This post is about four (almost) tool-agnostic best practices to follow when you do any kind of formal design deliverable.
I recommend these best practices for two reasons:
1. Easier handoffs – improve your ability to share your file across team members / with clients. This is especially important these days, when you’re not sitting next to someone who is using your files
2. Reduced maintenance – make it easier to maintain files over time, so small updates don’t require lots of rework
Aligning on these ‘rules’ as a team will help improve efficiencies.
My four ‘best practices’ are:
1. Set up your grid/layout
2. Use symbols/components/masters
3. Use styles (text/layer/effects, etc.)
4. Organize your file, including naming things as needed, changing the order of layers, etc.