Creating effective templates in Lytho Tempo starts with a clear, outcome-driven strategy. The right approach ensures your creative team can scale output, accelerate delivery, and maintain brand integrity — while empowering stakeholders with self-service.


Let’s walk through how to choose the right assets to templatize, design them for long-term success, and use data from Lytho Workflow to refine your strategy over time.


TABLE OF CONTENTS



What Makes a Great Template Candidate?

Not every asset should be a template. Focus on work that’s predictable, repeatable, and time-consuming.


A great way to identify a template is when you copy a previously created design to start creating a new version. The versions share enough common elements that it's easier to start from an existing design than to build from scratch.


Additionally any time your creative team is given an Excel sheet that designers are manually injecting that data into an InDesign file is also a great indicator.


Best Use Template CasesExamples
Multi-Channel AssetsCampaign graphics (social, email, print) with recurring layouts
Low-Effort, High-Speed AssetsSocial graphics, event signage, sales sheets, product labels
Micro-Edits or Local AdaptationsStandard social media size crops, flyer text updates, event location announcements
Always-On TemplatesRetail signage, digital ads, certificates, business cards
Batch-Generated, Data-DrivenDirect mail, in-store signage, labels, localized pricing, translations, and disclaimers


Lytho Pro Tip: If every request is highly customized or needs creative exploration, it may not be a good template candidate.




Use Workflow Data to Prioritize What Matters Most

Your Workflow data and stakeholder feedback are goldmines for identifying where templates can drive the most value. The key is to look for high-frequency, repeatable work and patterns that signal template readiness.


Where will you get the most juice for the squeeze? Ask:

  • Which types of requests come up most often?
  • Where are designers repeatedly creating similar assets or segmenting by audience, channel, or product?
  • Where would self-service relieve bottlenecks? 
  • Do you have a request form for quick-turn updates?
  • Do you use an “Update” form or project template?
  • Are there custom fields like “New Project” or “Previous Project”?
  • Do you tag projects as “Existing,” “Update,” or “Revision”?
  • Is the word “Template” used in project, task, or proof names?
  • Do you have monthly, quarterly, or annual campaigns?
  • Are there evergreen assets that only need minor updates?



Reports to Identify Template Opportunities


ReportWhat It RevealsUse It To...
Project Type FrequencyReport on Request Form or custom fields like “Project Type” or “Deliverable Type” to find high-volume candidatesSpot high-volume assets that are good template candidates
Custom Field AnalysisTrends in fields like “Channel,” “Type of Update,” or “Audience”Uncover patterns in usage that suggest repeatability
Proof Versions per ProjectHow many review rounds typical assets go throughAssets frequently approved in 1–2 rounds suggest consistent formatting and are ideal for templating
Review Comments per ProofProofs with no or only 1 commentAssets approved without many comments consist predictable design and suggest repeatability
Resource Load by Project TypeLevel of effort tied to specific project typesFlag repeatable, low-effort, high-frequency requests that strain team bandwidth
Stakeholder FeedbackInformal input from requesters about bottlenecks or inefficienciesUnderstand where self-service templates would be most helpful to stakeholders



Reports to Track Template Impact


Measure Template ROIWhat to Watch For
Time to deliveryShorter project durations
Reduced requestsFewer requests for work that stakeholders can now self-service
Resource efficiencyFewer design hours per request and faster request duration
Approval speedFewer rounds of review
Content velocity indexTotal number of assets produced divided by average project duration
Overall effortReduction in logged hours (LOE) and back-and-forth communication


Lytho Pro Tip: Compare pre- and post-template metrics to validate automation success.



Design Templates for Longevity 

When designing for reuse:

  • Set consistent Character and Paragraph Styles to avoid formatting drift.
  • Anticipate content variations like long titles, image swaps, or additional copy blocks.
  • Establish clear brand guardrails for color, font, and layout decisions.
  • Use a standard naming convention for variables so they can be reused across templates.
  • Standardize supporting assets like logos or product images to ensure consistent placement when using auto-fit modes (like proportional, proportional outside). Align image crops and whitespace to avoid visual inconsistency in Data Merge templates.
  • Design with modular, segmentable layouts that define consistent zones (e.g., headline, imagery, CTA) so templates stay adaptable over time.
  • Wireframe your layouts before jumping into design to establish the structure first, then build visuals around it. This supports consistency across templates and campaigns.


Lytho Pro Tip: Longevity starts upstream. Creative teams that embrace frameworks during concepting make downstream automation far easier.



Final Thought: Start Small, Prove Value, Then Scale

Building a smart templating strategy is a journey. Start with a few (think 2 to 3) high-impact templates. Make them specific; make them great. Measure success. Then expand based on real usage and feedback.


Lytho Pro Tip: Templates are only valuable if they stay valuable. Establish a quarterly review process to assess usage, performance, organization, and needed updates to your templates. It keeps content fresh and ensures stakeholders trust self-service outputs.


Explore Tempo's Available Features

Ready to see what's possible with templates? Visit the Template Building Blocks: What’s Possible with Tempo (Tempo) for an overview of available functionality to help shape your design decisions.


Need help building your Tempo templates?

Lytho’s Professional Templating Services make it easy to build high-quality, scalable templates without burdening your internal design team. Whether you need a one-time boost, are navigating a team transition, or want to fully outsource template creation, we’re here to help. Reach out to Lytho to learn more.