Best Practices for Using Team Chat in EDONext Designer

Team Chat works best when it supports your workflow, not distracts from it. A few simple habits can make communication clearer, faster, and more productive for your entire yearbook team.

Below are practical guidelines you can share with students and staff.

For directions on how to use and set-up Team Chat, click here

1. Always Reference the Page or Spread Number

When discussing changes, questions, or feedback, include the page or spread number in your message.

Instead of:

“Can someone fix the headline?”

Say:

“Page 24–25: Can we adjust the headline size to match the theme font?”

This prevents confusion and eliminates the need for follow-up clarification.

Tip: Make it a team rule that every design-related message starts with the page number.

2. Be Specific About the Element

Pages often contain multiple photos, text boxes, and graphics. Identify exactly what you’re referring to.

Instead of:

“The photo looks off.”

Say:

“Page 42: The top right basketball photo needs cropping so the player’s face is centered.”

Specific messages reduce back-and-forth and speed up edits.

3. Confirm When Changes Are Complete

Close the loop on tasks.

After finishing an edit, reply:

“Page 30 updated. Caption spacing fixed.”

This lets advisors and teammates know the task is complete and avoids duplicate work.

4. Use Chat for Decisions, Not Just Questions

Team Chat is great for quick approvals.

Example:

“Page 18: Should we use the blue background or keep it white?”

Once decided:

“Page 18 confirmed: using blue background.”

Documenting decisions in chat creates a visible record the team can reference later.

5. Keep Messages Clear and Concise

Team Chat works best with short, direct communication.

Good:

“Page 12: Headline font should match theme style.”

Less effective:

“I was thinking maybe we could potentially adjust the font if everyone agrees.”

Clarity saves time, especially during busy deadlines.

6. Avoid Overloading the Chat

If a topic requires long discussion, consider:

• Talking briefly in person
• Reviewing together during class
• Breaking the conversation into clear action items

Team Chat is most effective for focused communication, not long debates.

7. Establish Response Expectations

Set clear expectations with your team:

• During class: check chat regularly
• After school hours: responses may wait until the next work session

This prevents frustration and keeps communication professional.

8. Use Chat to Prevent Duplicate Work

Before redesigning or adjusting a page, quickly check:

Has someone already mentioned editing it?

Has a change already been approved?

A quick message like:

“Page 56: Is anyone currently working on this spread?”

can prevent overlap.

9. Keep Communication Professional

Remember that Team Chat is part of your official workflow. Encourage students to:

Stay respectful

Avoid slang or off-topic conversation

Use complete, clear messages

Professional communication helps maintain accountability and focus.

10. Create a Simple Team Standard

Many successful yearbook teams use a consistent format like:

Page # — Action — Status

Example:

“Page 34 — Replace group photo — In progress”

Consistency makes it easier to scan conversations and track progress.

Final Thought

Team Chat is most effective when it supports organization and clarity. When your team consistently references page numbers, clearly states actions, and confirms completion, communication becomes streamlined and your yearbook production runs more smoothly.