I started naming my Figma layers after the client's questions, not the content

On a project for a brewery in Asheville, I labeled a text box 'Why is our IPA hazy?' instead of 'IPA description'. In the review, the client instantly found and approved it, cutting three rounds of back-and-forth. It made me see layer names as a direct map to stakeholder concerns, not just parts of the page. Has anyone else tried structuring files around client logic instead of design elements?

3 comments

3 Comments

amy_reed792mo ago

Okay, "direct map to stakeholder concerns" is genius. I've been naming layers like "hero_image_v3_final_FINAL" for years. My old files are basically a museum of my own confusion. This is way smarter, turning the layer panel into a cheat sheet for what the client actually cares about.

janab872mo ago

Oh man, my friend's client once asked "Where's the logo?" in a file named "background_texture_test_7", so @amy_reed79, this idea is a lifesaver.

jamesblack1mo ago

But honestly, how many clients are even looking at the layer panel? Feels like overkill unless you're handing off files daily. Amy_reed79, your old naming system got the job done, right? This just seems like extra work for a problem that mostly happens once in a while.