A workshop at the University of Cambridge for researchers intending to create a digital output from their research, either as a product of their research findings, or for public engagement. The workshop explored the ways in which managing such a project differs from producing a traditional print output and raised the issues and decisions which will need to be considered.

1. Managing a Digital
Project
Digital Humanities Network
CRASSH

2. Facilitators
• Helen Webster, Digital Transferable Skills
project
• Chris Martin, CARET
• Jen Pollard, Computer Officer, English
• (with input from Anna Collins,
DSpace@Cambridge)

3. Aims
• to highlight the differences between project
managing traditional print-based outputs
and digital artefacts.
• to raise the questions and issues that arise
at each stage

4. What kind of Digital Project are you
interested in creating?
Timeline: stick a post-it with
• Your name
•Type of project
•Title of your project
to indicate where on the timeline you feel you currently
are:

5. Taxonomy
Types of digital project:
Primary (original sources)
• online databases
• digitised materials
• digital editions
Secondary (academic output)

6. Designing
Why Digital?
If you’re applying for funding to create a digital
artefact, you will need to make a solid case
justifying why it needs to be digital.
Thinking about your proposed project, how would
you answer the questions on the handout in a
proposal?

7. Designing
Who is your user?
• Swap project descriptions (page one of
handout).
• Read the new project description and
analyse who the user might be.
• Return the project to its owner and discuss
their own intended audience for it.

8. Finishing
When is a digital project
‘finished’?
On a Post-it:
your definition of the point at which a
digital project is ‘finished’

9. Finishing
Future-proofing
• sustainability
• stability
• marketing
• evaluation
• lifespan

10. Making
Job Spec
• What skills, knowledge and experience are
needed to complete your project?
• Which of these do you have?
• Which could you acquire?
• Which might you outsource to
collaborators?

11. Making
Collaborators
• At what points do you need to bring
collaborators in, and to do what?
• Who might your collaborators be?
• What information and motivation will they
need to work with you?

12. You
Digital Humanities and
your Career
• What skills will you gain from working on this
project?
• How limited or transferable are they? Will they
date? How will you continue to develop them?
• Where might you seek work, with this skill set?
What might that career progression look like?

13. Further links
• Digital Humanities Network, Cambridge
• CARET
• DSpace@Cambridge
• Faculty Computer Officer
• #Alt-Ac