A decision log records what you changed between your first sketch and the final layout, and why. It lets you explain your process with reasons, not just a list of steps.
This lesson is part of the SPM subjects and learning resources collection for Digital Graphic Design.
The four stages to record
- Concept sketch: the first idea, by hand.
- Rough layout: the sketch placed on a page with real sizes.
- Test and feedback: a check by someone reading it.
- Final layout: the version you submit.
At each stage, write down the decision, the reason and any option you rejected. Three short notes per stage are enough.
Worked example: a fictional science-fair flyer
This project is invented for practice. A student designs an A5 flyer for a school science fair.
| Stage | Decision | Reason | Rejected option |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concept sketch | Large title at the top, a photo of a volcano model in the middle | The title and image are the two things a passer-by should notice first | Title placed at the bottom, which made the page feel unbalanced |
| Rough layout | Title set at 48 pt, date at 20 pt, body text at 12 pt | Clear size steps so that the reading order is obvious | All text at 16 pt, which gave no clear first item |
| Test and feedback | Reader held the flyer at arm’s length and could not read the date | The date was light grey on white, so contrast was too low | Enlarging the date only, which would crowd the image |
| Final layout | Date changed to dark blue on white, same size | Higher contrast fixes the problem without changing the layout | Adding a coloured box around the date |
Each row has a decision, a reason tied to a design principle, and an option the student tried and dropped.
Process answer: listing versus reasoning
Question (5 marks): Describe how you developed your flyer from the concept sketch to the final layout.
List answer: “I made a sketch. Then I put it on the computer. Then I showed someone. Then I made changes and finished.”
This has the order but no reasons.
Reasoned answer:
- I sketched the title at the top and a volcano image in the centre so these two items would be seen first.
- In the rough layout I set the title at 48 pt, the date at 20 pt and the body at 12 pt, because different sizes show the reading order clearly. I rejected one size for all text since nothing stood out.
- A reader at arm’s length could not read the date, which was light grey. I changed it to dark blue because the higher contrast makes it legible from a distance.
- The final layout keeps the same positions, which shows the test fixed the problem without a redesign.
Each sentence says what was done and why.
The mistake that costs marks
The usual slip is writing the log at the end from memory. You remember the final version well, so you make up the reasons.
Write each line as you finish the stage. Two minutes at the end of every work session is enough. A date in the first column also shows the order in which you worked.
What makes a good reason
A reason should point to a principle or a test result. Examples include readability, contrast, balance, the audience, or a constraint such as paper size.
“I liked it better” is not a reason. “The photo was easier to recognise at this size” is.
Check yourself
In the flyer example, write one log line for a new decision: moving the school logo from the top right to the bottom right after feedback that it competed with the title.
Answer
Stage: test and feedback. Decision: move the logo to the bottom right. Reason: a reader said it competed with the title at the top, and supporting items should be less prominent than the main message. Rejected option: making the logo smaller but keeping it at the top, which would still draw the eye early.
Any line with a decision, a principle-based reason and a rejected option earns the marks.
What to study next
Go back to explaining visual hierarchy in a composition to sharpen the reasons you write in the log, then check your writing with the structured-answer self-review tool.
Software practice and assessed projects stay with your school. If you want a teacher to go through your log and sketches with you, see online one-to-one Digital Graphic Design tuition.