I think one of the hardest tasks when working on a project is being able to determine when the project has met its final stage and is done. Occasionally, this end stage is very clear and designers are satisfied with the final work; however, there is always a window for improvement. How do we determine when it is time to step out of the computer and close a project? For me, this was a hard process. I used to find myself overworking on a project many times. After a long process of learning and over doing, I found the following key points to be very useful.
Check Requirements: When working on a project it is very important to go back and check notes or the design brief to confirm that all the points and requirements that the client wants are taken into consideration, and the project meets all the expectations.
Second Opinion: I personally like to ask one or two people of different background what they think of a project when I consider it has met the requirements of the client. Usually, if it is a logo or a conceptual work, I ask them to tell me if they can identify the type of company the logo is going to be used for, to make sure the message is being communicated successfully. I find this very helpful because they can see the work with a different perspective and have an impartial opinion.
Step Away: Taking a break from a project can be very useful in order to see key points that you did not see before or in order to realize that the project is done and you are happy with the results.
Determine a Deadline: Having a deadline is very important because there is a limited amount of changes and that can be done within that time. For me personally, if I do not establish I deadline I can work on a project forever in order to make it “perfect”.
I also find this article on Avoiding Overworking and How to Complete a Project very helpful if you want to learn more tips on determining when a project is done.