Why most design templates are overengineered (and what I'm doing differently)
Every time I download a template pack, it's the same problem — 47 layers, nested groups named "Group 12 copy 3", and fonts I don't have installed.
You spend more time cleaning up the file than actually using it.
So I started building my own. The rules are simple:
Flat layers. If I can't understand the file in 30 seconds, it's too complex.
System fonts first. Inter, SF Pro, or nothing. No hunting for obscure typefaces.
One purpose per template. A social post template is a social post template. Not a social-post-slash-story-slash-banner-slash-presentation.
I'm sharing these inside Grain & Co — free to join, new drops every week.
If you've ever rage-quit a Figma file, this is for you.
