Michael Reynolds, Head of Film Production
Shotdeck
"Shotdeck has a huge library of searchable film stills which come in really useful when I'm researching for an upcoming project. You can find still images from almost any film or tv show by searching its name, genre, cinematographer, camera used etc. From this, you can easily create 'decks' for every stage of a project whether its pitch, prep, or production. These can then be easily shared with other members of the team. Again it's really useful for getting inspired or trying to figure out more about a favourite shot from a recent film or TV show to possibly recreate it or put your own spin on it. It even provides links for where to watch the films on streaming services if I need to see the shot in action to really get a feel for it. I would recommend giving the 2 week trial a go and if it works for you then you can subscribe afterwards."
Kathryn Case, Project Manager
Monday.com
"Monday.com is a lifesaver for me. It's an online project management tool that the client services team uses in the studio to keep on top of everything. It has a lot of different functions which are really useful as it helps me structure my workflow, prioritise my tasks for each day, and provides a great overview of all my projects. I use monday.com as a failsafe to keep track of every job that comes into the studio, and it helps me to keep on track of deadlines, and reminds me to follow-up with clients."
Laura Smyth, Company Director
LimeOne
"For me, my tool of 2024 has been LimeOne, which I adopted in October. LimeOne is adjacent to a CRM management tool, where you can input all your LinkedIn connections and set follow up reminders for the people you have already connected with, moving in the direction of a work partnership. The tool is simple to use and a solution for categorising LinkedIn contacts into segments for easy filtering by industry, job role or any other tags I want to apply. The software keeps up to date with how your relationship is progressing, flags opportunities to interact with that person on their recent posts or LinkedIn activity and even gives you a “clean” linked In feed free of ads. Game changer!"
Natasha Rooney, Senior Animation Artist
Overlord
"I have recently been introduced to the wonders of Overlord. This plugin allows you to bring your designs from Illustrator straight into After Effects with the simple click of a button (and vice versa). This has honestly been such a timesaver and a smoother way of working for me, as a lot of the time I would be jumping between Illustrator and After Effects. I would definitely recommend it to any Motion Designers out there!
Mark Case, Company Director
AI Integration in Adobe Photoshop
"I appreciate that this may be seen as an old-school or obvious answer, but I nominate Adobe’s integration of AI into Photoshop. This is a massive timesaver on a daily basis for me. From basic scene, background extension to healing, cloning and fixing flaws in supplied photos, it can do in 15 seconds what it would take me 15 minutes or more to achieve. When it really sank in for me was when my step-sister, Bake-Off contestant Karen Wright asked me to fix a photo, removing a woman sneezing. The AI added in windows and doors in the background without even being asked. Photoshop AI - my new servant!"
Will McIlroy, Brand Designer
Design Blogs and Websites - OMGLORD
"For me, these are an essential source of inspiration for many, and most seasoned designers will often have a few special websites saved or that one tab that hasn't been closed in months. These blogs serve as creative fuel, offering fresh ideas, trends, and insights that help keep their work innovative and sharp. Personally, one of my go-to sources is omglord.com, a blog by Gabby Lord. Which never fails to spark new ideas and provide new websites / tools or a new perspective on a project."
Clarke Duddy, Managing Director and
Adam Peters, Production Manager
Streamtime
"While it’s not perfect, it's better than all other platforms I’ve used (Workamajig, Synergist, Click up). It's a project management platform designed by a creative agency, for creative agencies. So, the UI and functionality is at the forefront of everything. It keeps everything simple with no jargon. It has recently implemented a huge reporting update which is fundamental to running a studio, providing us with accurate information on things like profitability and utilisation rates." - Clarke
"Coming from a previous company with no processes in place, no tracking ability of jobs, every job weighed heavily trying to track the process. In our world, it is so important to have visibility of jobs and availability of resources. I am excited to sink my teeth into Streamtime, having only touched the surface of its functionality/capabilities, having only been using it for the past two weeks." - Adam
Adam Smyth, Company Director
Grammarly
"A simple tool that works across your web browser, email and writing software. Like spell check on steroids, not only does it check your spelling and grammar it can also make suggestions on what words and phrasing to use based on the tone of voice you are trying to achieve. For someone who struggles with writing, it’s a game changer!"
Ciaran Mclaughlin, Senior Digital Artist
Procreate
"Personally, my top tool would be Procreate for iPad. In terms of sketching rough ideas, illustrations and in some cases planning motion sequences, it has made a big impact on my workflow. And for a one off payment of £12.99 it’s a bargain for the level of functionality. Having grown up drawing on paper I’ve found nothing that competes with the feel and intuitiveness of Procreate."
Kat Robinson, Head of Client Services
'Back to Basics'
"I love using digital products for project planning (honourable shoutout to Monday.com!), but when it comes to strategic planning, I tend to be a lot more analog; I arm myself with a few blank sheets of A3 and map out my thoughts, ideas and any other considerations until I start to see common themes developing. I'm a big fan of a GAP analysis and the good old fashioned SWOT analysis, particularly with new clients, to help identify where you can jump in with immediate impact!"