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File Naming Conventions for Designers

Professional file naming strategies that save time and prevent confusion

Asset Management•10 min read

Why File Naming Matters

Poor file naming leads to wasted time, confusion, and errors. A good naming convention helps you and your team find files quickly, understand versions at a glance, and maintain organized project folders.

Core Principles

1. Be Descriptive but Concise

File names should clearly indicate content without being unnecessarily long.

2. Use Lowercase

Lowercase names prevent issues with case-sensitive systems and are easier to type.

3. Use Hyphens, Not Spaces

Spaces in filenames can cause problems in URLs and command-line tools. Use hyphens instead.

4. Include Dates When Relevant

Use ISO 8601 format (YYYY-MM-DD) for dates so files sort chronologically.

Recommended Naming Structure

A consistent structure makes files predictable and easy to find:

[project]-[category]-[description]-[version].[extension]

Examples:

Version Control

Clear versioning prevents confusion about which file is current:

Version Examples:

Category Prefixes

Use prefixes to group related files:

Dimension and Format Indicators

Include size or format information when you have multiple versions:

Project-Specific Conventions

Web Projects:

Print Projects:

Social Media:

Characters to Avoid

These characters can cause problems in different systems:

Folder Organization

Complement your naming convention with a logical folder structure:

project-name/
├── 01-research/
├── 02-concepts/
├── 03-drafts/
├── 04-finals/
├── assets/
│   ├── fonts/
│   ├── images/
│   └── icons/
└── exports/

Team Collaboration Tips

Tools and Automation

Several tools can help enforce naming conventions:

Quick Reference Checklist

Conclusion

A solid file naming convention is a simple habit that pays dividends throughout your career. Start implementing these practices today, and you'll save countless hours searching for files and avoid confusion in collaborative projects. Your future self (and your teammates) will thank you!