A tidy file structure for every project

A predictable folder structure saves time on every project. You know where things go, collaborators find what they need, and a handover at the end takes minutes instead of hours.

Start with the same five folders

• 01 Brief: the agreed scope, notes and reference material

• 02 Working: drafts and source files

• 03 Review: versions you have shared for feedback

• 04 Final: approved files only

• 05 Admin: quotes, invoices and agreements

Name files so they sort themselves

Begin each name with the project and a version number, then add a short description. A name like “studio-site-v03-homepage” stays readable and sorts in the order you made it. Avoid words like “final” in a name, because there is always another round.

Archive at the end

When the project closes, copy the Final and Admin folders to your archive and note where they live. Keep working files for as long as you promised, then remove them on purpose rather than by accident.