In order to critically examine my current workflows and explore tools and techniques, I began by analysing my workflow. Looking back on 5.1, the key stages I found in my process were; initial response to the brief, research, ideas inspired by research, final idea, development on final idea, final product.
I also find I tend to research throughout the whole process allowing me to constantly be inspired however looking back, this can result in disorganisation. I find keeping screenshots and different files in the right place difficult when I'm constantly finding new things and not finding time to categorise. Once I've finished researching, I'm left with an overwhelming mess of different resources. In my research I found 'Hazel', an automation tool that organises files based on rules you define, moving, sorting, and cleaning up files as needed. This would be useful when improving my efficiency when working as I could organise files based on different properties allowing me to find them easier when referring back to them in my designs and process document.
Another pain point for me in my workflow is getting overwhelmed with the tasks within the brief. Thinking about these tasks gets jumbled in my head and causes unnecessary stress. Using a scheduling tool may help to reduce mind clutter and organise these tasks, giving me confidence that each task is going to be complete by certain times. This would allow me to set my own deadlines and manage my time more effectively. Trevor AI is a time management and task scheduling tool, it offers AI driven time-blocking to help with daily planning and task organising, whether you plan your own day or let 'Trevor' do it for you. This would benefit me as it would mean I spend less time thinking about what I need to do and worrying about being productive. Instead I would know what I need to do and when making my time more constructive. Although this sounds constrictive, it means if I don't get a particular task done, I can find time in my daily planner to do it. Therefore I'm not stressed that I didn't complete it that day as I know I have time the following day to go back to it.
Overall, after researching different tools, I believe my overall productivity and efficiency can improve vastly by using different tools and techniques.
