Lesson 1: File management and creation
Figma's own walkthrough of how to structure files so they stay findable. The same habits transfer to any tool, and they save hours every time you come back to an old project.
Watch on YouTube (opens in a new tab)Third-party video. It is loaded from YouTube and is not hosted by the academy.
By the end of this lesson you can
- Create a realistic weekly learning plan around your other commitments.
- Set up a practice log that records what you made and learned.
- Organise design files and folders with a naming system you will keep using.
The idea
Learning design is a long project. People who succeed are usually not the most talented; they are the most consistent. A plan, a log and an organised file system make consistency easier.
A weekly rhythm
A sustainable plan for someone with a job or classes is around 5 to 8 focused hours a week. A full-time learner might do 20 to 30. Whatever your number, split it into three kinds of time:
- Learn (about 30%): read a lesson, watch a talk, study a reference.
- Practise (about 50%): do the exercise, redesign something, work on a project.
- Reflect and share (about 20%): write in your log, ask for feedback, give feedback to others.
Practice is the largest share on purpose. Reading about hierarchy does not make you good at hierarchy; making fifty layouts does.
A practice log
Keep one document or notebook. After each session write the date, what you did, one thing you learned, one question you still have, and a link or image of the work. In a few months, this log becomes raw material for your portfolio and interview answers.
Files and folders
Use one top-level folder for your design learning, with a folder per project. Inside each project, keep the same structure every time:
design-learning/
00-log/
01-orientation-exercises/
project-local-gym-website/
01-research/
02-define/
03-wireframes/
04-ui/
05-testing/
06-case-study/
_assets/
Name files so they sort correctly and tell you what they are: 2026-10-14_gym-website_homepage-wireframe_v2.fig. Dates first (year-month-day) make files sort by time. Avoid "final", "final2" and "new"; use version numbers.
In your design tool, use clear page names in the same order as your process: Cover, Research, Flows, Wireframes, UI, Prototype, Archive. Name layers and frames meaningfully. You will learn more about file hygiene in the Figma stage.
Why it matters in real projects
Disorganised work is invisible work. When you build your portfolio, you need to find your early sketches, research notes and rejected ideas. When you join a team, others need to navigate your files. And a plan protects your learning from the weeks when motivation is low.
A realistic example
A learner with a full-time job plans six hours a week: two one-hour weekday evenings for lessons, and a four-hour Saturday block for exercises and projects. Every Saturday ends with fifteen minutes on the practice log. After three months, the log shows 13 exercises and two small projects, with notes about what changed after feedback. When writing their first case study, they copy decisions straight from the log instead of trying to remember.
Step by step
Count your real available hours
Look at last week, not your ideal week. Find blocks of at least 45 minutes.
Choose a weekly target
Start at about 80% of what you think you can do. It is better to exceed a small target than miss a big one.
Schedule the blocks
Put them in your calendar with a label: Learn, Practise or Reflect.
Create your folder structure
Make the folders above now, even if they are empty.
Start your practice log
Write your first entry today: what you have done in this stage so far and what you want to learn next.
Use the academy roadmap
Mark this lesson complete and use the roadmap to pick your path. Progress is stored in this browser only.
Common mistakes
Mistake Planning 20 hours a week and doing 2, then feeling like a failure.
Instead Plan small and grow. Consistency beats intensity.
Mistake Only consuming content.
Instead Keep practice at around half your time. Make something every week.
Mistake Saving files as "untitled" in random places.
Instead Set up the folder system once and use it from today.
Check your understanding
Choose an answer, then check it. There is an explanation either way.
Practice exercise
Exercise · about 30 min
Set up your learning system
Do the walkthrough. This exercise takes less time than it saves.
Steps
- Write your weekly hour target and schedule the blocks.
- Create the folder structure on your computer or cloud drive.
- Create a practice log document with the five fields.
- Write your first log entry.
- Choose a learning path on the roadmap page.
Deliverable
A calendar with scheduled blocks, a folder structure and a practice log with one entry.
Self-assessment
Tick each item when it is true of your exercise. Be honest; this is for you.
4 items
Summary
- Consistency matters more than intensity; plan a realistic weekly rhythm.
- Spend about half your time practising.
- Keep a practice log; it becomes your portfolio raw material.
- Use one folder structure and a date-first naming pattern for everything.
Further reading
Third-party sources, chosen for reliability. They open in a new tab.
- Figma Learn: getting started (opens in a new tab)Figma Help Center
Official setup guides, if you want to install Figma now. The tool stage covers it in depth.
Your notes
Marking complete updates your course and roadmap progress.