(pronounced GANT-chart)

Though not as sexy as a cabriole leg or a chevron pattern, this project management tool is vital to the design industry. This type of chart – that was named after Henry Gantt sometime around 1915 – can clearly outline a project’s activity schedule. Used to track critical and non-critical tasks in chronological order and against one another for everything from huge, long-term developments to small residential remodels, it helps all parties involved to understand who is in charge of what, when tasks need to be underway and completed, and how their performance (or lack thereof) affects the rest of the team. Google the term “Gantt Chart” and you’ll not only find a range of examples, but also project management software options that make creating these often complex charts quite elementary.