How to organize Figma files

Keeping your Figma files organized is essential to maintaining efficiency and collaboration in your design process. As projects grow and files multiply, maintaining an organized workspace in Figma becomes an urgent need for both individual designers and teams.

This guide will walk you through the steps to effectively organize your Figma files. Whether you’re aiming to streamline your personal workflow or improve team collaboration, we’ll provide clear and actionable tips.

Prepare to transform your Figma chaos into a model of order and productivity!

Understand Figma file organization

Figma offers several features to help you keep your files organized, such as pages, frames, layers, and components. By using these features effectively and maintaining consistent naming conventions, you can create a clear hierarchy and structure within your Figma files. Here’s a quick overview of the key aspects of organizing Figma files:

1. Pages: Split your Figma file into separate pages for different parts of your project, such as design concepts, wireframes, or user flow.
2. Frames: Create frames to define the boundaries of your design elements, such as art boards or screens, and group related objects together.
3. Layers: Organize design elements within frames using layers, which can be grouped, named and arranged hierarchically.
4. Components: Use components and instances to create reusable design elements and maintain consistency across your project.

Now that you have a basic understanding of Figma file organization, let’s dive into the process of organizing your files.

Organize Figma files

Follow these steps to keep your Figma files organized:

1. Use Pages effectively

Organize your file by dividing it into separate pages for different aspects of your project.

To create a new page, click the “+” icon next to the current page name in the upper left corner of the Figma interface. Rename your pages to clearly indicate their purpose, such as “Wireframes,” “High-fidelity Designs,” or “Style Guide.”

2. Create and name frames

Use frames to define the boundaries of your design elements and group related objects together. To create a frame, click the “Frame” tool (F) in the toolbar or press the “F” key on your keyboard. Choose a preset frame size from the right-hand panel or draw a custom frame directly on the canvas.

Rename your frames to accurately describe their content, such as “Home Screen” or “Login Modal.”

3. Organize layers and groups

Keep your design elements organized within frames by using layers. Layers can be rearranged, grouped and named to create a clear hierarchy. To rename a layer, double-click the layer name in the Layers panel and enter a new name.

To group layers, select multiple layers and press Ctrl + G (Cmd + G on macOS) or right-click and choose “Group Selection.” Name your groups to describe their purpose, such as “Navigation Bar” or “Call to Action Button.”

4. Use components for reusable elements

Create components for design elements that are used repeatedly throughout your project, such as buttons, icons, or headings. To create a component, select a design element and click the “Create Component” button in the right-hand panel or press Ctrl + Alt + K (Cmd + Option + K on macOS).

Use instances of your components to maintain consistency across your project and make updating elements more manageable.

Tips for organizing Figma files

Figma’s powerful features make it an ideal choice for designers who want to create structured and easy-to-navigate design files.

Keep these tips in mind to make the most of Figma’s organization features:

1. Maintain consistent naming conventions: Use clear and descriptive names for your pages, frames, layers, and components to make it easier to locate specific elements and understand their purpose.
2. Use color and typography styles: Define and apply color and typography styles to maintain consistency across your designs and simplify updates.
3. Keep files clean and up to date: Regularly review and remove unused or obsolete elements from your Figma files to reduce clutter and confusion.
4. Separate your style guide or design system: Create a separate page or file for your design system or style guide, and use components to ensure consistency across your project.
5. Use version history: Take advantage of Figma’s version history feature to track changes, revert to previous versions, and collaborate more effectively with your team.
6. Collaborate and communicate: Share your Figma files with teammates and stakeholders to gather feedback and make improvements. Use Figma’s real-time collaboration and commenting features to ensure everyone stays informed and aligned.

By following these steps and tips, you can maintain well-organized and efficient Figma files that support a smoother design process.

Effective organization is crucial to managing complex design projects, and Figma’s powerful features make it an ideal choice for designers who want to create structured and easy-to-navigate design files.