To me, a ten-page paper sounds like a large cup of coffee and a few all nighters. But when you actually break down the assignment, and use project management, the process can be much more seamless.
I never really understood the importance of project management until I worked at an agency. But, project managers are the superheroes of the ad world, and without them deadlines would be missed, I would personally be overflowing with to-do’s, and the clients would not be happy.
Implementing project management into my white paper assignement will help keep the process smooth. For the white paper, we are to write to a topic related to digital content media in 2026. The paper also needs to connect back to ideas from Stolen Focus, as well as other class material.
Beyond simply writing the paper, we need to research credible statistics, develop an argument, include citations, create graphics, and ultimately turn the information into something that feels both professional and visually engaging.
To organize everything, I chose Trello and created a Kanban style board with four lists: to do, in progress, review and complete. Instead of having one giant card labeled “white paper,” I broke the assignment into smaller tasks, including choosing my topic, reviewing Stolen Focus, gathering research and statistics, creating an outline, drafting each section, finding visuals, formatting APA citations, designing the document and completing final edits.
Trello works especially well for me because I can visually move each task through the process. I have always been a visual learner, and I feel when I can see everything neatly laid out in front of me, it ensures that I do not miss anything. As I begin working on something, I move the card into “in progress.” Once a section is drafted, it moves into “review,” and eventually into “complete.”
I also like that the board can change as the project develops. Research might lead me in a new direction or reveal another task I had not originally considered.
The white paper is still a big assignment, but Trello turns it into a series of smaller, visible steps. Instead of constantly thinking about ten pages, I can focus on completing one card at a time.
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