List what you already know
Count known inconsistencies, time since your last audit, and team size.
DESIGN DEBT BACKLOG
Design Debt
Identifies accumulated UI inconsistencies and shortcuts and turns them into a prioritized design-debt backlog.
- Uses your inputs in a transparent calculation
- Instant result with practical next steps
- No signup required
Planning guidance only. Validate important decisions with customer evidence and your delivery team.
YOUR INPUTS
Build your result
Complete every field. The result updates only when you choose Calculate.
How it works
Get a debt score
Design Debt combines those into a single score showing how urgent cleanup is.
Turn it into a backlog
Use the next steps to schedule cleanup work before it compounds further.
Continue learning: Who should approve MVP requirements?
Frequently asked questions
Why does team size affect the score?
More people shipping UI without a shared reference tends to increase drift faster, even with good intentions.
Is design debt the same as technical debt?
It's the UI equivalent — shortcuts and inconsistencies that were reasonable in the moment but slow the team and confuse users if left unaddressed.
How often should we audit?
Quarterly is a reasonable cadence for an early-stage product; monthly if the team is growing quickly.
How We Compare
| Feature | MVPHub | Spreadsheet backlog | Design QA plugins |
|---|---|---|---|
| Instant debt score | Included | Not included | Limited |
| No setup required | Included | Included | Not included |
| Prioritised next steps included | Included | Not included | Limited |
| Tracks the backlog over time | Not included | Included | Limited |
A spreadsheet tracks debt once it's logged. Design Debt gives you the initial score and prioritised starting list before you set that tracking up.
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