Graphic Designers and creative teams generate a massive amount of digital files every day. If their organizational system is not up to par, things can get erratic very quickly. File clutter affects every professional who works digitally at one point or another, but for graphic designers, the act of de-cluttering must be a daily occurrence to keep from having a chaotic desktop scattered with files. Implementing a clear and concise content management strategy is extremely helpful for those who struggle with file clutter and organization, but plans are only effective if someone or something executes them. The good news is, there are many ways to leverage technology to make this feat a bit easier to handle.
A simple solution like dropbox may be sufficient for a freelance designer who works solo, but for companies with large creative teams and tons of digital assets, a more robust solution is necessary.
Enter- DAM. A digital asset management system (DAM) such as MerlinX is a wonderful tool that can be harnessed to organize, store, and archive all types of digital files. Not only used for storage, a DAM is a robust system with many built in tools to help your entire content workflow operate seamlessly. With a complex search engine, MerlinX helps you find the assets you need based on attributed metadata and keywords. The versioning tool allows you to see all the variations of an asset from first draft to final product in one place, allowing for a frictionless editing and approvals process.
Digital Asset Management systems can help a wide variety of professionals including Graphic Designers, Photographers, Creatives, Marketers, and more.
How to deal with file clutter?
File clutter is very different from physical clutter. The whole point of moving to the digital world was to get rid of paper trails. But every designer will agree to it that with each edit or correction comes a new file name and a new version of the original. All of this leads to a large pile of unworkable material. The only way to avoid design mistakes is to have a clear workstation. One incredible way to organize files is to use a Digital Asset Management System or DAM. Here is how it works:
- The DAM is a single source of truth for all of your digital files. DAM is the ideal way to sort and organize the hundreds of files that a designer needs to use and create.
- It consists of a central asset library that enables better workflow since all the data in a single place and can be controlled from anywhere and anyone with a login.
- This system is easy to implement and very easy to learn, allowing users to find whatever piece of content they need, whenever they need it.
If you think your online computer storage system and file sorting methods are already good enough, here are few advantages to using a DAM system:
- Cloud based.
As a designer, it is important that you’re able to access your files from any place. Whether it be your workplace, home, or even a coffee shop down the block. With cloud storage, all of your files are available to you wherever you may be. With a cloud-based system, you will not have to worry about running out of storage space, as most DAM vendors allow for additional terabytes of storage to be purchased when needed.
- Secure storage.
With HDDs and external disks, there is always a risk of data loss from external factors. This is not the case with DAM since your entire library is backed up and stored securely by your vendor. If you need to comply with HIPAA or GDPR regulations, MerlinOne’s complaint DAM is a great system to consider.
- Simple user interface.
The UI and UX of the system are made for easy access. Using simple search terms, you’re able to find the files you need without unlimited scrolling. A customizable keyword and taxonomy structure also allows for very specific search criteria that is intuitive to the user.
- Easy to collaborate.
Since the system is log-in based and accessed online, the process of collaboration is much faster and cost-effective. If you work as part of a design team, the internal collaboration tools within the DAM system will be extremely useful for you. For example, MerlinOne’s DAM system has a built-in versioning tool, allowing all versions of the same file to be saved in one place. Users can also leave comments and send designs to others for review or updating all within the system itself.
When it comes to design, many roadblocks may appear prior to getting the final product out to market. It is up to the designer to work in tandem with their client and make judicious choices on how to operate and organize their work to produce the best possible outcome for the client.
Haifa Aboobacker – Author Bio
Haifa is a growth assistant at AirTract.Com, a go-to place for all expert advice wherein people ask questions, write articles, share and learn from paid and free online courses.
She is a communication engineering graduate but a digital marketing buff who is fascinated by the best SEO practices and content strategies. She loves to make friends and explore places, and she chooses reading in her time off.