The perfect layout for the perfect Asana project

In Asana, a project can be seen 4 different ways: as a list, as a board, as a timeline or as a calendar. There is a default view for a project but it is still the same project. There is no such thing as a “calendar project” or a “board project”. Anyone can choose the view they like the most. However, each project is usually built for a specific layout, or one layout makes more sense than the others.

For example a simple list of tasks without any due date is better seen as a list. If the tasks are organized by sections and each section is the step of a pipeline, people usually prefer the board view. For tasks with due date, but without dependencies, the calendar is perfect. And finally, the timeline is the way to go for tasks with due date, dependency and duration.

At the moment, you can’t save the layout just for yourself, so you need to leave the choice to the project owner. The same goes for the sort and filter options! Don’t hesitate however to change the layout during the life cycle of the project. You can start with default list layout during the initial phase, move into a calendar for initial scheduling and finish with a timeline for execution.

Please note that the recent addition of the timeline and the display of lists and boards next to each other has pushed other options in a menu hidden at the end of the tabs. Conversations still exist on project, they are just available in the menu!

Manager: As a manager, make sure to choose the appropriate layout for each project. Explain to your teammates that the saved layout is for everyone, not only them, and they should check with you before doing such a change.

Bonus: Each view has a key feature. the board layout is the only one able to show attachment preview. The timeline is the only one to easily show dependencies. The calendar is the closest to what people are used to with their own calendar. And the list is the one showing the most fields like tags, custom fields, date, assigned… If in doubt, use List View as your default since it’s the most comprehensive of the views and thus perhaps the best place to start if you’re not sure.

Discover the other 4 free chapters from my ebook “Secrets of Successful teams in Asana”:
— Architectural Balance in Asana
— Keep it clean and organized in Asana
— How many Asana teams?
— Working with guests and clients in Asana

or order the entire ebook, bundled with “Become an Asana superhero”.