Design Review Process Overview

STEPS PROJECT NAME

1. CONCEPTUAL DESIGN REVIEW
The intent of the concept review is
to verify that the concept direction
fits into the long term design
CONTACTS
planning of the product roadmap.
Approval: Director of UI
DESIGN LEAD EXT & SCREENNAME
2. DESIGN STANDARDS CHECKPOINT
This informal checkpoint is to DESIGN MANAGER EXT & SCREENNAME
confirm that the design meets
required design standards. Should PRODUCT MANAGER EXT & SCREENNAME
be done by the team.
OTHER CONTACT EXT & SCREENNAME
3. UI DESIGN REVIEW
This stage requires two signatures
for approval.
Approval: Director of UI, client STATUS SUMMARY
Conceptual Design UI Visual
4. VISUAL DESIGN REVIEW Design Standards Design Design
This stage requires two signatures Preview Checkpoint Review Review
for approval.
Approval: Director of design, client

Date

SCHEDULING
Design reviews occur: PURPOSE
Standing design reviews should be
slotted in here. The Design Review Process is a mechanism for ensuring standards,
alignment, and diligence throughout the course of the product
design process.

STANDARDS
- Ensure that designs meet appropriate standards for consistency, accessibility,
usability, internationalizability, rebrandablity, download time, etc.

ALIGNMENT
- Ensure that designs can be well-integrated into the brand(s) on which they
will be deployed.
- Ensure that designs meet business goals.
- Minimize late-stage changes to product requirements and concepts.

DILIGENCE
- Realize maximum value from early-stage design methodologies .
- Increase accountability by keeping records of review sign-ins and
design approvals.
- Involve people outside the design team at appropriate junctures.

PAGE 1
 STAGES

Design Review Process: Concept Review Conceptual

Design
Design
Standards
UI
Design
Visual
Design
Preview Checkpoint Review Review

CONCEPTUAL DESIGN ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES

REVIEW
REQUIRED ATTENDEES SIGNATURE DATE
GOALS
1. Producer/Product Manager.. Previewer
1. Review product for alignment 2. Design Lead.................................. Presenter
with broader initiatives and
possible integration with other 3. Designer......................................... Recorder
products. 4. Design Manager......................... Previewer
2. Ensure that the initial design 5. Director of UI Design............... Previewer
direction maps to the business
goals and user needs. INVITEES (consultation - when needed) SIGNATURE DATE

1. Director of Design...................................... Optional Reviewer

3. Ensure that the designer has
2. Art Director.....................................................Optional Reviewer
employed an appropriate range
of design tools and 3. Visual Designer............................................. Optional Reviewer
methodologies. 4. Creative Director.......................................... Optional Reviewer
5. Brand Champion.......................................... Optional Reviewer
4. Review resources & scheduling 6. Usability Lead................................................ Optional
assessments.
7. Production Lead........................................... Optional

WHAT GETS REVIEWED 8. Engineering Lead........................................ Optional

9.
1. DESIGN CONCEPTS 10.
- Scenarios/storyboards
- Preliminary navigation models 11.
and maps QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER
- design concepts
1. How did you reach this concept?
2. DESIGN SCHEDULE
2. What is the target audience for which this product is being designed?
3. MARKET & PROBLEM
DEFINITION
- Define the target audience 3. If you're using personas, what are the goals of the primary persona?
- Identify competitors
- Determine the core user needs 4. What are the business goals for this product?
and goals that must be fulfilled
for product success. 5. How does this concept achieve the business goals?

4. TASK ANALYSIS* 6. How did research help shape this concept?

- Determine how the users
currently accomplish the tasks 7. Which stakeholders have given input into your concept?
- Determine tools currently used,
problems experienced 8. What are the guiding principles that will drive the rest of the UI design?
- Identify tasks and tool changes.
9. How does this product integrate with other products?
5. COMPETITIVE EVALUATION*
- Determine the design strengths 10. How does this concept fit into your product road map?
and weaknesses of the
competition.

