diff --git a/docs/design_doc.md b/docs/design_doc.md
index e3c2ce34..45d41b7b 100644
--- a/docs/design_doc.md
+++ b/docs/design_doc.md
@@ -240,13 +240,15 @@ One region table can refer to multiple sets of Regions. But each row can map to
     * `region: str | list[str]`: Regions or list of regions this table refers to.
     * `region_key: str`: Key in obs which says which Regions container
            this obs exists in (e.g. "library_id").
-           *In `spatialdata-io` we commonly use the name `'region'` as the default name for the `region_key` column.*
     * `instance_key: str`: Key in obs that says which instance the obs
            represents (e.g. "cell_id").
-           *In `spatialdata-io` we commonly use the name `'instance_id'` as the default name for the `instance_key` column.*
 
 If any of `region`, `region_key` and `instance_key` are defined, they all MUST be defined. A table not defining them is still allowed, but it will not be mapped to any spatial element.
 
+In `spatialdata-io` we use a consistent naming scheme for the `region_key` and `instance_key` column, which is suggested (but not required):
+- we use the name `'region'` as the default name for the `region_key` column;
+- we use the name `'instance_id'` as the default name for the `instance_key` column.
+
 ### Summary
 
 -   Image `type: Image`