How to save/load workspaces on El Capitan?
To assign a space to an application, you:


Activate the space where you want the application to live...
Right click the application icon in the dock


Choose: Options &gt; Assign to: This Desktop



This will make it so that the application always opens to that space.

Applications typically remember their window location, so as far as that goes, it should in most cases be just set it and forget it type of situation.



If you want multiple layouts, you might want to try out Moom. Not the only app that does that, but I'd say it's the best one I know. You can use it to save snapshots of  application locations that can be restored via menu or shortcuts.

Should be noted that Moom doesn't control the application space, just the size and location.