll only be able to add up to 50 objects to each board you create. If you need more than that, you’ll need to swap to a paid plan.
- Ideaflip
Online collaboration tools: IdeaFlip
Compose, collect and clarify your ideas with Ideaflip
Ideaflip makes it easy for your team to quickly turn thoughts into ideas, and share or refine them – whether your collaborator is in the same room or on the other side of the world. A beautifully simple web app, Ideaflip is perfect for group brainstorming and individual ideas, and offers a great way to compose, collect and clarify your ideas. With this collaboration tool, it’s free for guests to view and contribute to boards, but to create a board yourself, you’ll need to subscribe to a paid plan.
- ProofHub
Best collaboration tools: Proofhub
(Image credit: Proofhub)
Another web-based project management and collaboration tool, ProofHub promises that it’ll enable you to plan, organise and deliver projects of all sizes faster. It offers all the tools you’d expect, including Gantt charts to help schedule and track multiple tasks, and a proofing tool that aims to ease the whole process of approving and reviewing designs. It’s available as a online, or as an Apple or Android app, and you can try it for free for 30 days.
- Concept inbox
Concept inbox features visual feedback and real-time collaboration [Image: Concept inbox]
Concept inbox features visual feedback and real-time collaboration [Image: Concept inbox] (Image credit: Concept inbox)
Describing itself as the simple way for designers, teams and clients to collaborate, Concept inbox provides you with a straightforward dashboard where you can upload images, get fast feedback from clients and add revisions with full version control. It also enables you to create interactive prototypes; just the thing if you have a brilliant idea for an app and want to communicate how it would work.
- Cage
Online collaboration tools: Cage
This online collaboration tool is specifically for designers [Image: Cage] (Image credit: Cage)
Cage is an online collaboration tools specifically built for designers. The original app allowed you share images of designs and get contextual feedback on them, but it’s now much more comprehensive. You can add tasks, approve files, and even explore a more engaging experience with web-based presentations.
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best collaboration tools
On average, how many emails do you exchange with co-workers everyday? And how much time does it normally take to brief your team on goals or progress? If your answers make you cringe, you should consider updating your collaboration tools.
Team collaboration software is on the rise. From communication to project management, technology offers an abundance of options. More online collaboration tools spring up every year, while existing ones are constantly improving their features and functionality. Some companies grow and thrive through holacracy, a collaborative management structure.
Here’s a list of 15 of the best collaboration tools that can support your team’s needs:
Communicate with your team
People can’t collaborate if they don’t communicate. From instant messaging to video conferencing tools (the best alternative to face-to-face meetings), there are many options for team collaboration tools:
- Flowdock
Flowdock is a group and private chat platform. Its most interesting feature is its team inbox which aggregates notifications from other channels, like Twitter, Asana and customer support tools. - GoToMeeting
GoToMeeting is an online video conferencing software that allows users to schedule meetings and share screens. It’s one of the most popular video tools with millions of users. - Slack
Slack is a popular and well-crafted platform offering instant messaging, file transfers and powerful message search. It has many features and dozens of integrations with other tools like Trello and Intercom. - WebEx
Cisco’s WebEx provides personalized video meeting rooms where users can to host and join meetings. People can use WebEx for team collaboration, webinars, training and customer support.
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Manage projects and tasks
Project management tools are critical. Who can coordinate effectively when they can’t monitor task progress or keep track of objectives?
- Asana
One of the most well-known project management tools, Asana allows users to assign tasks to other members, add followers to projects and monitor deadlines. It’s very useful as a to-do list or calendar for strategic planning. - Dapulse
Dapulse is a collaboration tool that helps you communicate, set objectives and assign tasks. Its big advantage: it has a great visual design so it’s easy to understand and work with. - ProofHub
ProofHub is a work management tool that offers a comprehensive suite of collaboration and project management functions. On this platform, you can organize files, plan and monitor projects and discuss with colleagues and stakeholders. ProofHub also lets you review and approve files through an online proofing tool. - Redbooth
Redbooth is an easy-to-use project management tool. Its platform allows users to plan and collaborate through many functions from video conferencing to creating Gantt charts. - Trello
Trello has an intriguing interface that resembles solitaire (you can even drag task cards across columns, just like you would playing cards). It’s easy to learn and works well for monitoring projects and assigning tasks. Trello also makes using Agile, Scrum and other project management frameworks easy. - Wimi
Wimi offers users their own ‘unified workspaces’ where teams can manage projects and share files and calendars. You can control access in each workspace with a rights-based system. Wimi Drive, their file syncing software, helps you make the most out of cloud technology. - Milanote
Milanote is one of the qualified tools that can be used for serving numerous purposes including blogging. Using this tool, you can organize creative projects and place them into excellent visual boards. It will provide you a feel like you’re working on the wall in a creative studio. Milanote would be a great fit too for designers who work remotely.
Related: Recruiting tools and techniques for modern HR teams
Create together
A task isn’t always one person’s responsibility. Sometimes team members need to create together. These are the best collaboration tools:
- Codingteam
Coders can easily collaborate when writing their code through platforms like Codingteam. It offers a free ‘software forge’ that encourages visibility and collective code building. - Igloo
Igloo is a company intranet that allows people to communicate and get work done. Its wiki allows colleagues to share information and ideas. - Google Docs
Google needs no introduction. Google’s collaboration tools include its Docs and Sheets services, which are designed to allow teams to edit files at the same time and save all their changes automatically. - Quip
Quip started off as a mobile app and released a desktop version later. Teams can import and work live on different file types. Edits are saved automatically and its chat, comment and checklist features make collaboration easy.
How do I choose?
Companies should choose software that meets their individual needs. Here are some criteria that you can use to identify the best service for your team:
Prefer multiple features
Some tools offer excellent service but are only focused on one aspect of team collaboration. Give some thought to how efficient this really is. Teams may end up spending time changing between complementary software. It’s better to look for a tool that’s feature-rich and allows people to use it in many different ways.
Look for ease of use
This is obviously one of the most important criteria. If a service works but takes a lot of time to get used to, it won’t help teams (especially fast-growing teams.) Request a demo and keep an eye out for an intuitive interface and simple navigation.
Pay attention to privacy options
Collaborating with teams doesn’t mean all conversations and files should be public. Sometimes, you’ll want team members to have private conversations or work on sensitive projects. Make sure you look at privacy options before you choose a service.
Opt for cloud
Cloud-based technology has many advantages. It can solve your version control headaches by allowing you to see recent edits and activity. All information is stored online so everyone can be on the same page, no matter where they are.
Ask for integrations and compatibility
Remember that it’s better to use a tool with multiple features? Well, not always. Occasionally, you discover a tool that does one thing perfectly. Integrations are key. Look for tools that seamlessly integrate with other apps or software. Compatibility is also important. For example, your tools should support all the file types your team normally uses
Conclusion
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