School of Graduate Studies

GPLD657 - Project management for creative minds


Description

Learning alternative ways to plan and coordinate projects is an essential professional skill, especially in the arts and humanities, where projects are often emergent and hard to map out. This workshop introduces flexible project planning frameworks as supportive tools to foster iteration, collaboration, and efficiency beyond traditional productivity culture.

The first part of the workshop will introduce traditional, agile, and hybrid project planning frameworks, exploring how they can be tailored to suit different projects and adapted to address specific needs. For instance, participants planning an event with a predetermined timeline and outcome may need strategies to break complex tasks into manageable phases. Others developing new creative work or collaborative projects may require flexible planning approaches that allow for iterative feedback and adjustments as ideas evolve.

Later we will introduce visual planning tools, including Kanban boards and Gantt charts, and provide an overview of free online project management apps.

Attendees will experiment with the frameworks and tools learned and apply them to their own projects. They will also walk away with a template to plan and pitch projects.


Learning Objectives

At the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:
  • Identify project management frameworks that best suit their projects, allowing them to select effective tools for planning and executing their ideas.
  • Gain awareness of agile project planning, enabling them to start implementing their projects in iterative cycles, preventing them from getting stuck in long planning phases, and allowing them to adapt plans in real time.
  • Develop skills in adapting existing tools to their specific projects, enabling them to address challenges and customize their planning processes over time.

Leaders Information

Lina Moreno was born in Colombia and have called Tiohtià:ke (Montreal) home for over a decade. She design tailored learning, planning, and collaboration processes rooted in accessibility and equity. With this approach, she offers project management training and one-on-one support to artists, entrepreneurs, and growing teams, helping them free up mental space to stay creative and connected.

Lina holds an MA in Art Education from Concordia University and have extensive experience in workshop design and facilitation. Most recently, she led the ArtWorks Program, a one-year professional development initiative that served 40+ emerging Indigenous artists and covered various professional skills, including project planning. In addition, she has a project management certificate from McGill University and have partnered with non-profits and arts organizations to introduce project management frameworks and software to their teams.