Best Project Management Tools for Design Teams in 2026

Running a design team without proper project management is like designing without a grid. Deadlines slip, feedback gets lost, and revision cycles spiral out of control. The right project management tool keeps your creative workflow organized without killing your team's creativity.

We tested the 6 best project management tools for design teams and creative agencies. Here is how they compare and which one fits your workflow.

1. ClickUp — Best All-in-One for Design Teams

ClickUp is the most feature-rich project management platform available. It combines tasks, docs, whiteboards, time tracking, and goals into a single workspace, reducing the need for multiple tools.

Key features:

• Multiple views: List, Board, Gantt, Calendar, Timeline
• Built-in Whiteboards for brainstorming and wireframing
• Custom fields for design-specific workflows (revision count, asset type)
• Time tracking and workload management
• Docs with rich text, embeds, and collaboration

Pricing: Free plan available. Unlimited plan at $7/user/month.

Best for: Design agencies managing multiple client projects with complex workflows. Works well alongside brand strategy frameworks.

2. Notion — Best for Creative Documentation

Notion has become the second brain for design teams. Its flexible database system lets you build custom project trackers, brand guidelines wikis, and client portals all in one workspace.

Key features:

• Flexible databases for project tracking, client management, and asset libraries
• Wiki-style documentation for brand guidelines
• Template gallery with design-specific templates
• AI-powered writing and summarization
• Team spaces with granular permissions

Pricing: Free plan. Plus plan at $10/user/month.

Best for: Design teams that value documentation and knowledge management. Perfect for housing brand strategy templates and client wikis.

3. Monday.com — Best for Visual Project Tracking

Monday.com offers the most visually intuitive project management experience. Its color-coded boards and drag-and-drop interface feel natural for visual thinkers, making it a favorite among creative teams.

Key features:

• Highly visual boards with color-coded statuses
• Creative workflow templates (design review, campaign management)
• File proofing and approval workflows
• Dashboards for client reporting
• Automations for repetitive tasks

Pricing: Free plan (up to 2 seats). Basic plan at $9/seat/month.

Best for: Design teams that need beautiful, shareable project views for client presentations and consultancy work.

4. Airtable — Best for Asset and Content Management

Airtable is a spreadsheet-database hybrid that excels at managing creative assets, content calendars, and project pipelines. Its gallery view is especially useful for visual teams.

Key features:

• Gallery view for visual asset management
• Linked records for connecting projects to clients and assets
• Forms for client intake and feedback collection
• Automations for workflow triggers
• App marketplace for extensions

Pricing: Free plan. Team plan at $20/seat/month.

Best for: Design teams managing large volumes of assets, content calendars, and AI-assisted branding workflows.

5. Miro — Best for Creative Collaboration

Miro is the infinite whiteboard platform that has become essential for remote and hybrid design teams. It is where brainstorming, workshops, and visual strategy sessions happen.

Key features:

• Infinite canvas for brainstorming and mind mapping
• Workshop facilitation tools with voting and timers
• Wireframing and user journey mapping
• Integration with Figma, Slack, and project management tools
• AI-powered ideation and clustering

Pricing: Free plan (3 boards). Starter at $8/user/month.

Best for: Design teams running brand strategy workshops, user research sessions, and creative brainstorms. Excellent for AI-powered brand strategy sessions.

6. Asana — Best for Structured Design Workflows

Asana provides the most structured approach to project management, with clear task hierarchies, dependencies, and milestone tracking. It is ideal for teams that need predictable delivery timelines.

Key features:

• Portfolio view for tracking all client projects at once
• Task dependencies and milestones
• Creative review and approval workflows
• Workload management to prevent burnout
• Goals and OKR tracking

Pricing: Free plan (up to 10 users). Starter at $10.99/user/month.

Best for: Design agencies with structured processes who need clear accountability and timelines across logo redesign and branding projects.

How to Choose Your PM Tool

• Need everything in one place? ClickUp covers tasks, docs, whiteboards, and time tracking
• Documentation-heavy team? Notion for wikis and databases
• Visual thinkers? Monday.com for beautiful project boards
• Managing lots of assets? Airtable with gallery views
• Remote collaboration? Miro for workshops and brainstorming
• Structured workflows? Asana for dependencies and milestones

Final Thoughts

The best project management tool is the one your entire team will actually use. Start with a free plan, test it with a real project, and evaluate before committing. The goal is to spend less time managing projects and more time doing great creative work.

Before organizing your design projects, make sure you have a solid brand strategy framework in place. Strategy drives execution, and good project management starts with clear strategic direction.