DEV Community

Discussion on: How I manage my projects, folders, and files

Collapse
 
cecilelebleu profile image
Cécile Lebleu

Thanks for commenting!
Each project folder has its own structure. Clients can be very different in requirements or preferences, and a small personal project isn't going to require the same structure as a large brand development, print, and web design project.
For example, if I'm designing a brand identity, I'll have a Resources folder with what the client provided, then Exploration for inspiration, moodboard, and so on; Process with all the design process files (often a base file with _01, _02... appended to the end to track the design changes over time). And then a Deliverables folder, where I put the files I send over to the client. If they need it again, I can send the same files, or if I need the files again — say, if I'm designing something else for them and need the final logotype file.
But if I'm making a website, I will usually have two folders, Design and Dev. In Design, a Sketch file, images, resources, etc. In Dev, the actual website files (html, css, js, sized images, etc) and a git repository to track versions.
Versioning and tracking modifications is completely different for design and programming, and the amount of organization and sub-folders required can vary wildly between projects! I don't think I could make, at this point, a standard filesystem for individual projects. I could perhaps have a system for different types of projects, but it would be more of a distraction than a solution, because of how different even two "similar" projects can be.

Collapse
 
flrnd profile image
Florian Rand • Edited

Wonderful! I was curious and is interesting how people organize things. Let me explain why I use that structure always.

First, I use 00 01 and so on because usually, those folders depend on job phases.

00_Documentation has every document, contract, briefing, email copies, and very important: research related to that project.

01_Resources stores both client and stock resources.

02_Prototypes is where the first fast ideas are developed based on the first briefing and research. This is to avoid what you explained of having files with numbers for changes. That happens when the project is not well defined, yes, changes happen but only one revision or two, more than that means that the project is going wild.

03_Development is the product phase. Be it a new brand or a digital product like a website.

04_Print only in projects with printing material.

05_Final well, finished product to deliver.

Also is easy to explain to new people to the project and this maintains coherence, something important when you don't work alone.

Anyway, it's great how you organize everything! You have every detail in mind!!! Thanks for sharing it!

Thread Thread
 
cecilelebleu profile image
Cécile Lebleu

It’s a very interesting approach. I will be definitely trying this with my next project. Thanks!