A useful design review does not end with a list of preferences. It connects each observation to a project goal, identifies the effect on people and gives the team a clear next decision.
Agree on the question
Before reviewing drawings, name the decisions that are still open: access, massing, shade, material or the relationship to the street. This keeps discussion focused and prevents late changes from being mistaken for small refinements.
Use evidence, not adjectives
Replace vague comments such as ‘more welcoming’ with observable criteria. Ask where people enter, what they see first and how long they remain comfortable outside. A short diagram or annotated photograph can make a comment actionable.
Close the loop
Record the agreed response beside each comment and check it in the next issue of drawings. This creates a shared brief that improves over time instead of a pile of disconnected revisions.
