designbacklog

A design backlog is a curated, prioritized list of design work items used by design teams to plan, organize, and track design-related tasks and improvements. It complements the product backlog by focusing specifically on design activities, from user interface changes to research and design system work. The backlog helps teams synchronize design efforts with product strategy and engineering sprints.

Design backlog items can take the form of design tasks, user stories, or design research activities. Common contents include UI updates, component library enhancements, accessibility improvements, visual design refreshes, interaction design changes, prototyping, usability testing, and documentation of design decisions. Items are typically created from user research findings, stakeholder requests, or roadmap priorities, and are refined over time through backlog grooming sessions.

Prioritization and workflow often mirror Agile practices. Items are estimated, prioritized based on impact and effort, and scheduled for upcoming sprints or design cycles. A definition of done for a design item may include criteria such as approved visual treatments, documented guidelines, developer-ready assets, accessibility conformance, and alignment with the design system.

Tools and integration vary by organization but common platforms include Jira, Linear, Trello, or Notion, with design tools like Figma feeding into the backlog. The design backlog supports transparency, capacity planning, and cross-functional collaboration, enabling design and engineering teams to align on priorities and deliverables. Potential challenges include backlog bloat, scope creep, and ensuring the backlog remains aligned with evolving product goals and technical constraints.