Design Review Checklist
A design review checklist ensures every review covers the same critical areas, so nothing slips through the cracks. Whether you are reviewing your own work or a teammate's design, running through a structured checklist before sign-off catches issues that ad-hoc feedback often misses. Below is a comprehensive checklist organized by design discipline — use it during every design review to maintain consistency and quality across your projects.
Typography
- Is the heading hierarchy clear? H1, H2, and H3 should be visually distinct from one another.
- Is body text large enough to read comfortably? Aim for at least 16px on desktop and 14px on mobile.
- Are line lengths between 45 and 75 characters for optimal readability?
- Do font weights create enough contrast between headings and body text?
Color and Contrast
- Does text meet WCAG AA contrast ratios — at least 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text?
- Is the color palette consistent with the brand guidelines across every screen?
- Are interactive elements visually distinguishable from non-interactive ones?
- Does the design work in dark mode if applicable, without losing hierarchy or readability?
Layout and Spacing
- Is there enough whitespace between sections to prevent visual clutter and guide the eye?
- Does the layout work on mobile, tablet, and desktop without horizontal scrolling?
- Is the visual hierarchy clear — does the most important element on each screen stand out?
- Are alignment and grid spacing consistent throughout the entire design?
Accessibility
- Can all interactive elements be reached and operated with keyboard navigation alone?
- Do all meaningful images have descriptive alt text, and are decorative images hidden from screen readers?
- Are all form fields properly labeled with associated label elements?
- Does the design avoid relying on color alone to convey meaning or status?
Content and Copy
- Is the copy clear, concise, and free of internal jargon that users would not understand?
- Are calls-to-action specific and action-oriented rather than generic phrases like "Click here"?
- Does the content flow logically from top to bottom, guiding the user toward the primary action?
- Are error states, empty states, and loading states designed — not left as afterthoughts?
Ready to review your design?
Use CritiqueFlow to run through this checklist with pin-based feedback directly on your design.
