Articles: folders

A folder is rarely the star of a meeting, yet it is the thing a client or a patient takes home. A good one keeps a full set of documents in one place and needs no explanation of who it came from.

Two main uses

• A presentation folder - a set of materials for a client: the offer, a description of your services, a business card and letterhead.
• A medical folder - test results, a description, an information card and sometimes a disc with a scan.

There are also versions in between, such as a folder with a pocket for a disc and room for a few sheets at the same time. That format suits any place where documents are handed over together with material in digital form.

What to check

Most questions concern the inside rather than the cover. It is worth checking whether there is a pocket for a business card, whether a stack of ordinary sheets will fit and whether you need a slot for a disc. Folders filled in front of a patient need a clear space for a name or a date. If the folder will be opened often, a heavier board and a film finish help - matt feels nicer in the hand, gloss copes better with marks.

Part of a wider set

A folder looks best as part of a family: letterhead, business cards and the sheets that go inside. A shared colour and the logo in the same place make the whole set feel considered. If you are putting materials together for a practice or an office, start from what actually needs to go inside and choose the look afterwards.