Decision Log Template for Documenting UX Recommendations

By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader

When working on user experience (UX) projects, decisions shape the final product. Yet, many teams struggle to keep track of why certain UX recommendations were made, who made them, and what impact they had. Without a clear record, teams risk repeating mistakes, losing valuable context, or confusing stakeholders. That’s where a decision log template becomes essential. It helps document UX recommendations clearly and consistently, making the design process more transparent and efficient.

I’ve found that using a decision log template transforms how teams communicate and collaborate on UX projects. In this post, I’ll share how to create and use a decision log template, why it matters, and practical tips to get started.

Why You Need a Decision Log for UX Recommendations

UX design involves many choices: layout changes, feature prioritization, interaction patterns, and more. Each decision affects the user journey and the product’s success. However, these decisions often happen quickly, during meetings or design reviews, and can be forgotten or misunderstood later.

A decision log helps by:

• Capturing the rationale behind each UX recommendation

• Tracking who made the decision and when

• Recording alternatives considered and reasons for rejection

• Providing a reference for future design iterations or audits

  
  

Without this documentation, teams may waste time revisiting old discussions or lose alignment on design goals. A decision log creates a shared history that supports better communication and faster onboarding of new team members.

UX designer workspace showing decision log template in use

Example of a decision log template in a UX design workspace

What to Include in a UX Decision Log Template

A good decision log template balances detail with simplicity. It should be easy to fill out and review, yet comprehensive enough to capture key information. Here are the main fields I recommend including:

• Decision ID

A unique identifier for each decision to keep the log organized.

• Date

When the decision was made.

• Decision Maker(s)

Names or roles of the people responsible for the decision.

• Context

Brief description of the situation or problem that led to the decision.

• UX Recommendation

Clear statement of the recommended action or change.

• Rationale

Explanation of why this recommendation was chosen, including user research insights, data, or design principles.

• Alternatives Considered

Other options that were discussed and reasons they were not selected.

• Impact

Expected or observed effects on user experience or business goals.

• Status

Current state of the decision (e.g., proposed, approved, implemented, rejected).

• Notes

Additional comments or links to related documents.

This structure helps teams quickly understand each decision’s background and status without digging through emails or meeting notes.

How to Use a Decision Log Template Effectively

Creating the template is only the first step. To get the most value, integrate the decision log into your UX workflow:

• Make it a habit to fill out the log immediately after design meetings or decision points. Delays cause details to be lost.

  
  

• Assign ownership so someone is responsible for maintaining the log and ensuring entries are complete.

  
  

• Review the log regularly during project check-ins to keep everyone aligned and spot any unresolved issues.

  
  

• Link decisions to design artifacts like wireframes, prototypes, or user test results for easy reference.

  
  

• Use the log to onboard new team members by giving them a clear history of UX choices and reasoning.

  
  

In my experience, teams that treat the decision log as a living document avoid confusion and improve collaboration.

Close-up of a digital decision log template with UX recommendations

Close-up of a digital decision log showing detailed UX recommendations

Real-World Example of a UX Decision Log Entry

Here’s a simplified example from a recent project where we redesigned a mobile app’s onboarding flow:

• Decision ID: UX-001

• Date: 2024-05-10

• Decision Maker(s): UX Lead, Product Manager

• Context: Users drop off during onboarding, especially on the permissions screen.

• UX Recommendation: Simplify permissions request by splitting it into two steps with clear explanations.

• Rationale: User testing showed confusion and hesitation when asked for all permissions at once. Splitting the requests reduces cognitive load.

• Alternatives Considered: Keep single permissions screen (rejected due to high drop-off), remove permissions request (not feasible).

• Impact: Expected to increase onboarding completion rate by 15%.

• Status: Approved and implemented.

• Notes: Linked to usability test report #23.

  
  

This entry helped the team remember why the onboarding was changed and provided a clear metric to measure success.

Tips for Customizing Your Decision Log Template

Every team and project is different, so tailor your template to fit your needs:

• Use simple tools like spreadsheets, shared docs, or project management software to keep the log accessible.

  
  

• Add fields for user feedback or design version numbers if your process requires it.

  
  

• Consider color-coding or tagging decisions by priority or type (e.g., UI, content, interaction).

  
  

• Keep the template short and focused to encourage consistent use.

  
  

• Train your team on the importance of documenting decisions and how to use the log.