[Due to low adoption we're deprecating and removing Design Management](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-com/Product/-/issues/14413#note_2947006098). ## Deprecation Plan November 1st, 2025 - January 9th, 2026 * [x] [Internal stakeholder approval](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-com/Product/-/work_items/14413) * [x] @izzychu * [x] @mflouton * [x] @gweaver * [x] @nickleonard * [x] @mvanremmerden * [x] @vshushlin * [x] @johnhope * [x] @m_gill * [x] Submit deprecation request via [breaking change exemption template](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-com/Product/-/issues/new?description_template=Breaking-Change-Exception) * [x] Merge deprecation notice into %"18.6" * [x] [Documentation updates: Mark feature as deprecated in docs](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/merge_requests/213985) Due May 2027, Milestone 20.0 * [ ] Engineering Work Required * [ ] [Remove the ability to upload new designs via Design Management but retain the ability to read and save existing designs](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/plan-stage/product-planning/product-validation/-/issues/8) * [ ] [Launch 30-day in-app broadcast message on issues leading up to 19.0 (this message disappears after being seen one time)](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/work_items/593904) * [ ] Product Work Required * [ ] Reminder to internal Analyst Relations, Customer Success, Solution Architects, Customer Support and Product Marketing teams of removal. * [ ] Documentation updated with alternative methods to leveraging Design Management. This could be both manually linking designs, or via an Iframe Embed (being introduced in %"18.10"). Due October 2026, Milestone 20.6 * [ ] Product Work Required * [ ] Reminder to internal Analyst Relations, Customer Success, Solution Architects, Customer Support and Product Marketing teams of removal * [ ] Personal communication campaign to top 20 highest usage customers * [ ] Publish a blog at end of 20.6 about the deprecation (can collaborate with marketing on this) Due February 2028, Milestone 20.9 * [ ] Engineering Work Required * [ ] Automatic migration that posts existing designs as comments on the issue to preserve audit trail. Due May 2028 for 21.0 * [ ] Engineering Work Required * [ ] Completely remove design management functionality to be Merged by 21.0. Users cannot upload, read, or save designs in Design Management. * [ ] Close out https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/work_items/34279+ * [ ] Product Work Required * [ ] Reminder to internal Analyst Relations, Customer Success, Solution Architects, Customer Support and Product Marketing teams of removal. * [ ] Documentation updated with complete remove of Design Management and alternative methods. * [ ] Close https://gitlab.com/gitlab-com/Product/-/work_items/14413+ and ensure all associate work items for this deprecation are located and closed