Plan projects in Freehand with the Asana integration
  • 09 Aug 2023
  • 3 Minutes to read
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Plan projects in Freehand with the Asana integration

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Article Summary

Projects are complex, cross-functional efforts. Product managers need to keep everyone aligned, get the best information, and make the best decisions. Freehand brings together all the information and context teams need in one place.

The Asana integration for Freehand brings Asana's flexible project planning into Freehand's infinite canvas. Run more inclusive and collaborative planning sessions and manage projects across your brand, design, operations, events, and marketing teams.

Set up the Asana integration

The first time you use the Asana integration, you have to connect it to your Asana account.

  1. Sign in to InVision and open your freehand.
  2. On the bottom toolbar, select Explore > Asana. The Asana modal appears.
  3. Select Authorize. A new window opens.
  4. Sign in to Asana.
  5. Select Allow.

Choose your Asana workspace and project. You can change these later.

  1. Select Workspace and choose your workspace. If your workspace has a lot of projects, the integration may load for several seconds before you can continue.
  2. Select Project and choose your project.
  3. Select Continue. All the tasks in your chosen project appear in the Asana modal.

Import Asana tasks and milestones into Freehand

Once you've set up Asana, you can import existing Asana tasks and milestones into your freehands.

  1. On the bottom toolbar, select Explore > Asana. The Asana modal appears.
  2. Search or scroll through the list and select the items you want to add.
  3. Select Import item from Asana. The Asana tasks or milestones appear as cards in the freehand.

To open the item in Asana, select the Asana logo in the bottom right of the card.

Create Asana tasks from Freehand

When sprint planning or handing off projects to another team, it's important to connect the work to your existing epics and track the project in Asana. With the Asana integration, create new issues from Freehand so everyone sees what they need, where they need to see it.

  1. In the toolbar, select Asana. The Asana integration opens.
  2. Select Create Asana task and complete the fields.

The new Asana task appears on the canvas. To open the task in Asana, select the Asana logo in the bottom right of the card. In Asana, the task includes a link to the freehand.

Convert sticky notes and cards to Asana tasks

After a brainstorming or feedback session, your freehand is probably full of sticky notes and cards. Get these items into Asana by converting them to tasks and milestones.

  1. Select a sticky note or a card in your freehand. A contextual menu opens above the item.
  2. Select Convert to Asana. The Asana modal opens.
  3. Review the selected workspace and project. If you wish to change either, do so now.
  4. Select Resource type and choose the desired type.
  5. Select Continue.
  6. Complete the remaining fields, if desired. The summary auto fills with the text from the card or sticky note.
  7. Select Create Work Item.

The sticky note or card is now an Asana card. Any changes you make to the task in Asana update in Freehand.

To open the task in Asana, select the Asana logo in the bottom right of the card.

Use Asana cards with other smart objects

Once you've added Asana cards to your freehand, you can use them with other smart objects to make the most of Freehand's intelligent canvas.

Drag people stickers onto Asana cards to assign them. The assignee value is synced back to Asana, so you can do all your planning right in your Freehand canvas.

Try smart objects yourself!
Use our interactive template to learn about smart objects for task management.

Try template!


Switch to a different workspace and project

Every time you open the Asana integration, it defaults to the workspace and project you last chose. You can switch the workspace and project at any time.

To switch to a different workspace and project:

  1. In the Asana integration, next to the current project name, select Change.
  2. Select a new workspace and project.
  3. Select Continue.

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