How to Simplify Design Reviews in Jira with Smart Attachments and Checklist for Jira Cloud

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If you’ve ever managed design reviews in Jira, you probably know how chaotic they can get. Between multiple versions of mockups, wireframes, and brand assets, feedback scattered across comments, emails, and chat apps, and the constant question of “Who approved what?”, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.

Here’s a practical way to make design reviews smoother, more predictable, and right inside Jira tasks.

Common challenges in design reviews in Jira

Design reviews often involve multiple people: designers, product managers, developers, clients, and sometimes marketing or sales teams. Some challenges that often come up include:

• Multiple file versions. It’s not always clear which version is the most up-to-date. Teams can accidentally review old versions or lose track of the latest changes.

• Scattered feedback. Comments and suggestions might be in Jira work items, emails, or chats, making it difficult to gather all the feedback in one place.

• No standard workflow. Every review might be handled a bit differently. Sometimes steps are skipped, approvals are missed, or it’s unclear who should do what next.

These small issues can slow down the review process and create unnecessary stress for everyone involved.

Structuring the review process

One simple but effective approach is to define a clear workflow for the review. Breaking the review into steps like “Initial review,” “Client feedback,” and “Final approval” makes it easier for everyone to follow along. A few tips:

• Assign responsibilities. Make it clear who is responsible for each step.

• Set deadlines. This keeps the review process moving and avoids bottlenecks.

• Use templates for recurring reviews. If your team reviews similar assets regularly, a template ensures nothing is missed.

To support this approach, we’ve built an app called Checklist for Jira Cloud | Smart ToDo Lists. It lets you turn your workflow into a clear checklist with assignees, due dates, and templates for repeatable processes. While you can also manage review steps manually in Jira, using a checklist app makes the process clearer and more predictable for everyone involved.

Organizing design files in Jira

It also helps to store all design files directly in the Jira issue. A few tips:

• Label files clearly. Include version numbers or dates, such as “Wireframe v2” or “Final Mockup.”

• Group files by type or date. Facilitate navigation without opening multiple folders or links.

• Keep files in one place. Avoid sending files back and forth by email or chat.

Keeping everything centralized reduces confusion and ensures that everyone is reviewing the correct version.

One way to organize this process smoothly is to use Smart Attachments for Jira, which our company also developed. It helps manage files inside Jira with labels, grouping, and version revision, so teams always know which file is the latest.

Why it works

When files are organized and the workflow is clear:

• Everyone is working from the same version of the files.

• Feedback and approvals are tracked in one place and are easy to follow.

• Different versions of files don’t get lost, making it simple to finalize the work.

• The whole review process feels more predictable and less stressful for the team.

Key takeaway

Design reviews in Jira don’t have to be chaotic. The main ideas are simple:

1. Centralize your files so everyone is working on the right version.

2. Define a clear workflow so steps and approvals are predictable.

Tools like Smart Attachments and Checklist for Jira Cloud are one way to implement this approach. By keeping files organized and following a structured review workflow, you can save time, reduce stress, and make design reviews easier for everyone.