How to Give Good Design Feedback as a Client?

 Have you ever received feedback from customers that leaves you devastated and empty?

As a design firm, we at Arounda know the value of good design feedback. No matter what we're working on, whether it's UI/UX design or product redesign, quality feedback ensures our team stays aligned with clients and their goals. In this article, based on our experience, we'll share the best ways of giving design feedback as a client.

The Importance of Effective Design Feedback

Poor feedback management can cause new products to fail. For several reasons, feedback is essential for both designers and clients. 

• It acts as a reality check, offering valuable insights that designers might miss when they're too close to a project. This feedback is like a mirror, revealing the effectiveness of design choices and guiding improvements. 
• Feedback fuels innovation by fostering a continuous learning process. It validates design choices and pinpoints areas for refinement, allowing designers to iterate and enhance their products. 
• Design feedback sharing is part of a collaboration among team members, clients, and stakeholders. It enables thorough review and analysis of design ideas, highlighting strengths and areas for improvement. 

If you know how to give feedback to a designer, you will get better results on a project. Therefore, feedback isn't just a one-time event but a vital part of the iterative design process, ensuring that products evolve to effectively meet user needs.

When to Give Design Feedback?

One of the most popular design feedback questions is finding the best time to share your thoughts. Learn how to choose the right moment, whether you create a product page or make a website redesign. Here are some examples of when to share your suggestions.

Before Work Starts 

Use this moment to give comprehensive feedback on previous projects or references. This knowledge will help designers understand your preferences and set guidelines for future collaborations. It also saves time and ensures alignment right from the start.

After The Design Presentation

Explaining underlying principles often clarifies design concepts. This post-presentation feedback fosters informed evaluation and constructive discussions to refine the design direction.

At the Finish Stage

Interrupting the creative process can disrupt flow and productivity. Instead, save feedback for key milestones. This approach allows designers to explore ideas while ensuring timely guidance to steer the project in the desired direction.

Leave the Choice To Your Designers

Encourage an open dialogue, inviting them to specify the best times for feedback. Actively involving them demonstrates trust and respect for their expertise. It will also foster a collaborative environment that promotes innovation and growth.

How to Give Feedback to a Designer

You can explore various methods to give good feedback. However, when it comes to urgent real-time communication, you may not have time to search for this information. Therefore, the main goal is to be constructive and not to offend the person. 

Think about whether you would accept the feedback you plan to give if you were in the designer's shoes. Then, use the main life hacks from us that we leverage in the team.

Be Clear and Specific 

Identify concrete examples of encountered challenges. Instead of vague preferences, explain why certain elements aren't working and share your reasoning behind the feedback. 

Vague feedback can be confusing. Instead, helpful feedback suggests actionable changes, such as adjusting colors, fonts, or the placement of some elements. 

Choose the Correct Format

When giving design feedback, think about the best way to deliver it. While general concepts are okay to discuss during the meeting, it's better to point out specific edits. This way, the designer can implement them accurately. Also, it will be more simple for you to have changes reviewed. If you give text edits verbally, be aware of the higher chance for errors and difficulty checking them effectively in that format.

Give Context

Connect your feedback to the project's goals and business objectives. Sharing insights helps align the team and enhances their work. Also, it ensures decisions are aligned with what's best for the project rather than personal preferences. 

Provide Actionable Feedback 

When offering feedback, provide actionable suggestions and highlight areas for improvement. Rather than prescribing solutions, focus on articulating the problems. Designers should grasp what isn't working and why.

If you have ideas for solutions, feel free to share them. However, remain open to leveraging the designer's experience to determine the optimal approach.

Make It Consolidated

Consolidated feedback is crucial for project efficiency. Conflicting directions can cause delays and confusion. To streamline the process, designate a single point of contact to gather feedback from the team and ensure consensus before providing input. Also, keeping the team small helps maintain focus and clarity in decision-making.

Stay Objective and Professional 

Evaluate the design, not the person. Avoid letting personal biases influence your feedback. Approach feedback sessions with politeness and friendliness. Respectful criticism fosters a positive work environment.

Summary

At Arounda, we've learned that no project can thrive in a vacuum without feedback. Refining how we give and receive feedback has made our designers' work more efficient. 

With extensive experience in UI/UX and Web Design, working on projects like VOXE and Player’s Health, we can confidently say that insights from the article have been tested in practice.

If you're seeking the right answer to "How to give design feedback?", simply use them as a guide, adapting to your specific needs. If our approach to communication aligns with your values and you're seeking a reliable design partner, don't hesitate to contact us.