Ways To Make Design Feedback More Actionable

Early in my career, I made the mistake of asking for feedback poorly. Here's what I did wrong and how you can do better: I'd ask for vague feedback such as "How can I improve?" This approach fails because it's reactive (focuses too much on what you did wrong) and it puts too much work on the feedback provider. Instead, shift to future-focused and specific questions. Three better questions to ask: 1/ “How could I make this deliverable 50% better in the future?” 2/ “For future proposals, what would make you LOVE something instead of just like it?” 3/ “What are 2 things I can improve on XYZ next time?” Focus your question on improvement and moving forward (not blame or criticism). Remember, the quality of your questions determines the quality of the feedback.

I heard it again last week. “Can you make it pop?” If you’ve worked in design for more than five minutes, you’ve probably heard at least one of these: ❌ “Can we make the logo bigger?” ❌ “I don’t like that color.” ❌ “Can you make it pop?” And if you’re like I used to be, your first reaction might be frustration. Why can’t they just trust the design? But here’s the thing. These comments aren’t really about logos, colors, or vague instructions to “pop.” They’re about confidence. Clients and stakeholders aren’t designers. They don’t see what you see. And when they don’t have the words to express what’s off, they default to what’s familiar. The key isn’t to push back. It’s to guide them toward a solution that works. Here’s how: 1️⃣ “Can we make the logo bigger?” 📌 What they’re really saying: “I’m worried people won’t recognize our brand.” ✅ How to respond: “I totally get that making your brand stand out is important. Instead of making the logo bigger though, what if we adjusted spacing, contrast, or placement so it stands out without overwhelming the design? Let me show you a few options.” 👉 Why this works: You’re addressing their concern while keeping the overall design intact and offering a strategic alternative. 2️⃣ “I don’t like that color.” 📌 What they’re really saying: “This doesn’t feel right to me.” ✅ How to respond: “Totally understand. Can you share what’s not working for you? Is it the tone? The contrast? Or how it fits with your brand? I want to make sure the color supports your goals, not just looks good.” 👉 Why this works: Instead of reacting, you’re making them articulate their reasoning, which leads to better conversations and decisions. 3️⃣ “Can you make it pop?” 📌 What they’re really saying: “Something feels flat, but I don’t know how to explain it.” ✅ How to respond: “Got it. When you say ‘pop,’ do you mean more contrast, a stronger focal point, or more visual depth? Let’s pinpoint what’s missing so we can refine the design without adding clutter.” 👉 Why this works: You’re turning vague feedback into actionable direction while maintaining design balance. ⸻ When clients push back, it shouldn’t be a battle. They aren’t the enemy. They’re your partner. These moments aren’t about proving them wrong. They’re opportunities to lead the conversation, educate, and show your value beyond just execution. Great designers don’t just create. They guide. ⸻ 💬 What’s the most common (or most frustrating 🙃) piece of client feedback you hear? #GraphicDesign #WebDesign #UXDesign #DesignStrategy #FreelanceDesign #CreativeProcess

My go-to method for giving feedback to my students (it's NOT a "compliment sandwich" :) 👉 It's COIN! C - Context O - Observation I - Impact N - Next steps For example: "In our mock interview (C), I noticed that you kept circling back and repeating information when describing your design process (O). This repetition could potentially give the impression that you're unsure of your own methods (I). Let's work on creating a clear, linear narrative for each project and practice it until you can confidently deliver it within 2-3 minutes (N)." Why it works ↴ - It's clear and direct. No sugar-coating! - It focuses on specific actions and their effects. - It provides actionable next steps. - It avoids confusion (the feedback receiver knows exactly what to work on) What's your go-to feedback method? Share your thoughts below! 👇 #ux #uxcareers #UXLeadership #FeedbackTips

How to give feedback to your designer without making them secretly resent you: Giving and receiving feedback is hard—especially when it’s on something that took a lot of effort. But avoiding it only delays the inevitable (or worse, you end up living with something subpar just to avoid conflict). If you're a designer, you've heard these before. If you've worked with designers, you’ve probably said at least one of these: “Just make it pop” “Can you make the logo bigger?” “It’s missing something” “Can we combine all 3 options?” “Let’s make it look like Apple” The problem? Designers can be emotional, irrational, and a little fragile (hi, it’s me 👋). We’ve heard these lines a thousand times, and they rarely help us make better decisions. So here’s the trick: Go one or two levels deeper. Instead of: ❌ “Make the logo bigger” Try: ✅ “The hierarchy in the navigation feels off.” This slight shift in language shows that you trust your designer to solve the problem, not just take orders. You’ll probably get a much better result—and they’ll feel respected along the way. This doesn’t mean you need to sugarcoat everything. There’s a time and place for blunt feedback. But if that’s your default... why hire a designer in the first place? I used to take feedback personally. I’d get defensive. But now, I lean into it. I’ve learned to dig deeper—because there’s usually a real insight underneath the surface comment. But it takes time and lots of reps to build that awareness. And especially when working with younger designers, you should be aware of HOW you are communicating with them.