5 ways to approach design feedback
Receiving feedback is a vital part of the design process to help refine and enhance any creative work. While receiving feedback can be challenging at times, it is best to see it as a stepping stone towards improvement. Design feedback can be subjective, meaning that it is influenced by someone's personal opinion and experiences, this can be a valuable perspective which can help elevate your designs. Learning how to respond to feedback will help you grow from a good designer to a great one. Check out my 5 ways to approach receiving feedback like the great designer you are.
Everyone has room for improvement
One of the key parts to handling feedback is taking on a growth mindset. Explore the idea of feedback being an opportunity to learn and improve your own skills, rather than it being criticism of your work. It’s best to approach feedback with an open mind, this will help to understand where the improvements can be made and actioned into place.
Understanding the different types of feedback
When receiving feedback, it’s best to be aware if it is for the overall success of the project or a subjective preference to the design. Focus on the most important and impactful suggestions that can really level up the designs. Be proactive by leading the session with what area you’re looking for comments on. Identify your goals and suggest potential solutions that you may have in mind.
There’s no such thing as a silly question
It is essential to get clarification on the feedback being provided to ensure that nothing is left unclear. Instead of making any assumptions, ask questions regarding which parts of the design the feedback is addressing. This also shows your commitment to wanting to improve the designs you’re working on. If the feedback is vague, don’t be shy to ask for more details – this can help the designer to dive deeper into the constructive criticism and understand what’s not working with the current design. It’s also a great way to ensure time isn’t wasted and that the project can move on efficiently.
Keeping note of your feedback
Once you have received feedback it is best to write it all down and keep note of all the comments. This can be very helpful for many reasons – it creates a checklist for you to work through; it will give you confidence that you did not miss any amendments when the time comes to present the project; it is effective for future projects as you can look back on your previous notes, ensuring that you avoid making the same mistakes again.
Developing communication skills
Having effective communication skills is a core element to successful design collaboration. As a designer it is crucial to be able to explain your design process and why you have made the decisions you have. This helps make a transparent and collaborative work environment where constructive feedback is flowing throughout. Everyone having a strong understanding of the project helps avoid any misunderstanding.
Back in 2016, Facebook started a blog piece called “a peek inside a facebook critique”. This involved designers from the outside world submitting their personal projects and getting invited to a virtual critique session with six designers from Facebook's design team. These blog posts give a report on the feedback provided to the designer and how the team goes about delivering criticism. In an insightful quote, Facebook Head of Design Tanner Christensen explains “Getting the right question out is vastly more important than trying to find the right answer.” This shows how important it is for a designer to actively seek out feedback throughout the design process.
Find out more about the blog sessions here! Medium.com - peek inside a facebook design critique
Your ability to implement design feedback will improve greatly with experience and ultimately allows you to become a better designer. By harnessing a growth mindset, differentiating feedback, asking clarifying questions, keeping notes and developing communication skills, you'll be able to utilise feedback like a boss.
Take feedback as a valuable tool for growth and improvement, and watch your design skills bloom!
