Checklist
Design review checklist
An internal review is not a taste check. It is the last chance to catch a missing page, a broken file, a type error or a concept that does not answer the brief. This checklist keeps the critique focused and the handoff to the client clean.
Set the review
- The brief
Put the brief, the audience and the success criteria at the top of the review. The team should critique the work against the brief, not against personal preference.
- The stage
Say whether this is a concept review, a design review or a pre-production check. Each stage has different questions and a different level of polish.
- The reviewer
Choose one person to lead the critique and one person to record the decisions. A review with no owner produces comments without a resolution.
Review the work
- Concept and hierarchy
Check that the main message is clear, the hierarchy matches the brief and the work is appropriate for the audience.
- Type and details
Check the spelling, the line breaks, the alignment, the image resolution and the margin. These are the errors a client remembers.
- Production
Check the page count, the bleed, the colour mode, the image links and the file format. A beautiful file that cannot print is not finished.
- Decision
End with one of three outcomes: approved for client review, changes required, or back to concept. Record the owner and the date for each change.
Before it leaves
- Second pair of eyes
Ask someone who did not design the piece to open the final file and read it cold. They will catch the typo the team has stopped seeing.
- Version name
Rename the file with the project, the version and the date. Do not send a file called final or final final.
- Client preview
Open the review link as the client will see it. Check that internal comments are not visible and the decision button is clear.
Questions
Who should attend an internal design review?
The designer, the creative lead and the account or project lead. Add a production artist when the work is close to print.
How long should a design review take?
It depends on the scope. A single layout can take 20 minutes; a campaign or a 40-page document needs a longer session and a written follow-up.
Should the client see the internal comments?
No. Internal comments are the team's working notes. The client should see only the comments and questions the studio chooses to share.
Sources
Reviewed November 3, 2026. Public pages can change; check the source before relying on a date or a price.