Let’s be real. Finding a new tool for your project? It’s pure excitement. But that quick high of “OMG, I found it!” can sometimes be followed by a familiar, sinking feeling—”Okay, now what? And where does all this stuff even go?”
Suddenly, you ditch the tool because it’s not “working”. You’re back to a process that’s basically a messy desk full of scribbled notes of half-remembered conversations. Not to mention, the feeling of dread that you’re missing something crucial.
Sound familiar? Been there, designed for that.
That’s precisely why I built The Sane Designer Dashboard, and why I’m writing this tutorial.
The dashboard is more than a pretty template. It’s a tried-and-tested, no-nonsense formula that helps you manage a project from day one without losing your mind—or your files. Think of it as your personal project management assistant. It never forgets a single detail and always by your side – day or night.
This tutorial? It’s your personal “sanity starter pack” designed to make sure that “OMG, I found it!” feeling lasts, and you never have to ditch your tool again. We will walk through the absolute first steps of setting up in The Sane Designer Dashboard. This way, you can kick off your next project with clarity, control, and zero drama.
Kicking Off:
The Welcome Section & Project Setup Guide
When you first open The Sane Designer Dashboard, you’ll quickly spot two very important tools that are your immediate best friends, along with a pre-built example project (the infamous KAUR project) designed to show you the ropes:
- The “Welcome to The Sane Designer’s Dashboard!” Toggle: This isn’t just a welcome speech, it’s your quick orientation. It includes a brief philosophy lesson on keeping your sanity. You will also get a sneak peek at the power you’re about to unlock.
- The “Project Setup Guide: Start Your Project Right!” Checklist: This is your actual roadmap. It’s a clear, step-by-step list that’s designed to make sure you capture all the foundational details for your project. From the first client chat to defining your scope.
Their primary purpose? They give you a clear, sure path forward that ensures you set up each new project consistently and correctly. It lays a strong foundation for everything that follows, keeping you from feeling overwhelmed. The included KAUR example showcases the dashboard’s potential right from the start. There are no more missed steps, scattered notes, or giving up. Just a pure, uninterrupted workflow.
How to Access Your Newfound Clarity
(And Not Get Lost)
Don’t worry, finding all dashboard tools is easier than picking out the perfect shade of white. This tutorial ensures you know exactly where to go. I don’t want you to feel lost and abandon your new bestie!
1. Duplicate the Master Dashboard (Including the KAUR Project Example)
You need your own editable copy. Do this before you do anything else. Head over to the master “The Sane Designer Dashboard” template link (the one you get when you sign up). You’ll notice it already has an example project—the KAUR Project—complete with dummy documents, tasks, a sample budget, and more.
This is by design! It’s meant to show you the dashboard’s full potential right away. Look for the ••• icon in the top-right corner. Click it, then select “Duplicate.” This creates your working version, including all the KAUR examples, leaving the master template untouched for future projects.
Quick Tip: Duplicate your own dashboard before each project. This ensures a fresh copy every time.
2. Rename Your Dashboard
Your new dashboard will have the title “Copy of Kanban Agile Unreal Restaurant (KAUR) – Dashboard.” The name isn’t very inspiring, is it? Click directly on that title at the top of the page and rename it to your specific project (e.g., “Fawzy Living Room Redesign“). This keeps everything laser-focused and ensures you always know which project you’re working on. Don’t worry about the KAUR project data inside just yet—we’ll get to that.
3. Open the Welcome Toggle
On your newly renamed dashboard, scroll to the very top. You’ll see a toggle that says, “How to use this dashboard?” Give that little triangle a click to expand it. Take a moment to read through the introduction. It’s quick, I promise, and sets the tone for your sane journey.
4. Locate the “Project Setup Guide”
Right next to that welcome toggle, you can’t miss it. It’s titled “Project Setup Guide.” This is where the real action begins. It gives you the clear steps you need to avoid that “now what?” feeling.
