How to make design approvals easier in three steps

Designers and architects don’t have an easy job. Beyond the work it takes to translate ideas into interior designs, or blueprints into beautiful buildings, you have to navigate the murky waters of opinion. You have to call upon Zen-like patience to deal with brutally blunt criticism, while somehow turning layers of feedback into an idea everyone approves.

There's a way to make the approval process feel more like a conversation than a conflict. It's about picking tools that help your whole team work together seamlessly. Here’s how to start.

1. Create cohesion among apps

When you don’t have convenient app integrations, like Dropbox Extensions, your users have to take the time to close one app, open another, and try to pick up where they left off. These gaps are problems in a workflow, which may cause delays and data loss. A strong connection can keep work moving smoothly.

When the co-founders of PritchardPeck Lighting needed to facilitate team communications, they turned to an integration of Dropbox, Slack, and Gmail. “We communicate in our office using Slack,” says Kristin Peck. “It's great to separate internal communication from our clients, which we use Gmail for. But the Slack interface is good because we'll be working over instant message basically. My team will send Dropbox links, and I can quickly click on it, and it will open the file… I can see what's happening without being there.” 

Here’s how PritchardPeck uses Dropbox to grow their “Small, but Mighty” business.

2. Scale to project demands

Using the best apps for each task gives your company more room to grow as needed. A single solution might come with extra features you don’t need or lack important ones you’ll need later. An optimized workflow lets you select the solutions you need to grow, without disrupting your processes.

For example, when award-winning architectural firm BNIM was launching seven new offices across the US, they relied on Dropbox for business teams to simplify their workflows. BNIM used Dropbox to collaborate on large design files from any office or device, and achieve faster turnaround times on their client projects. 

Curious how other businesses are optimizing their workflows? Read some other customer success stories from companies using Dropbox to handle their work efficiently.

3. Streamline your workflow to save time

Without a good workflow, employees might waste time looking for files or trying to connect processes that don’t work well together. A smooth workflow will help your team spend less time on coordination and more time on actual work.

Architecture firm Red Dot Studio uses Dropbox shared links to send large presentation and CAD files to members of their team, as well outside engineers, consultants, and clients. Whenever someone needs to review the latest concepts, they can quickly pull them up from the Dropbox mobile app.

“After visiting a job site, we used to waste time searching for a sketch, scanning it, and then saving it... Now we can snap a picture on our phones, save it to the correct long-term location, and disseminate it on the spot. It’s much more seamless now.”—Alix Daguin, Project Designer, Red Dot Studio

Using the best apps and tools together helps you work smarter and more efficiently. This means more time for your main tasks and less time sorting through a sea of apps. When you need approvals, clear teamwork avoids confusion and saves a lot of time.