How to Color Code Tasks, Events, and Calendars
Note: This article assumes you've read the articles "Creating a Task in Motion" [Link] , "Creating an Event in Motion" [Link], and How to Make a Project: Workflow Projects and Regular Projects" [Link]. If you haven't, we recommend starting there for foundational concepts.
TL;DR
Motion’s color coding capability is a great way to enhance your experience through improved clarity and efficiency. In this article, we will describe how you can use color coding effectively with projects, events, and calendars to enhance your organization and boost productivity.
How to Color Code Projects and Tasks
Motion allows users to apply color coding for tasks specifically associated with projects. The addition of color coding helps to visually distinguish between different projects, assignments, and priorities. Whether you are color-coding your projects for improved workspace organization or simply to help differentiate assigned projects and tasks across your team; the benefits of color-coding are extremely tangible.
Please Note: Individual tasks that are not part of a specific project cannot be individually color-coded and will default to grey.
Applying Color to Projects
Utilizing the lefthand side of your Motion calendar view, locate the workspace that contains the project you want to customize.
Hover over the project name and click the three-dot menu located to the right of the project name.
Select a color from the color palette that populates atop the project action bar.
You will notice this selected color change:
Reflected on the project bar on the Gantt View, and displayed as a colored box in both the List and Kanban Views.
Color-coded on the left-hand side of all associated tasks for that project displayed in Motion’s calendar view.
Displayed in the associated Workspace for that project on the left-hand sidebar of the calendar view.
Example of Project Color Coding Benefits:
In a website development initiative, an engineering team has tasks related to various ongoing projects split between front-end and back-end engineers. These tasks can be better organized by assigning them distinct colors:
The Front-End Engineers’ tasks are color-coded green.
The Back-End Engineer’s tasks are color-coded blue.
With these teams’ tasks color-coded by project, it makes it easier to visually distinguish between tasks from the front-end and back-end teams. This simple color-coding instantly makes the team’s calendars and task lists easily identifiable, allowing you to quickly locate which tasks belong to which team.
The key takeaway: In Motion, task color-coding isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about enhancing clarity, communication, and focus across your projects.
To learn more about Gantt Views click [here].
To learn more about how to create a Project Workflow Template click [here].
How to Color Code Calendars
Color coding calendars in Motion is ideal for segmenting different areas of your life or work. For instance, an individual using Motion may assign one color to the calendar that holds their work responsibilities and another to the calendar that holds their free-time activities, making it easier to balance their work and personal lives.
For more information on calendar types click [here]
How to Change Calendar Colors:
Go to the main Calendar tab in Motion.
On the right-hand side of the Calendar view, locate the My Calendars section and select the calendar you wish to color-code.
Hover over the calendar name and click the three-dot icon located to the right of the calendar.
Choose a new color from the displayed color palette.
The calendar will update instantly with the selected color.
The same can be done with your Frequently Met With Calendars. For more information on Frequently Met With Calendars click [here].
How to Color Code Events
Color coding events can be useful for visually differentiating your high and low-priority events from one another or simply adding an extra layer of separation of your events from other calendar items.
For example, if you have a low-priority event that you are unsure whether or not you will attend, you can color-code this event to remind yourself to either prioritize or de-prioritize this event as its date nears.
Changing An Event’s Color
Find the specific event you want to color-code in the Calendar view.
Click on the event itself to open the event details.
Select a new color to apply to the event.
💡 Right-clicking on the event also allows you to quickly select a new color.
Summary
Customizing your calendar in Motion through color-coding enhances productivity by reducing visual clutter, improving task organization, and differentiating important calendar details. By leveraging color-coding for your projects, events, and calendars you can streamline your day-to-day, reduce the required mental effort, and make the most of your Motion scheduling.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 🤔
1. Why can't I change the color of my iCloud or Microsoft calendar events?
Event color customization for iCloud and Microsoft calendars is not supported. However, you can still modify the calendar color itself by following the steps above under ‘How to Change Calendar Colors’.
2. Can I color code individual tasks not associated with a project?
Not at the moment. Tasks can only inherit the color of the project they belong to. Tasks that are not part of a project will display in grey.
Last updated
Was this helpful?