System Design:
Production Pipeline The "Trunk"
Architecting Efficiency, Clarity, and Scalability for Remote Teams & AI Workflows
Above: Trunk Breakdown *Sound on*
Project Overview & Goal:
In today's fast-paced creative industries, especially with the rise of remote collaboration and the integration of diverse digital tools (including AI), a traditional, siloed approach to project management is no longer sufficient. The goal in designing "The Trunk" was to architect and prototype a centralized, scalable, and principles-based production pipeline that serves as a Single Source of Truth (SSoT) for all project information, from initial idea to final delivery.
The Challenge: Managing Complexity in Modern Creative Production
Modern animation and game development, especially with remote teams and the integration of diverse tools like AI, face significant operational challenges: scattered information, unclear workflows, lack of visibility into project status, and difficulty onboarding new talent efficiently. A robust, centralized system is needed to act as the Single Source of Truth (SSoT).
My Solution: Architecting "The Trunk" Ecosystem
I designed and prototyped "The Trunk," a principles-based production pipeline and SSoT. This system is architected to be adaptable and is currently implemented leveraging the strengths of:
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Infinity Project Management (LTD): The core "Action Hub" for dynamic workflow and metadata tracking. Custom boards manage stages from Story Seeds through Concepts, Scripts, Art Direction, Asset Library, Shot Production (with detailed Kanban flows), and Delivery. Crucially, item "References" create an interconnected project lineage.
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Google Workspace (Integrated Repository & Knowledge Base):
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Google Drive ("The Vault"): Securely stores all detailed documents (GDDs, scripts) and large project files (art assets, renders), linked directly from Infinity items.
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Google Sites Wiki ("The Chief of Staff"): Serves as the central Knowledge Base for all pipeline documentation, tool guides, style guides, and acts as the primary "Daily Dashboard" with links to live project data​
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AI-Ready Design: The "Trunk" structure inherently supports AI integration by providing clear stages to input AI-generated assets (scripts, images, videos) and attributes to track their source and usage.
Impact &
Strategic Value:
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Establishes a Single Source of Truth: Consolidates all project information, drastically reducing confusion and wasted search time.
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Enhances Remote Collaboration & Visibility: Provides a clear, shared understanding of project status, tasks, and dependencies for distributed teams.
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Streamlines Workflows & Increases Efficiency: Standardizes core processes and handoffs, leading to smoother production.
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Provides a Scalable Foundation: The modular design allows for easier onboarding and consistent management of multiple, increasingly complex projects.
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Demonstrates Resourceful System Building: Proves the ability to design and implement a comprehensive pipeline effectively, even when optimizing for available resources (like an Infinity LTD). The underlying principles are tool-agnostic and transferable.
"The Trunk" is more than just project management; it's a foundational operating system designed to empower creative teams by bringing order, clarity, and efficiency to the art of making.