This is a Secret Designers Swear By to Save Hours Every Week

Let’s talk about time. You have a limited amount of it each day, and once it’s gone, it’s gone for good.

I know, I know, nothing new.

Now, if you’re a designer (whether for work, school, or fun), you’ve probably faced the challenge of doing deadlines, inspiration, and energy all at once.

Here's a secret that could save you hours and plenty of stress: batching your designs.

Batching is about doing similar tasks together instead of spreading them out.

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EXPLANATION
Why Batching Designer?

Switching between tasks eats up your brain’s energy. Studies show that multitasking can reduce productivity by up to 40%.

Your brain is like a train. If you keep changing tracks, you lose momentum. When you batch your work, you’re letting the train run smoothly on one track.

For example, instead of designing a logo, switching to emails, and then back to tweaking that logo, try dedicating a block of time to just logos.

Save the emails for later. Your brain will thank you.

It saves you setup time.

Every task has a warm-up phase. In design, this could mean opening software, setting up templates, or brainstorming ideas. If you’re doing one-off designs, you waste time setting up over and over.

By batching, you set up once and knock out multiple designs while you’re in the zone.

THE PROCESS
How to Do It

• Group Similar Tasks - Start by finding tasks that share similarities. Are you creating multiple Instagram posts? Batch them. Need to design a flyer and a poster for the same event? Do them together.

• Plan Your Batching Blocks - Set aside specific times to batch your work. It could be a two-hour window for logo drafts or an afternoon for layout designs. Block this time on your calendar and treat it as sacred.

• Use Templates and Tools - If you’re designing multiple items with a similar theme, templates are your best friend. Tools like Canva or pre-built assets in Photoshop save time and keep your designs consistent.

• Stay Organized - Keep your assets, fonts, and color palettes in one place. Searching for files mid-task disrupts your flow. A tidy workspace helps you focus.

• Take Breaks - Batching is intense. Break your work into manageable chunks and rest your eyes in between. Stretch, drink water, and breathe. You’re not a machine, after all.

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MY TAKE
Personal Experience

I’ll be honest, I learned about batching after several disasters. One time, I stayed up all night designing 20 different social media posts. I kept switching between styles, rewriting captions, and editing photos. It was chaos.

Then I tried batching. I created a template, picked a theme, and focused on one part at a time: first the layouts, then the colors, and finally the text.

Not only did I finish faster, but the designs looked polished and professional. It felt like magic.

Important

Batching doesn’t mean rushing.

Speed is great, but quality matters more. Take your time to get each step right before moving on.

Also, leave room for creativity. Batching helps with structure, but don’t let it kill your spark.

IN ACTION
Actionable Steps

If you’re ready to batch, here’s what you can do today:

• List all your design tasks for the week.

• Group them by type or theme.

• Schedule blocks of time to work on each group.

• Stick to your plan and avoid distractions.

• Celebrate the extra time you’ll save!

Batching your designs isn’t just about saving time; it’s about having control over your work. So, try it, and see if it works for you.

Have a nice day,

Miroslav from The Design Nexus

TOOLS YOU SHOULD TRY

Even if you sell products other than mugs or t-shirts, it doesn't mean it will cost you more.

There are tools that can help you with the tasks, and most of them have free versions.

• Research: Alura

• Graphic Designs: Creative Fabrica

• Design Editing: Canva, Kittl

• Vectorizing: Vectorizer AI

• POD Fulfillment: Printful, Printify

Disclaimer: Within the article, you will find affiliate links. If you decide to purchase through these links, I want to sincerely assure you that I will receive a commission at no extra cost to you.