Design Review Before Client Approval: What We Look For (and Why It Matters)
When a design lands in our inbox to be templated, there’s a moment of quiet assessment.
Not for the aesthetic—that’s the designer’s domain.
We’re looking for how well it will function once it’s in Word, PowerPoint, or Excel.
Because the truth is: beautiful design doesn’t always translate into usable templates.
That’s where our free design review comes in. Before the templating even begins, we scan for issues that could create problems down the track—for both the client and the designer.
Here’s what we’re looking at:
1. Style Hierarchy: Is it clear and consistent?
We check whether the heading levels are distinguishable, logical, and consistently used.
This matters not just for visual flow, but for usability—especially in long documents.
💡 Tip: If a user can’t apply the correct style in one click, the hierarchy is too complicated.
2. Text Box Logic: Does it behave as expected?
Designs with multiple layered text boxes or grouped shapes might look great, but once in Word or PowerPoint, they become unpredictable.
💡 Tip: Editable content should be placed in native text placeholders—not floating boxes that shift when clicked.
3. Font Use: Are we sticking with system fonts?
We love a unique brand typeface—but if it’s not installed on your client’s machine, it won’t render properly. That means layout breaks, accessibility issues, and a confused end-user.
💡 Tip: Use brand fonts in static design elements, but keep editable styles simple and system-based.
4. Spacing Consistency: Are things pixel-perfect and practical?
4pt differences might not show up in design tools, but they cause chaos in Office. We look for consistent spacing between headings, paragraphs, bullet lists, and table elements.
💡 Tip: Think like a template user, not a layout artist.
5. Locked vs Editable: Is it obvious what can be changed?
If a visual element looks editable but isn’t, it creates confusion. We flag any areas where the user might assume they can type or move something but can’t.
💡 Tip: If it’s decorative, make it feel decorative. If it’s editable, make it foolproof.
Want Us to Review Your Design?
We offer this service completely free for studios and clients who want peace of mind before build begins.
Just email us your design as a PDF, and we’ll review it as soon as we can. No pressure, no commitments—just clarity before you commit to templating.
📩 info@timplates.com.au
Why This Review Matters
A great design should still be great after it’s templated.
But if we skip this review process, even the best creative work can turn into a formatting disaster.
Designers get frustrated.
Clients get confused.
And the final output ends up being... not so final.
This early review is our way of catching potential issues before they derail the process.
It keeps projects efficient, clients happy, and designs intact.
Because in the world of templates, good design is only the beginning.
Ready to talk about your project?
For general enquiries and project scoping
Click here to book with Stacey
For technical functionality and complex template builds
