Guidelines on upload of assets in a Design System

Note: Always refer to your client’s specific guidelines for managing the Design System. The information below provides general guidance on how to use Activator to upload local shared assets.

Recommended Approach for Asset Management

Activator allows users to upload assets directly to the Design System, but Activator Support strongly recommends using a DAM (Digital Asset Management system) for storing and managing assets instead.

Reasons for using a DAM instead of the Design System for asset storage:

1. Approval: Assets uploaded directly to Activator are not reviewed or approved.

2. Performance: A large number of local assets in the Design System can slow down download times on end devices.

3. Reusability: Assets stored in a DAM can be shared across brands and products.

When uploading to a DAM, ensure assets are:

• Approved

• Properly meta-tagged for easy filtering (by product, country, etc.)

If your agency doesn’t have permissions to approve assets in the DAM, uploading directly to the Design System or storing assets on a specific Slide may be a quicker workaround.

Examples of Local Assets:

• Images

• Videos

• Audio files

• Other media

Best Practices for Uploading Assets:

• Use clear naming conventions: Avoid generic names like "Picture 1." Instead, use formats like COUNTRY_YEAR_BRAND_DESCRIPTION.

• Avoid special characters: When naming digital assets, slides, or binders.

• Use scalable formats: Prefer SVG or PNG for visual elements.

• Ensure high resolution: For better scalability and visual quality.

It’s also possible to disable the option to upload local assets in Activator entirely. Contact your Activator Account Manager for details.

Important Note on Testing

Always test your content after any Activator or Design System upgrade, as well as after any DAM updates, to ensure everything functions correctly.