How to Collaborate with Teams in Sketch Cloud

Edited 1 month ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team

SketchCollaborationTeamsCloudFile SharingProjectsWorkflowRemote WorkTools

Collaborating effectively with teams is crucial in any project involving design and creative development. In the digital age, tools that facilitate seamless collaboration have become indispensable, and Sketch Cloud is one of those tools. Sketch Cloud is an extension of the popular design software, Sketch, that allows designers to share their work, collect feedback, and collaborate with team members in real-time. This document explores the detailed process of collaborating with teams using Sketch Cloud.

Introduction to Sketch Cloud

Sketch is a vector graphics editor widely used among UI/UX designers. Sketch Cloud is a web-based platform that allows you to upload your Sketch files and easily share them with others. It provides a central hub for your design files, meaning no more email chains or confusion about which file is the latest version. Sketch Cloud also allows you to invite team members to view, comment, and even edit your designs depending on the permissions you set.

Setting up Sketch Cloud for team collaboration

Before you start collaborating with Sketch Cloud, you need to set it up and understand its basic functions. Here are the steps:

Create a Sketch Cloud account

To start using Sketch Cloud, you first need to create an account. If you already have a Sketch app license, you can use the same credentials to log in to Sketch Cloud. If you're new to Sketch, you'll need to visit the Sketch Cloud website and sign up. Here's how to do it:

1. Visit the Sketch Cloud website.
2. Click the “Sign Up” button.
3. Fill in your details, like email and password, or sign up using a Google account.
4. After filling in your details, confirm your email address by clicking on the link sent to your email.
5. Log in to Sketch Cloud using your newly created account details.

Forming your team

Once your account is created, the next step is to create your team. Teams in Sketch Cloud can have different roles, such as editor, viewer, and developer. This flexibility allows you to control who can make changes and who can just view the design. Here's how to create a team:

1. Log in to your Sketch Cloud account.
2. Go to the "Team" section.
3. Click "Create Team" and enter a team name.
4. Invite members by entering their email addresses. Assign roles to each member according to their responsibilities. For example, give editing permissions to designers and viewing permissions to stakeholders.
5. Send an invitation. Team members will receive an email prompt to join the team on Sketch Cloud.

Uploading and sharing your designs

After you've set up your team, the next step is to upload your design files to Sketch Cloud. This allows your team to access, review, and collaborate on designs. Here's how you can upload and share your designs:

Uploading a design

Uploading designs to Sketch Cloud can be done directly from the Sketch application. Follow these steps:

1. Open your design file in the Sketch application.
2. Click the "Cloud" icon in the toolbar or choose "File" → "Upload to Sketch Cloud" from the menu.
3. Select the pages or artboards you want to upload if you don't want to upload the entire file.
4. Click "Upload" and wait for the process to finish.
5. Once uploaded, your designs will appear on your Sketch Cloud dashboard.

Sharing the design

Sharing designs in Sketch Cloud allows team members to view and comment on your work. Here's how you can share your uploaded designs:

1. Go to your Sketch Cloud dashboard.
2. Select the design file you want to share.
3. Click the "Share" button which is typically located in the upper right corner of the page.
4. You can generate shareable links or invite team members to view designs directly by entering their email addresses.
5. Set the desired permissions. For example, you can allow or block comments by toggling the comments permission.
6. Send a link or invitation to your team members.

Collaboration on design

Once your designs are uploaded and shared, you can start collaborating. Collaboration in Sketch Cloud involves reviewing designs, adding comments, and making necessary changes. This keeps the team aligned and informed about the progress of the design. Here is a step-by-step guide on collaboration:

Viewing and commenting

Team members with view permissions can access shared designs and add comments directly to the artboard. Here's how:

1. Log in to your Sketch Cloud account.
2. Select the design you want to review under the "Projects" or "Recent" sections.
3. Navigate through pages or artboards using the side panel or navigation buttons.
4. To add a comment, click the artboard where you want to place the comment, type your feedback, and click "Send."
5. Comments appear on the artboard and can be responded to by other team members, creating a continuing conversation.

Editing and updating

For team members with editing permissions, changes can be made directly within the Sketch app. Here's how team members can edit and update a shared design:

1. Open the design file in the Sketch application.
2. Make the necessary design changes.
3. After you finish your editing, click the "Cloud" icon to update the changes in the Sketch Cloud.
4. Select the updated artboard or page and click "Update."
5. Your changes will overwrite the previous version and will be available for review on the Sketch Cloud.

Best practices for effective collaboration

Collaboration requires clear communication, proper management, and an understanding of the platform's features to be effective. Here are some best practices to improve your collaboration experience on Sketch Cloud:

Establish clear roles and responsibilities

Assign specific roles to team members, such as designers, project managers, and stakeholders. Clearly define who is responsible for making changes to the design, who can provide feedback, and who needs to be kept informed. By setting clear roles, you reduce confusion and simplify the decision-making process.

Use version control

Sketch Cloud maintains a history of your design revisions, which is useful for tracking changes and reverting to previous versions if necessary. Encourage team members to use version control so that the team has a record of design iterations and can understand the evolution of the project.

Review and provide feedback regularly

Schedule regular review meetings where team members can discuss designs on Sketch Cloud. Encourage constructive feedback and address any concerns in a collaborative and open manner. Regular reviews ensure alignment within the team and help identify potential issues early.

Use the comment features

The comments feature in Sketch Cloud enables contextual feedback directly on the design. Use this feature to maintain a centralized conversation about design elements. Resolve comments as they are addressed, keeping the feedback loop clear and up-to-date.

Ensure effective communication

Effective communication is the backbone of collaboration. Use comments, updates, and meetings efficiently to communicate with your team. Make sure everyone understands the objectives, timelines, and responsibilities associated with the design project.

Respect other contributors

Respect the contributions of all team members, whether they're providing design input or business-oriented feedback. Respectful collaboration fosters a positive work environment, boosts creativity, and leads to better project outcomes.

Conclusion

Collaborating with teams in Sketch Cloud is made easy through its intuitive interface and powerful features. From sharing and commenting on designs to editing and managing feedback, Sketch Cloud provides a comprehensive platform for design collaboration. By using Sketch Cloud effectively and following best practices, teams can work more efficiently, produce high-quality designs, and achieve better project results. This detailed guide aims to equip you with the knowledge you need to make the most of Sketch Cloud's collaboration capabilities.

  Share This Article

If you find anything wrong with the article content, you can request an update