Basecamp
Finally, after a few weeks of debating if it was worth it, I pulled the trigger and signed up with Basecamp. For now, just the personal version which provides 1gig of storage and the ability to manage 3 projects. I have to say, after just a few days of usage, I’m really impressed. For me, as a self employed graphic designer, I work from home. Being able to utilize centralized to-do-lists, deadlines, and file uploads with clients will prove to be worth it’s weight in gold.
The Better Way To Get Projects Done. Trusted by millions, Basecamp is the leading web-based project collaboration tool. Share files, meet deadlines, assign tasks, centralize feedback, make clients smile.
basecamphq.com
This post is intended to be sort of an introduction to the fact that I use Basecamp and to gather thoughts from other designers on how they use Basecamp. Do you have any tips or tricks that a new user would need to know?
What I intend to do is write a very thorough review after about a month of usage. So, if you haven’t yet, subscribe to our feed and get connected with Blueprint for Design.
In addition to reviewing Basecamp, I plan on reviewing Outpost, an iPhone App for managing your account and projects. After scouring the internet, this seems to be the highest rated App. If you have any suggestions on a better route to take, I’d love to hear them? (I haven’t purchased it quite yet.)
Below is a screenshot of the Basecamp dashboard lifted from their website.
Leave a comment
I use the iPhone app Insight (http://www.encampapp.com), it’s the only one I’ve used that actually works well and doesn’t freeze every time I use it.
Regarding Basecamp… I’ve been using it for ~3 years and never looked back; best project management system available at that price-point.
Derek Davis
February 19, 2010
Derek, thanks I ended up getting Insight. Besides it’s favorable reviews, it was the only one that actually let me view files. That was the selling point.
David Pohlmeier
February 22, 2010
Insight is great, but I use Groundwork regularly. Outpost does have a nice UI, but has been riddled with issues and takes for every to sync. It is just overhyped in my opinion.
Ian
March 8, 2010
Ian, I ended up getting both Groundwork and Insight. I actually prefer Insight. You have the ability to view files and I prefer the user interface design a little more. I’m glad I avoided Outpost.
David Pohlmeier
March 9, 2010
A new one was recently released called Headquarters. I downloaded the free version, and it is very, very nice. So far it looks better than all the other iPhone Basecamp apps I’ve used.
Here is a short review on the 37signals blog: http://productblog.37signals.com/products/2010/03/headquarters-a-basecamp-iphone-app-for-people-who-get-things-done.html
Ian Soper
March 10, 2010
Great article and we love Basecamp as well. Another secret to good project management is knowing your productivity. If you use http://www.bctoolkit.com which integrates with Basecamp you can get info like time spent vs time estimated on projects or time spent vs total time available in your studio. Cheers Jon
Jon Keefe
March 23, 2010
Interesting article. Stumbled upon it while researching Basecamp. About to start a project with the client in New Zealand, me in Australia and the developer in Argentina, so a centralised place we can all leave messages seems ideal.
Thanks for the input.
Aengus
July 16, 2011