Step-by-Step Usage Guide:
Building Your Project Foundation
Now that you’ve got your own copy and know where to look, let’s actually use this thing. The Project Setup Guide is your initial project plan, your low-stress guide to project management principles, minus the PMP. It ensures you don’t get stuck staring at a blank page and throw your hands up in frustration.
1. Follow the Checklist Step-by-Step
Each item in the guide directs you to the right place within the dashboard. This helps you capture important project information. Think of it as your intuitive Project Initiation phase. It’s a painless way to start building a framework that keeps you on track.
2. Utilize Meeting Templates
The checklist will prompt you to log a meeting (like your ‘Initial Consultation’ or ‘Kickoff Meeting’). Here’s the magic: Navigate to the “Meeting Notes & Decisions” database. Click the [New|v] button. You’ll see pre-built meeting templates within the page (e.g., “Initial Consultation,” “Kickoff Meeting“). Select the relevant one. This isn’t just typical notetaking. It lays the foundation for your project communication plan with prompts and templates. This way you can be assured nothing falls through the cracks. Bonus: You won’t have to scramble to your find notes later.
3. Populate Initial Databases
As you follow the ‘Setup Guide‘, you’ll be prompted to enter high-level information. You will enter this information into core databases like “Project Scope & Deliverables,” “Stakeholders,” and “Files & Revisions.” For example, “this is where you’d upload that signed proposal” or “type initial client expectations“. By doing this early, you craft your Project Charter effortlessly. You’re also creating the preliminary Scope Statement without any effort. I designed this setup with your success in mind.
Real-World Scenario:
KAUR Project – Your First Sane Steps
Let’s see this Notion dashboard in action. Meet Angie (that’s me). She just landed the fantastic “Kanban Agile Unreal Restaurant” (KAUR) project (real project btw, made-up names).
And guess what?
That’s the same KAUR project example that came pre-loaded in your dashboard!
Here’s how her sane setup goes, avoiding that early “lost in the abyss” feeling.
The First Meeting:
- First, she duplicates The Sane Designer Dashboard template and renames her new copy “KAUR Project Dashboard.”
So far, so simple. - She then opens the Welcome toggle and gives it a quick read, a little mental reset before diving in.
This ensures she’s oriented and ready to make the tool work for her. - Next, she heads straight to the “Project Setup Guide.” The first item? “Log Your Initial Consultation.“
- Angie clicks into her “Meeting Notes & Decisions” database, hits
[, and selects the “Initial Consultation” template.New|v]
She diligently logs all the details from her first meeting. The vision for the restaurant, the initial budget discussion, and the must-haves. She also notes the “Not must-haves”.
She uses the built-in “Action Items” property to assign “Prepare KAUR Proposal” to her Project To-Do List. Boom. Initial client meeting documented.
The Project First Steps:
- The second checklist item: “Define High-Level Scope…” Angie navigates to the “Project Scope & Deliverables” page.
She fills in the “Project Summary“, clearly outlines what’s “In-Scope” (e.g., full interior design for dining area, bar, restrooms) and “Out-of-Scope” (e.g., kitchen design, structural changes). - She even notes the agreed-upon “Change Control Plan“. We all know scope creep is a monster, The Sane Designer Dashboard helps you tame it early in the project. It prevents those messy, battery-draining discussions down the line.
Angie continues, item by item, seamlessly populating her dashboard and establishing a solid project foundation without ever feeling overwhelmed. For now, the chaos is firmly under control. She has a clear path forward—courtesy of the dashboard and this guide.
Key Benefits Recap:
Why This Matters (Beyond Just Being Organized)
The initial setup tools in The Sane Designer Dashboard are more than check boxes. They fundamentally change how you approach new projects. It’s about ensuring you actually use this tool to its full potential — rather than giving up on it.
