How to Give Project & Design Feedback

Tips & Guidelines: Feedback can be tricky! However, I find that the best way to go about it is giving feedback about how the design makes you feel or how you’d like it to evolve in a broad sense rather than pinpointing specific details you want to change.

For example, “I think the logo suite feels a bit mature to me, could we bring some youth back into it?” rather than “Can we make this circle thinner and this font bigger and then this symbol smaller?” works much better to help me understand what you want to achieve.

Remember to trust your designer. We want you to feel completely happy with your product, but also want you to take a breath and remember to trust in your designers expertise. I would never present a concept that I didn’t think was absolutely perfect for your brand and audience, so know that the decisions I’m making are always in your best interest.

HOW TO GIVE HELPFUL FEEDBACK

It’s no secret that the feedback stage isn’t exactly the most fun part of your design project. Honest feedback is important, but sometimes sharing your thoughts can seem daunting. Here I will give you some of my tricks into giving me feedback that is helpful, honest and kind.

1. KEEPING YOUR AUDIENCE IN MIND

2. DESIGN IS A COLLABORATION

3. ASK QUESTIONS

4. BE NICE, BUT HONEST

KEEP YOUR AUDIENCE IN MIND

When presenting us feedback it is important that first and foremost , you keep your audience top of mind. Instead of explaining what you like and don’t like, look at the designs from your ideal clients’ eyes. What would they think about the font choice? The illustration elements? The color palette? Let us know if something may not appeal well to your audience and provide some insight into why you think that.

BAD FEEDBACK: “I don’t like the typeface.”

GOOD FEEDBACK: “I think that the typeface may be too fun and quirky for our older, professional audience. A more sophisticated font may appeal more to our demographic. What do you think?

ASK QUESTIONS

Clients often do not ask questions for two reasons; fear of feeling silly, or for fear of being annoying. As your designer, it is my job to make sure you feel confident with the choices being made and I am happy to answer any questions you have for us throughout the process. Asking questions creates dialogue and shows us that you value our opinion. Asking thoughtful questions also allows us to further explain the head space behind why we made the decisions that we made, which often leads to an overall greater understanding and appreciation of the work.

BAD FEEDBACK: “I don’t like the terracotta color you used.

GOOD FEEDBACK: “I think that the typeface may be too fun and quirky for our older, professional audience. A more sophisticated font may appeal more to our demographic. What do you think?

DESIGN IS A COLLABORATION

When presenting us feedback it is important that first and foremost , you keep your audience top of mind. Instead of explaining what you like and don’t like, look at the designs from your ideal clients’ eyes. What would they think about the font choice? The illustration elements? The color palette? Let us know if something may not appeal well to your audience and provide some insight into why you think that.

BAD FEEDBACK: “Make the logo thicker and larger.”

GOOD FEEDBACK: “I am concerned that there is not enough contrast between the logo and the background and that it may be hard for our clients to read. Is there a way to fix that?”

BE NICE (BUT HONEST)

Trust us when we say that as your designers, it is SO important to us that you love your project. We want you walk away from our time together confident and excited about your new branding and if you don’t feel confident about an aspect of your branding, that is perfectly okay! Just let us know while we still have time to fix it. With that being said, don’t forget that I am people too and that creativity is deeply personal. We put our heart and soul into each and every project.Putting our work out for feedback is always a vulnerable and scary process. So please, be honest. But don’t forget to be kind too!

BAD FEEDBACK: “This is just missing the mark for me.”

GOOD FEEDBACK: “Thank you so much for all of your hard work! The color palette is perfect and we love that floral illustration. The logo is beautiful, but I am not sureif it is the best fit for the client we would like to attract.Could we set up a time to talk on the phone about revisions? Thanks again for all of your hard work!”

FAQ

• How collaborative is the design process?

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• I want to pivot directions in the midst of the project. What's the best way to do this?

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• What should I do if I'm finding it hard to articulate my feedback?

  If you're struggling to express your thoughts, you can start by sharing your initial reactions or emotions towards the design. This can help us understand your perspective and guide the conversation.

• How can I give feedback if I'm not familiar with design terminologies?

  You don't need to know technical terms to provide feedback. You can describe what you see, feel or think in your own words. For example, you can say a design feels "too loud" or "not professional enough" and we can work together to pinpoint what's causing that impression.

• I'm not sure what I don't like about the design. What should I do?

  That's okay! You can start by sharing what you do like about the design. This can help us understand your preferences and we can work from there to identify what may not be working for you.

• How can I provide constructive feedback if I don't like the design at all?

  Start with acknowledging the effort that went into the design. Then, express your thoughts focusing on your audience and your brand, rather than personal preferences. Remember, it's okay to ask questions and discuss until you feel comfortable with the direction of the design.

• What if I'm unable to provide specific feedback?

  If you're unable to provide specific feedback, consider sharing references or examples of designs you admire. This can help us understand your aesthetic preferences and expectations.

• What should I do if I don't know how to express my concerns about certain elements of the design?

  If you're unsure about certain elements, you can ask questions. For example, you can ask us why we chose a specific color or typeface. This not only helps you understand our design decisions but also provides us with insights into your concerns.