REVIEW COMPLETE
* Background information to strongly
consider providing at the review

UI Design Director (sign and print name) date

PAGE 2
 STAGES

Design Review Process: UI/ Interaction Design Review Conceptual

Design
Design
Standards
UI
Design
Visual
Design
Preview Checkpoint Review Review

UI DESIGN REVIEW ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES

GOALS REQUIRED ATTENDEES SIGNATURE DATE

1. Review interaction behaviors

1. Producer/Product Manager... Reviewer
and provide guidance to 2. Design Lead.................................... Presenter
designers on problematic
interaction issues. 3. Designer........................................... Recorder
4. Design Manager........................... Reviewer
2. Confirm utilization of the
Interaction standards and best 5. Director of UI Design..... Reviewer
practices (where applicable) 6. Creative Director......................... Reviewer
3. Confirm resolution of any INVITEES (consultation - when needed) SIGNATURE DATE
outstanding issues in Design 1. Design Director...................................... Optional Reviewer
Standards checkpoint. (i.e. 2. Art Director............................................... Optional Reviewer
language translation fit)
3. Visual Designer........................................Optional Reviewer

4. Review for proper fit to the 4. Brand Champion.....................................Optional Reviewer

brand(s) and consistency with 5. Usability Lead...........................................Optional
related products. 6. Production Lead......................................Optional
7. Engineering Lead................................... Optional
WHAT GET REVIEWED 8.
9.
1. Grayscale schematics and
wireframes. 10.

2. Storyboards
QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

3. Navigation flow with entry 1. How is the UI design tailored to the audience?
points.
2. How does this solution map to the guiding principles as identified at the
4. Task analysis and/or scenarios
Concept Review?

3. What are the most significant engineering concerns for this design?

4. What interaction standards or best practices have been employed?

5. Are there any recommended additions or changes to the style guide

based on the solutions presented and approved?

6. How is the interaction design consistent with the overall brand experience?

7. Does this design require ongoing maintenance?

APPROVAL S
Check one:
APPROVED AS IS APPROVED WITH CHANGES
(see change sheet)

DIRECTOR OF PRODUCT DESIGN (sign and print name) date

PRODUCT MANAGER (sign and print name) date

PAGE 3
 STAGES

Design Review Process: Visual Design Review Conceptual

Design
Design
Standards
UI
Design
Visual
Design
Preview Checkpoint Review Review

VISUAL DESIGN REVIEW ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES

GOALS REQUIRED ATTENDEES SIGNATURE DATE

1. Ensure that the visual design

1. Producer/Product Manager... Reviewer
maps to the initial art 2. Design Lead.................................... Presenter
direction.
3. Designer........................................... Recorder
2. Ensure that the objects (e.g., 4. Design Manager........................... Reviewer
buttons, tabs, menus, etc) follow
brand style guide (as relevant 5. Director of UI Design................ Reviewer
and appropriate). 6. Creative Director......................... Reviewer
3. Ensure that the visual design INVITEES (consultation - when needed) SIGNATURE DATE
(colors, grid, typography, 1. Publishing Design Director................. Optional Reviewer
graphical style, icons, and logos) 2. Art Director............................................... Optional Reviewer
follows brand style guide (as
3. Visual Designer........................................Optional Reviewer
relevant and appropriate).
4. Brand Champion.....................................Optional Reviewer
5. Determine if any styleguide 5. Usability Lead...........................................Optional
amendments are needed 6. Production Lead......................................Optional
(then documented and changed 7. Engineering Lead................................... Optional
within the styleguide).
8.
WHAT GETS REVIEWED 9.
10.
1. Color mockups and/or comps of
key screens.
QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER
2. Color palette.
1. How did you reach this visual design?
3. Icons, graphics, and logos.
2. How did aspects of the visual design (layout, visibility of key elements)
4. Styles for dynamic templates,
modules, and components. fare in usability testing?

3. How does this color palette map to overall branding of the site?

4. What new sets of iconography, graphics, or new logos have been employed?

APPROVAL S
Check one:
APPROVED AS IS

APPROVED WITH CHANGES

(see change sheet)

CREATIVE DIRECTOR (sign and print name) date

PRODUCT MANAGER (sign and print name) date

PAGE 4