- Reduces Overwhelm: You get a crystal-clear, step-by-step starting point instead of a blank page of dread. The pre-built KAUR example immediately shows you what’s possible, so you’re not starting from scratch.
- Ensures Consistency: Every project gets the same rock-solid foundational setup. No more missed steps or forgotten details that lead to unnecessary drama.
- Builds Confidence: You feel in control from minute one. You know you’ve got a system supporting you. No more feeling lost or frustrated.
- Saves Time: Stop reinventing the wheel with every new project setup. It’s all about ready templates, freeing you up for actual design work.
- Sets the Stage for Organization: You immediately train yourself to use the core databases. You understand how they work together. This prevents future data silos and keeps you firmly on track.
Tips & Best Practices
for Your Sane Start
Want to be a power user from day one and ensure you never “give up” on this tool?
Always Duplicate First
I’ll say it again because it’s that important—never work directly on your master template. Always duplicate it for each new project. Your future self will thank you for keeping things clean and organized.
Handle the Pre-built KAUR Project Data
When you duplicate the dashboard, the KAUR Project example will be there. It is filled with dummy data. Don’t panic! This is simply there to show you the dashboard’s capabilities.
You have two easy options:
- Clear it out: Go into the main KAUR project page within your duplicated dashboard. Simply delete the example tasks, documents, and budget entries. It’s a few clicks, and then you have a clean slate. You can also email me for a blank template.
- Edit it: If you want to use the KAUR project as a real project, you can. Simply adjust the existing entries. Make sure they fit your actual client and project details. Easy peasy.
Follow the Setup Guide in Order (Initially)
For your first few projects, follow the sequence of the “Project Setup Guide.” This approach helps build good habits and familiarity with the dashboard’s flow. It’s designed to ensure you don’t miss crucial steps or get confused. Once you’re comfortable, you can just delete that or create your own to-do list.
Don’t Aim for Perfection Immediately
The initial setup is about getting the main framework in place. If you don’t have every single detail for a field, that’s fine. Notion is flexible; you can always come back and add more details later. The goal is to create a structure. Don’t worry about having all the answers right now. This way, you don’t get weighed down and give up.
Customize Later (When You’re Ready)
This dashboard is powerful as-is. Once you’re comfortable using it for a few projects, start exploring customized views. Add properties or tweak templates to perfectly match your unique workflow. But start with the sane structure provided; it’s the fastest way to get started and see the results.
Troubleshooting a Sane Start
(Because We All Get Stuck Sometimes)
Even the sanest of us can hit a tiny snag. Here are a couple of common initial questions, and how to conquer them so you don’t feel overwhelmed and give up on your new system:
- “What if I don’t have all the information for a setup step yet?”
- The Sane Answer: Don’t sweat it. Fill in what you know. Notion is flexible. You can always come back and add more details later. The goal is to create the structure, not to have every single detail finalized on day one. Just keep moving forward with the guide.
- “I duplicated the page, but I can’t find the meeting templates everyone keeps talking about!”
- The Sane Answer: Those brilliant pre-built meeting templates live inside the “Meeting Notes & Decisions” database. When you click the
[New|v]
- The Sane Answer: Those brilliant pre-built meeting templates live inside the “Meeting Notes & Decisions” database. When you click the
- “I have more questions!” Or “I have other questions!”
- You can use the [🎧 I Need Help] button at the top of the dashboard. This will allow you to email me your problem or questions (include a screenshot if possible). I’ll get back to you ASAP.
Ready to Ditch
Project Drama?
You’ve got the roadmap. You’ve seen how easy it is to start. This tutorial has shown you the exact steps to get started. It ensures you never feel lost, and you won’t abandon your new project management lifeline. The Sane Designer Dashboard is designed to change your project management. It will transform it from a chaotic mess into a clear, structured process executed with confidence.
Ready to start your next project the sane way? No more giving up on tools that promise much but deliver confusion.
[CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR SANE DESIGNER DASHBOARD NOW!]
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