Organizing graphic design files

->>>> Click Here to Download <<<<<<<-

Naturally, the project folder will house all of your projects for each client. For example, as you wrap up a contract with your client, you can share the whole project folder with them. Here you will add folders for individual projects. For example, one for a logo redesign, one for a brand audit, or one for a landing page design.

Be as descriptive of the project as possible. Identify the project type and the project name. You can use the name given to the project within your project management system.

With Startup App and Slides App you can build unlimited websites using the online website editor which includes ready-made designed and coded elements, templates and themes. This is where all the various assets for the project will live. What counts as an asset? Some examples could be:. Anything and everything relevant to the project is an asset. Then, make sure to keep those individual files well organized, too. Additionally, this is the place to include assets provided by the client, such as style guides, content files, etc.

The files folder will house design files, such as Photoshop files, Sketch files, AdobeXD files, and so on. Alternatively, if the project is made up of different components, you can create folders for various project types, for example, about page, homepage, and contact page. A great way to prevent this is to have a naming convention for these files as well.

To name your project files efficiently, first describe the file succinctly and include its version. Version control is going to be essential in keeping track of which files are the latest. Alternatively, you can use dates instead of versions, such as Matt Smith has a great tip for working with teams: Add your initials to the file name. As designers, we export many files and images all day long. To keep a better track of them, have a designated folder for them. Each subfolder needs to have a date and a description.

A sample would look something like this:. The only difference is that renders can be anything. Whereas this folder will contain exports specifically to be shared with clients or teammates for approval or feedback.

You can keep these in the renders folder, too. However, keeping these files separate lets you know which files your clients or stakeholders have seen specifically.

As I already mentioned, there is no right or wrong way to go about a file organization system. Stress less Having files all over the place instead of together in one location can indeed cause stress. Workflow like a breeze Having all files in one place reduces the chance of making mistakes, helps calibrate capacity and productivity, plus it supports maintaining quality and consistency in a team - just to name a few benefits for your workflow.

Underscores, hyphens and dashes are allowed, though. Client input - this folder includes files received directly from the client. Anything they have shared with you should be stored in this folder. By doing so, you minimize the risk of mistaking files for your own or asking your clients for materials that they have already shared with you.

Business - this folder stores all of the business parts of a project, including arrangements or agreements. Assets - this folder contains parts of the final layout and anything that you need in order to deliver or keep managing, the project. Design - this folder consists of actual design files in many versions - drafts, overwritten versions, and new additions to existing versions.

These are not the final versions of the project nor assets that are ready to be sent across to the client. Production - this folder gathers all of the final versions of files - presentations, layouts, designs, and more - that are ready to be sent to the client or used publicly.

File management challenges Even if your file directory is wonderfully organized, you might still encounter some problems. And this is where Filecamp comes to save the day. Share this Post. Recent blog posts. Some must-have items for your online brand guidelines kit December 12, August 26, Digital Asset Management.

Media Library Software. Low-cost DAM solution. And you lost valuable time. Hey, it was nice knowing you. There are ways to prevent this from happening — graphic designers — like having an organized filing system for your design files that works.

The first system is simply a super organized folder algorithm that is sometimes also agreed upon internally by your agency , and the second system is called a Digital Asset Management solution. Let me break it down. The folder algorithm filing system works two-ways. Your folder structure, 2. Your naming conventions. Consistency is key amiright? Filing system for design files: The folder algorithm. Filing system for design files: The folder algorithm in practice with various layout views.

Find out now how to optimize your content creation workflow and get tooling insights for content processes in our free e-book. Download now. Naming conventions differ from company to company, but ideally you want something consistent for each client.

We were confusing which files were old and which files were approved. We were mixing up client content files with previous outdated content. So, each designer would name their project files differently which invariably lead to confusion. The Fnl folder stands for Final. Basically, every proof, design file, piece of content, etc, that is approved by the client gets moved into this folder.

So, there is essentially a mirror copy of the folder structure within the Fnl folder. The Print folder within the Fnl folder is where we save our print-ready files. The file structure within Mgmnt should be fairly self-explanatory.

Another folder that we sometimes put into the Prf folder is a Crit folder. The Crit stands for critique. The Rsc folder is for Resources. Resources are generally broken down into content and images. Other random items can just go into the root Rsc folder. Live is a folder for all final web files for the live site, possibly including database backups.

In some instances you need even less. And all internal work is put in the Proof Lab and given a project number — just like our client projects.

This is really the only way to keep it all organized. But we believe in working smarter, not harder. Then one of our developers here wrote a little script designed to auto-generate these folder structures. Just double click the one you want to use and it will auto-generate a project folder structure for you.

Once you have these naming conventions and folder structures in place you will quickly find them to be second nature. Congratulations — your design files, and your life, are now organized! One last request for comments on this post. I am very interested in how other designers approach the organization of their files!