A system and method for artwork design and production is disclosed. The system includes an artwork preparation administrator (100) and a plurality of operation units (102 to 112) each of which performs at least one of a multiplicity of different artwork preparation tasks. The administrator (100) includes a workflow manager (114) and a workflow definition unit (116) for managing the production of a user-defined workflow having a multiplicity of artwork preparation tasks. The workflow manager (114) includes a) apparatus for initiating operation of selected operation units, b) apparatus for receiving and processing task information from the selected operation units when they perform one of the artwork preparation tasks and c) apparatus for producing a process list. The process list includes processed task information from at least one of the artwork preparation tasks and is ordered in accordance with a portion of the workflow which has at least one artwork preparation task therein.