How to Use ClickUp as a Storyboarding Tool

ClickUp can be used as a powerful storyboarding tool to plan, visualize, and manage creative projects, from videos and films to marketing campaigns and product explainers.

This how-to guide walks you step-by-step through setting up a storyboard workspace, organizing scenes, collaborating with teams, and using AI features to speed up your workflow.

Why Use ClickUp for Storyboarding

Storyboarding is more than drawing frames. You need a place to connect ideas, deadlines, feedback, and production tasks. The platform makes this easier by combining project management with creative workflows.

• Centralize scripts, frames, references, and feedback in one place.
• Track every scene from idea to final approval.
• Collaborate in real time with writers, designers, and stakeholders.
• Automate repetitive steps so you can focus on creativity.

The features described here are based on the storyboarding workflow shown on the official product page: storyboarding tool overview.

Set Up Your ClickUp Space for Storyboarding

Begin by creating a dedicated Space to keep your storyboarding projects organized and separate from other work.

Create a Storyboarding Space in ClickUp

1. Create a new Space and name it something like “Storyboarding” or “Production”.
2. Add a storyboard icon or color so the Space is easy to spot in your sidebar.
3. Enable features you need: tasks, docs, custom fields, and automations.
4. Set permissions so your creative team and stakeholders can access the Space.

This Space will hold all Lists and tasks for your storyboards, scripts, and production assets.

Build a Storyboard List

Inside the Space, create a List to act as the main storyboard hub.

1. Name the List after your project, such as “Brand Video Storyboard” or “Season 1 Episode 1”.
2. Add a description outlining the goal, target audience, and timeline for the storyboard.
3. Use a custom color or icon so you can distinguish it from other Lists.

Each task in this List will represent a scene, sequence, or shot in your storyboard.

Design Tasks for Scenes and Shots in ClickUp

Tasks are at the core of the storyboarding workflow. Each task can store visual references, notes, and production details for a specific scene.

Structure Scene Tasks in ClickUp

1. Create a task for each scene or shot.
2. Use the task title to identify the scene, for example: “Scene 1 – Opening Wide Shot”.
3. Add a detailed description including location, time of day, and main action.
4. Attach images, mood boards, or sketches as references.
5. Mention collaborators so they are notified and can start contributing.

To keep tasks consistent, create a task template with standard sections for action, dialogue, framing notes, and production requirements.

Add Custom Fields for Storyboarding

Custom fields help you track production-related data across all scenes.

• Scene Number – Order scenes easily.
• Location – Studio, interior, exterior, or specific place.
• Shot Type – Close-up, medium, wide, overhead, etc.
• Status – Draft, In Review, Approved, In Production, Completed.
• Priority – Focus on key or complex scenes first.

With these fields, you can create filtered views, such as only approved scenes or only exterior shots.

Create Visual Storyboard Views in ClickUp

Different views help you switch between creative planning and production tracking within the same storyboard.

Use Board View for a Kanban Storyboard

Board view is ideal for dragging scenes through different stages of completion.

1. Switch the List to Board view.
2. Group tasks by Status so each column represents a storyboard stage: Idea, Draft, Review, Approved, Final.
3. Drag and drop scene cards between columns as they progress.
4. Show key custom fields like Scene Number and Shot Type on the card front.

This gives you a high-level overview of how close you are to finishing the storyboard.

Use List and Table Views for Production in ClickUp

When you need a more operational perspective, switch to List or Table view.

• Sort scenes by Scene Number to confirm narrative order.
• Filter by Status to see only scenes that still need review.
• Group by Location to plan shoot days efficiently.

These views make it easier to coordinate schedules, budgets, and resource allocation.

Use Calendar and Timeline Views

To connect your storyboard with deadlines and milestones:

• Assign due dates to each scene or phase.
• Open Calendar view to visualize when work happens.
• Use Timeline or Gantt-style views to map dependencies, such as completing concept art before animatics.

This ensures the storyboard process aligns with launch dates and production windows.

Collaborate on Storyboards with ClickUp

Creative work is collaborative. The platform gives teams a single source of truth for decisions, feedback, and approvals.

Use Comments and Assignments

1. Use task comments to capture notes, feedback, and questions about each scene.
2. Mention teammates using @mentions to request revisions or approvals.
3. Assign comments so owners clearly know what they must resolve.
4. Attach updated frames or animatics directly in the comment thread.

This approach keeps all context with the scene instead of scattering it across email or chat tools.

Centralize Scripts and Briefs in Docs

Use Docs to hold scripts, creative briefs, and shot lists linked to your storyboard List.

• Create a Doc for the full script.
• Break sections into headings per scene or sequence.
• Link directly from the script sections to the corresponding scene tasks.
• Add comments inside the Doc for script revisions and approvals.

Connecting Docs with tasks helps both writers and storyboard artists stay synchronized.

Automate and Scale Storyboarding in ClickUp

As projects grow, automation and AI can save hours and reduce manual work.

Set Up Automations in ClickUp

Automations can update fields, move tasks, and notify people automatically.

• Move a task to “In Review” when a custom field like Draft Complete is set to Yes.
• Set Status to Approved when a reviewer checks an approval checkbox.
• Notify producers when a high-priority scene changes to In Production.
• Auto-assign tasks when they enter certain stages, like sending Approved scenes to the animation team.

These automations keep your storyboard pipeline moving without constant manual updates.

Use AI Features for Faster Storyboarding

The toolset can support faster idea generation and organization.

• Summarize long script passages into short scene descriptions.
• Generate alternate scene options or variations on a concept.
• Draft shot descriptions based on script text.
• Create quick checklists for each scene, such as props, characters, and effects needed.

For strategy around implementing AI and workflow optimization in creative teams, you can also review resources from agencies such as Consultevo, which focus on systems and productivity.

Track Progress and Deliver Storyboards in ClickUp

Once your storyboard is fully set up, use reporting and dashboards to keep stakeholders aligned.

Build Dashboards for Storyboard Status

• Add widgets that show scenes by Status.
• Track how many scenes are Approved vs. in Draft.
• Monitor workloads by assignee to avoid bottlenecks.
• Highlight upcoming milestones, such as script lock or animatic delivery.

Dashboards make it simple to present progress to clients, executives, or producers without exporting spreadsheets.

Share Storyboards with Stakeholders

To share your storyboard with reviewers and clients:

1. Provide view-only access to the relevant List or dashboard.
2. Use public sharing links when external partners do not have accounts.
3. Lock critical fields so reviewers cannot accidentally change data.
4. Capture final approvals directly on tasks using checklists or custom fields.

This keeps the approval trail in one place and reduces confusion about which version is final.

Next Steps

By structuring Spaces, Lists, tasks, and views carefully, you can transform the platform into a scalable storyboarding system that supports both creativity and production control. Use the setup described above as a starting blueprint, then adapt custom fields, views, and automations to fit your specific film, animation, marketing, or product storytelling workflows.

}

Need Help With ClickUp?

If you want expert help building, automating, or scaling your ClickUp workspace, work with ConsultEvo — trusted ClickUp Solution Partners.

Get Help

“`