Download the comment tracker
The structure below as a ready-to-use workbook — one row per comment, response and status dropdowns, plus the status values and ground rules on their own tabs. Same sheet as our CRS template; as this post explains, they are the same instrument.
Design Review Comment Tracker (Comment Log) Template
A comment tracker is only as good as the columns you agree on before the first review. Photo: tiago alves via Pexels.
A design review comment tracker — also called a comment log — is the running record of every comment raised during a design review and what happened to it. This page gives you a free, copy-ready template plus the rules that keep it usable once several reviewers and revisions are involved.
The Comment Tracker Template
Copy this structure into Excel or Google Sheets. One row per comment, per document revision.
| Column | What Goes In It |
|---|---|
| Comment ID | Permanent, unique identifier (e.g. C-042) — never reused |
| Document / Revision | The deliverable and revision reviewed |
| Location | Sheet, section, or detail reference |
| Comment | The issue, written as a verifiable requirement |
| Raised By / Discipline | Reviewer name and discipline |
| Date Raised | When the comment was logged |
| Response | The author's written reply |
| Response Code | Accepted / Accepted with Comment / Rejected / Clarification Needed |
| Status | Open / Answered / In Discussion / Closed |
| Closed By / Date | Who verified closure, and when |
Recommended Status Values
Keep the list short — ambiguous statuses are the main reason comment logs stop being trusted:
- Open — raised, no response yet (author's move)
- Answered — author has responded, awaiting verification (reviewer's move)
- In Discussion — response disputed; needs a decision (lead's move)
- Closed — reviewer confirmed the fix in the revised document (final)
How to Run the Tracker
- One consolidator owns the sheet; reviewers submit comments to them.
- Give every comment a permanent ID and keep it stable across revisions.
- Only the reviewer closes a comment — the author responding is not closure.
- Carry open comments forward into the next revision instead of starting fresh.
- Snapshot the log (PDF) at each milestone for the audit trail.
Comment Tracker vs Comment Resolution Sheet
A comment tracker, a comment log, and a comment resolution sheet (CRS) are the same instrument under different names. "Tracker" and "log" emphasise the running record; "resolution sheet" emphasises formal closure. The columns and rules are identical — use whichever term your team and contract prefer.
When a Spreadsheet Stops Working
A spreadsheet tracker is fine for a handful of documents and one reviewer. It breaks when reviewers comment in parallel (consolidating copies is manual on every cycle), when revisions stack up (open comments get lost in copy-paste), and when you need proof of who changed what and when. Contrat.io removes those failure modes — tracked comments, role-based closure, automatic carry-over, and a full audit trail. Try it free for 30 days, no credit card required.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a design review comment tracker?
It is the running record of every comment raised during a design review — the comment, the response, and the status — used to make sure each one is answered and closed rather than lost.
What columns should a comment log have?
At minimum: a permanent Comment ID, the document and revision, a location, the comment, the author response and response code, the status, and who closed it and when.
Is a comment log the same as a comment resolution sheet?
Yes — comment log, comment tracker, and comment resolution sheet are different names for the same tool. The columns and workflow are identical.
How do I track design review comments across revisions?
Give each comment a permanent ID, keep open comments carried forward into the next revision, and close a comment only after the reviewer verifies the fix in the revised document.