10 Figma File Organization Best Practices

Figma is a powerful design tool that allows teams to collaborate on projects in real-time. It’s a great way to keep everyone on the same page and ensure that everyone is working with the most up-to-date version of a project.

However, with great power comes great responsibility. If you don’t have a good system for organizing your Figma files, it can quickly become a mess. To help you out, we’ve put together 10 Figma file organization best practices that will help you keep your projects organized and running smoothly.

1. Create a Project for Each Client

Having a project for each client allows you to easily keep track of all the files related to that particular client. This makes it easier to find and access specific files when needed, as well as quickly identify which files belong to which clients. It also helps ensure that only relevant stakeholders have access to the right files.

Creating projects for each client also helps with collaboration. You can assign tasks to different team members within the same project, making it easy to manage who is responsible for what. Plus, having everything in one place makes it simpler to review progress and make sure everyone is on the same page.

2. Use the Default Pages to Organize Your Workflow

The default pages are designed to help you keep your work organized and easy to find. They provide a structure for organizing different types of content, such as wireframes, mockups, prototypes, and more. This makes it easier to quickly locate the files you need without having to search through multiple folders or tabs.

Additionally, using the default pages helps ensure that all team members have access to the same information in the same format. This eliminates confusion and ensures everyone is on the same page when working on projects together.

3. Name Your Files and Frames Appropriately

When you’re working on a project with multiple people, it’s important to have an organized file structure so everyone can easily find the files they need. Naming your files and frames appropriately helps make this process easier by providing clear labels for each item. This way, when someone is looking for a specific file or frame, they don’t have to guess which one it is.

Additionally, naming your files and frames appropriately makes it easier to search for them in Figma. If you use consistent naming conventions across all of your projects, you’ll be able to quickly locate any file or frame you need without having to manually scroll through every single one.

4. Keep Your Styles Organized in the Assets Panel

When you have a lot of styles in your file, it can be difficult to find the one you need. By organizing them into folders and subfolders, you can quickly locate the style you’re looking for without having to scroll through all of them. This will save you time and make it easier to keep track of which styles are being used where.

It’s also important to name your styles descriptively so that they are easy to identify. For example, instead of naming a color “blue,” give it a more descriptive name like “primary blue” or “accent blue.” This will help you remember what each style is used for and make it easier to find when needed.

5. Use Components to Streamline Your Design Process

Components are reusable elements that can be used across multiple projects, saving you time and effort. They also make it easier to keep your designs consistent by allowing you to quickly update all instances of a component at once.

To get the most out of components, create a library of them for easy access. This will help ensure that you have the right components available when you need them. Additionally, use nested components to group related elements together and make them easier to find. Finally, name your components clearly so they’re easily identifiable in the layers panel.

6. Make Sure You’re Using Shared Libraries Correctly

Shared libraries are a great way to keep your design elements organized and consistent across multiple projects. They allow you to store components, colors, text styles, and more in one place so that they can be easily accessed and used in any project.

However, it’s important to make sure that you’re using shared libraries correctly. For example, if you have multiple teams working on the same project, each team should have their own library with their own set of components and styles. This will help ensure consistency and prevent confusion when different teams are working on the same project. Additionally, make sure to name your libraries clearly and use version control to track changes over time.

7. Use Team Library to Share Brand Elements Across Projects

The Team Library allows you to store and share brand elements like logos, colors, fonts, icons, and more. This makes it easy for designers to access the same assets across multiple projects, ensuring consistency in design. It also saves time since designers don’t have to search through different files or folders to find what they need.

Using the Team Library is a great way to keep your Figma file organization organized and efficient. Plus, it’s an excellent way to ensure that all of your designs are consistent with your brand identity.

8. Use Version History to Track Changes

Version History allows you to easily go back and view previous versions of your Figma file, so if something goes wrong or changes unexpectedly, you can quickly revert back to a version that works.

It also helps with collaboration by allowing multiple people to work on the same project without overwriting each other’s work. This way, everyone can see what changes have been made and who has made them. Finally, Version History makes it easier to keep track of different iterations of a design, which is especially useful when working on complex projects.

9. Use Comments to Collaborate with Other Designers

Comments are a great way to communicate with other designers in the same file. They allow you to ask questions, provide feedback, and discuss ideas without having to leave the file.

Comments also help keep track of changes that have been made to the design. This is especially useful when multiple people are working on the same project. By leaving comments, everyone can see what has been changed and why it was changed.

Finally, comments are an easy way to document decisions that were made during the design process. This helps ensure that all team members understand the rationale behind certain design choices.

10. Take Advantage of Figma’s Keyboard Shortcuts

Keyboard shortcuts are a great way to quickly navigate and manipulate your Figma files. They can help you save time, increase productivity, and make it easier to find the elements you need in your designs.

Figma has several keyboard shortcuts that allow you to quickly select objects, move them around, copy and paste them, and more. For example, pressing “C” will select all of the objects on the canvas, while pressing “V” will paste any copied items onto the canvas. Additionally, you can use arrow keys to nudge objects around the canvas or hold down shift to constrain movement.

By taking advantage of these shortcuts, you can easily organize your Figma files and keep them organized over time.