Creativity is all about collaboration. Cool things happen when people work together. That’s why design feedback is vital. Finding the best ways to communicate your vision to your designer is super important.
This is much easier said than done right? It’s common for ideas to get lost in translation and that leads to frustration for both you and your designer. This results in the final design not being what you wanted.
So, let’s turn those feedback fails into design wins!
We’ve put together 6 feedback fails —that you’ll need to avoid so your designers can understand your vision and deliver the work you need.
Feedback fail 1: Impossible design requests
When a designer reads your brief, their goal is to make your creative vision come to life. But that means you have to be fair, most design does have rules and not everything is possible.
Certain colours and fonts won’t work and sometimes things can’t fit onto one page. There’s nothing wrong with asking your designers to do a lot. That’s their job. But sometimes even design can’t solve every problem.
How to solve this?
Ask questions and listen to them. Often designers will tell you when your creative vision just isn’t feasible or if they think they’ve found a better solution. Ask them lots of honest questions, but trust them to know the best way to lead your project. If you don’t understand something, ask them why. When you work together, you’ll be able to create something that you’re both proud of.
Feedback fail 2: Being unrealistic
Design can make some some pretty magical things happen. A great design has the power to take big ideas and reimagine them into something that’s both beautiful and easy to understand.
But it can’t do everything.
A logo can’t (and shouldn’t) tell a million stories. A poster only has so much room on it. A business card has to fit in your pocket.
There’s nothing wrong with giving designers a challenge, but unrealistic expectations make it hard for collaboration to happen. If you expect your designer to be able to do it all, you’re going to be disappointed.
How to solve this?
Understand boundaries. Design can’t do everything. Keep your requirements clear, simple, and easy to understand. Maybe run your creative brief or feedback by a few other stakeholders. They’ll be able to tell you if your comments don’t make sense or are unrealistic.
Feedback fail 3 : Incorrect terminology
Don’t confuse terminology.
Designers are taking direction from you. The more precise you can be with your design feedback, the better. Knowing what you want but using the wrong words will add confusion and delay the progress of your design.
How to solve this?
Understand the lingo and use those terms right. If you can speak the language of your designer, you’re that much closer to getting that design you’re after. You’ll understand them. They’ll understand you. Simple.
Feedback fail 4 : Vague Feedback
Vague design feedback is the worst.
No matter how hard you try, there will always be the issue of unhelpful feedback. “I don’t like it” or “We love the direction you’re going in, but it’s not quite right” will probably always exist.
Working with non-creatives can be challenging, and is the most often scenario when this type of feedback arises. Keeping things vague can add an unnecessary level of guesswork to your design process. Without clear direction, designers are in the dark about your vision, and your final design will suffer.
How to solve this?
Be very, very specific. Describe exactly what you’re looking for. Is it a colour issue? Is the layout not right? Is the font incorrect?
Instead of “Its not quite right” you could say, “I need the title to stand out more. Could you give me some other font or colour choices?” Or if words are failing you, use very clear visual examples that illustrate your design direction. Find something that aligns to what you after , and tell your designer what you like about it.
Work out exactly what your gut reactions are and use clear words to collaborate with your designer to find a solution together.
Feedback fail 5 : Unnecessary Comments
Let’s talk about being critical without being brutal.
Whether you’re a manager, collaborator, or client, you want to avoid beating up on your designers when you give feedback. But you also need to be critical. This fine line is hard to tread, and can result in managers giving half-hearted feedback or even the dreaded “yeah, looks fine.”
How to solve this?
Designers are used to receiving feedback. A little criticism won’t hurt their feelings as long as it’s direct and honest. You should feel comfortable sharing both positive and negative design feedback.
That said, don’t forget that designers are people too. Opening your work up to feedback is a vulnerable process, even for professionals.
Be thoughtful about the way you frame your design feedback. Make sure the feedback is about the design, not the designer. An easy way to do this is avoid using “you” in your design feedback.
Constructive criticism is helpful. Personal insults are hurtful.
Feedback fail 6: Confusing feedback
Long descriptive words are great for kicking off a brief and providing creative inspiration. That’s when you can invite your designer to really be inventive.
When you’re in the feedback stage though, you’ll want to be crystal clear. At this point, long winded words might mean one thing to you and another to your designer. Confusing feedback like this will lead to an endless chain of revisions that will result in your frustration and designer burn-out.
How to solve this?
Just say exactly what you mean. Try to compose your feedback in the simplest possible way. Be specific or your designer will make a decision for you.
Re4m can lead to a better design feedback process
Re4m accelerates the creative production lifecycle through real-time collaboration, online annotation and approval ensuring pixel perfect and legally compliant content
Try us for free today
Simplicity + clarity = Awesome designs
It’s an easy equation. Arm yourself with these tips and you’ll be on your way to a fantastic design and an even better working relationship with that genius designer of yours.