Free template, copy and use

Free design review template

A design review gets the right people to challenge a design before it's built. This template states the problem and the options, so feedback is about trade-offs, not taste.

Let Acta fill it in

Paste it into Google Docs, Word, Notion or an email. Replace the [brackets].

Design review template

Review

Design: [name] | Author: [name] | Reviewers: [names] | Date: [date]

Problem

What we're solving and for whom: [ ]

Proposed design

[Summary and link to the document]

Alternatives considered

[Option] | Why not: [ ]

Questions for reviewers

[Question the author wants answered]

Feedback

[Point] | From: [name] | Must fix / Consider

Decision

Approved / Approved with changes / Needs another review

Next steps

[Action] | Owner: [name] | Due: [date]

How to use this template

  • Share the design document at least a day before.
  • Ask reviewers to mark feedback as must-fix or consider.
  • Record the decision and the reasons for it.

Skip the typing

Acta records your Zoom, Google Meet and Teams meetings, with or without a bot, and writes the notes for you: a summary, decisions, next steps and action items with owners, next to the transcript. Free for 15 days.

Try Acta free Engineering review for the CTO

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Frequently asked questions

Related:

Who should attend a design review?

The author, people who'll build or run it, and someone who knows the area well enough to challenge it.

What should come out of a design review?

A clear decision, the changes required and who will make them.

Is this design review template free?

Yes. Copy it into Google Docs, Word, Notion or an email and use it as often as you like. No sign-up needed.

Can AI fill in the design review for me?

Yes. Acta records the meeting on Zoom, Google Meet or Microsoft Teams, with or without a bot, or in person with the mobile app, and writes the notes, decisions and action items with owners afterwards. Anything the meeting didn't cover is left out, not made up.