If you ask any experienced site builder, what’s the best way of modifying a content type layout, you’ll be given a few options. There’s always a few valid ways of achieving something in Drupal.

One way of modifying a content type is to edit its template. Simply go into your theme copy the “node.tpl.php” to “node--article.tpl.php” and you’re good to go. However, your designers will need to know PHP and the theme system which can be difficult to learn.

Another way is to use Panels/Panelizer to control content type layouts. Panels is an amazing module, but it takes time to learn.

Or you could look at using Display Suite for the layouts. Display Suite is a big suite of modules. It can be used as mentioned, to change content type layouts, but you can also use it to change the node edit form. This ability will make you popular amongst the editors who use your site. Now you’ll be able to cleanup and order fields in a better way by placing them into regions.