What are some effective practices to organize project files?

For project files/folders that I want to keep in chronological order, I like to use prefixes involving the date written in the year-month-date format. For instance, I like to keep all my animated promo projects for Recruiting Events by naming the files/folders "RE20230601 - Name of Event" (for a June 1, 2023 recruiting event). When named that way, all the files/folders are automatically grouped by type of project and then listed in chronological order because they are also alphanumerically in order.

Can I also suggest that using tags in the finder (Apple) are another great to view and organise files. I name my files with the same YYMMDD format, but when a project is complete I like to tag it with, let’s say ‘Brand Videos’ so that in the finder I can click on the Brand Videos tag in the left panel of the window and see all of the files with that tag assigned to them. Which makes it easier when I come to update my showreel.

Firstly, I like to organize projects by year and Q1-Q4. Secondly, naming conventions are fundamental, especially for project folders, and have them related to the project file. I like to use [year][month][day]_[if needed, client]_[Clear-Project-Name]

In my motion design process, I use some tools like Motion V4 in After Effects to keep things organized and efficient. It helps me sort through all the elements easily. Also, right from the start, I make sure to keep everything tidy by putting audio and other stuff into separate folders. This makes it simple to find what I need and keeps my projects safe. and in some cases, I collect my project at the end and save it somewhere safe. I hope it helps you guys out.

One of the most important things you can do to keep your project files organized is to use consistent naming conventions. Use clear, descriptive, and standardized names for your folders, files, and layers. For example, use prefixes, suffixes, dates, versions, and keywords to identify your files and assets. This helps you and others find, sort, and edit them easily. You can also use color labels, tags, or metadata to add more information to your files and assets. Trust me, future you will thank present you for this.

It's a bit nerdy but you can't beat a good folder structure. You will thank your past self in the future when you have to dig through an old project for assets and find what you are looking for. It is inevitable you will be asked to do it at some point so I got a system in place early on. I have a few different master folder structures depending on what I am working on. Once I begin a new project I simply duplicate the master folder and start to populate it with assets such as illustrator files, footage, audio etc. I also have folder structure templates set up in After Effects which saves me time by not having to start a project from scratch every time.

Something I have found really helpful is to maintain the same folder structure on my After effects projects as the master folder on the hard drive or where all your project files are, this makes easier to find, add, move or edit your files. I use a folder named Comps to store the project files and versions, this folder has a subfolder to contain the precomps in after effects and the autosaves in your master, another called Assets subdivided in categories as needed (Footage, Images, Audio, Ai, PSD, Sequences, etc) this is , one named REF to store all visual references or styleframes. The more organized your folder structure is, the easier your workflow gets.

It is important to treat every project as if it is collaborative. Whether anyone else will see those project files or not, treat your master archives, vector, and raster assets, as if they will be shared with a large group, and as if you are the one to receive that project from a collaborator. Ask yourself how would you want things named and structured so that everything is easy to find. What layering method makes the most amount of sense? Is there a color code for layer types that makes sense? By getting into the habit of organizing all projects as if they are collaborative, you set yourself up for long-term success.

I created a template folder that has my folders required, then copied that for each new project. These include 00_Assets (images, references, audio, and linked assets), 01_Working-Files, 02_Test-Renders, and 03_Deliverables. This can be more granular depending on your project needs, but this is what works for me most of the time.

You can also include subfolders for different stages of your project, such as pre-production, production, and post-production. This keeps your files organized, accessible, and easy to back up. Pro tip: create a template folder structure that you can reuse for similar projects. It saves time and keeps everything tidy!

I do this sometimes, especially when projects get heavy If there's something I can render down and layer on top of in an animation comp. This usually saves on RAM or taxing your GPU. You can repeat this process as you need and replace it with the final working file.

When dealing with large or high-resolution files that can bog down your motion design software, proxies and placeholders are your best friends. Both tools speed up your workflow and conserve disk space. Just swap them out with the originals when you're ready to put the finishing touches on your project. It's like magic, but for organizing your files!

Employing linking or instancing, particularly for shared elements across various shots in a project, not only fosters consistency but also streamlines the process of implementing changes. When alterations are made to the original linked item, those modifications seamlessly propagate to all instances across the project. This not only enhances efficiency but also minimizes the potential for discrepancies across different scenes or shots.

This method is an introduction to procedural workflows- which are vital to all creative projects. Some workflows are destructive- meaning that one change in the project will permanently affect how different effects will behave. By getting into the habit of mitigating any destructive processes, and focusing on effects that can be changed dynamically and affect the outcomes up and down the project lifecycle, you set up the project to be more flexible, and able to iterate different versions quickly.

Honestly, never label anything as a final output. Changes happen and you find yourself with Project Final final final v7 in no time.

Este es un clásico. Nunca le pongas el nombre "final" a ningún archivo. Así lo sea. -------------------------------------------------- This is already a classic. Never label anything as "final" even if it is the final version.

Name your layers! Helps your projects be collaborative and long term you can easily access your projects again and reuse elements if they are well organised.

Name files with version numbers, but also I keep the version that was chosen and toss the other working files into a folder labelled 'archived' or 'working files'. Saved my butt a few times. Otherwise it's pretty difficult to find the version you went ahead with 3+ months down the line when you need to make a change.

I love a good, clean project structure. Especially on After Effects, when I created a template file, I created separate comps with the most popular screen sizes and folder structures for assets, such as Images, video, solids, etc. That way, when jumping into production, you can use your template file as a pick 'n' mix of what you need and don't. You'll thank your old self each time. Also, when working with others, you'll have a solid structured file that'll be easy for you and them to work with.