← All Jake’s Five Points
Jake’s Five PointsMaking work easier · 1 min read · Jake Coventry

Make the next piece easier to create.

When similar requests keep arriving, I’d look at what we can reuse. Start with the work your team repeats, then build enough structure to help.

Coral, blush and lime panels suspended around an orange glass Matizmo icon.
  1. Look at the requests that keep returning

    Gather real examples. Changing dates, adding partners and introducing new messages need different kinds of flexibility. Let those needs guide what we build.

  2. Separate the fixed parts from the changing parts

    Agree what stays consistent and where people need room to adapt. Shared colours, type and logos provide a foundation for more flexible layouts.

  3. Build for the variations you really need

    A narrow banner and a tall social format need different arrangements. Test with real copy, including a difficult example, before extending the system.

  4. Choose tools for control and reuse

    If we need the same visual object in different views, a reusable model may justify extra setup. Choose the technique around the expected work.

  5. Try the handover on a real request

    Ask the person using it to make the next piece. See where they need help, provide a clear example and keep a review step.

Seeing the same requests every week?

Show me a few examples. We can work out where reusable design would help your team most.

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