Demo output from a tool that guesses a possible turnaround time for a project
The tool takes input to set custom values for select project variables which affect various time requirements. It then generates a rough guess, for one possible overall turnaround time, relative to a specific creative project.
1
13th Jan
3rd Feb
1 Character Design
1
3rd Feb
2
0
0
0
2
0
2
5th Feb
1
1
5th Feb
1
2
1
3
4
2
6
11th Feb
4
1
11th Feb
1
1
1
2
3
0
3
14th Feb
2
0
0
0
1
14th Feb
1
2
1
3
4
2
6
20th Feb
4
1
20th Feb
1
1
1
2
3
2
5
25th Feb
3
0
17 Illustrations
1
25th Feb
4
2
1
3
7
2
9
6th Mar
6
1
6th Mar
2
1
1
2
4
2
6
12th Mar
4
1
12th Mar
17
2
1
3
20
8
28
9th Apr
20
1
9th Apr
9
1
1
2
11
4
15
24th Apr
10
0
1
24th Apr
4
2
1
3
7
4
11
5th May
8
1
5th May
2
1
1
2
4
0
4
9th May
3
1
9th May
9
0
0
0
9
4
13
22nd May
9
1
22nd May
9
2
1
3
12
6
18
9th Jun
13
1
9th Jun
5
1
1
2
7
2
9
18th Jun
6
1
18th Jun
7
0
0
0
7
2
9
27th Jun
6
0
Total Guess
3rd Feb
74
18
12
30
103
40
143
26th Jun
Percents (Rounded)
52
21
28
Small rough guesses
The tables reflects some stages and steps in a creative project. For each project step accounted for, the table very roughly guesses a possible number of days it may take to complete.
It offers no targets or estimates, only guesses.
As any given step involves many variables, and changing the value of any variable affects time requirements, each step and project can take a widely varying amount of time.
Each rough guess considers only some of the variables a step involves.
When a step takes a different amount of time to the amount guessed, all subsequent dates and guesses shift accordingly.
The table mainly shows how many variable-filled steps a project has.
Overall rough guess "at least 5 months overall" (rounded up)
The table only makes the smaller guesses to help reach a very loose overall guess. The overall guess considers one possible total turnaround time for a similar project of similar scope.
How to
Click any table header for a popover about a step or stage.
(Some popovers mention related variables that affect times.)
Stage \ Step
Multi-piece projects: Instead of completing each piece one by one, multi-piece projects begin all works at once, and complete a single creative stage for all pieces, before progressing to the next stage. This keeps the focus clear throughout a project, and allows feedback to consider all work as a whole.
Quantity
Quantity per illustration
Start
The date the step would start, based on all previous guesses.
Produce
Artist:
Produce initial work, or revise per feedback, then deliver.
All of the following variables affect how long this step takes.
Instruction style of main brief + revision requests
Manufacturing elements to design or make work (e.g. flaps, die cuts, aligning)
Detail level
Drawing style
Schedule + Workload
Guesses in this column relate to how many days the work may take to complete, without accounting for any schedule or any other workload on a given day.
Feedback
Client: Provide feedback regarding the most recently presented work, choosing one of the following options per piece (e.g. illustration or design):
🟢 Approve it
Approval confirms all aspects are:
Suitable and require no changes now or later.
Accepted and finalised as delivered.
🟡 Request revisions
To confirm work is mostly suitable and accept it subject to revision, provide a complete and finalised bullet point to-do list (or visual) of all change requests.
Requests may address anything related to the current project stage, first presented in the most recently presented work.
(Work accepted for revisions can't be rejected later.)
🔴 Reject it
To discard the work initially presented for a stage, and confirm it is unsuitable, reject it and provide further direction for restarting the stage.
Time: The amount of time this will take would depend on the clarified direction. Restarting will likely require the same amount of time to complete as the rejected version did.
Clarify
Artist: Review and or respond to feedback. Before beginning the next step, or part way through it, request any information needed to proceed.
Client: Clarify or provide instructions.
Client Time
Total business days the client steps require.
Work days
Business days the stage requires. (Mon-Fri)
Weekend days
Saturdays and Sundays that occur between the business days in this stage.
For example: It Friday delivers work, and Monday provides feedback, the table adds 2 days to the weekend column.
Total Days
Total days required
Finish
Client: Approve all work related to the current project stage as finalised. With all work produced so far ready to build on (no longer subject to any change), the project moves to the next stage.
Percent
A rounded percentage of the total guessed project time that this stage may take.
Revision (R1)
Work: Revise the the initial work produced for the current project stage, per Client's change requests.
Time: Compared to the time spent producing the most recently presented work, each revision round per stage should require no more than half the amount of time again.
Variables that affect time per revision round
Number of changes requested in a list.
Complexity of the changes requested.
Quantity of revision rounds per stage
The table accounts for 0 or 1 round of revisions per stage.
On receipt of revised work, Client may want to request a further round of further revisions. If so, this would shift all other times accordingly.
Sort details
Ability to start Subject to any work schedule, the project creative can usually begin once all details are finalised and the following items are in place:
Brief
Full and finalised details of all work to produce per piece.
Art direction
Reference images and style guides for everything client wishes to brief. (Characters, drawing, rendering, palettes, composition, other.)
Text layout (if applicable e.g. book or publication)
Per piece or page: All finalised typeset copy to work with or around, which client has designed in-house. Provided in any relevant file format (PDF / PSD / AI / TIFF / SVG).
Template files
A ready to work with formatted PSD / TIFF template per piece to produce (e.g. book cover, interiors), covering all format requirements (e.g. colour space, DPI, trim width & height, margins, bleed etc.)
Signed agreement
Subject to all details considered in relation to each other: the offer, the terms, and the required work, timings, and rights.
(If applicable) Receipt of any agreed 'on signature' fee
This depends entirely on project kind, size, and contract specifics.
Ideas
Explore character construction possibilities (silhouettes, shapes, proportions). Not presented.
T-pose
Line-work only. Straight-on and eye level view of character standing with arms out.
Line-work only. Sheet of 6 face expressions showing different character personality attitudes and or emotions.
Poses
Line-work only. 4 full body poses showing character personality and attitudes. Typically based on pre-briefed work to use later in creative projects to follow (e.g. a book illustration job).
Colour Plan
Explore (not finalise) possible base colours for character.
Surface Style
Work up 1 sample in the directed style (media / inking / lighting / vector)
Layout OR Thumbnail
1 per work included (i.e. illustration or design).
Either:
Layout: Explore ideas for concept layout at tiny sizes.
Thumbnail: Produce thumbnails based on layout client provided.
Pencils
Develop the chosen layout. Include and finalise all content, details, elements, poses, expressions.
Outlines
Ink the work in the briefed line-work style (e.g. clean / comic / manga / traditional)
Colour Plan
Produce a loose flat base colour block in thumbnail per illustration. (Also defines palette).
Layer
Prepare shape layers from line-work. Not presented.
Flats
Block in all local colours.
Render
Render work in the surface style directed
(e.g. texture / paint / emulate medium)
Lighting / FX
Produce value thumbs for light and FX.
Then apply layers for: