How I Design a Notion Template From Scratch
A behind-the-scenes look at my process, from messy paper sketches to the final duplicate link.
Every template starts on paper. I buy cheap notebooks and sketch the layout by hand — boxes, arrows, little notes about what goes where. There's something about pen and paper that keeps me from over-engineering before I understand the problem.
Then I build a rough version in Notion for myself and use it for two weeks. This is the part people skip. I need to know what it feels like on a Tuesday morning when I'm rushed and not in the mood to organize. If a template only works when I'm calm and caffeinated, it's not ready.
After that, I strip it down. I remove every property and view I didn't touch during those two weeks. Then I add the gentle touches — a welcome page, a short how-to, and a color palette that feels like a deep breath. The final step is having three friends test it and watching where they get confused. Their questions become the FAQ.
By the time a template hits the shop, it's been through at least six revisions. That's why updates are free for life — I'm still refining them based on what you tell me.