Design Thinking Workshop Feedback Methods That Work

Not everyone is your audience. Not all feedback is useful. Just changing how I ask for feedback made all the difference. Here’s how. When I first started as a designer, I’d ask almost anyone for feedback on my work. I would turn to the person next to me and ask, “What do you think?” As tempting as that approach was, I was wrong. It felt easy to grab quick input from everyone, but that did more harm than good. Over the years, as a UX Designer, I’ve asked for tons of feedback on my work. It is the best way to grow but what matters is knowing 𝘸𝘩𝘰 to ask and 𝘩𝘰𝘸 to ask. The best feedback is: 1. 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐲. It’s important to time your feedback well and maintain a feedback loop. If it’s too late, you might find it difficult to make changes. But if you ask too soon and without enough details you risk distracting the reviewer with unfinished or unnecessary elements that won’t answer your questions. 2. 𝐓𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐝. The best feedback comes from people who understand the problem you’re solving. It might seem easy to ask a bunch of friends or colleagues, but a random opinion won’t help if they don’t know your goals, audience or constraints. Too many voices can dilute your vision so the right feedback from the right people is what really matters. 3. 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞. Not everyone knows how to give useful feedback. If you walk away from a discussion feeling demotivated, think whether you asked the right person. Good feedback should highlight areas for growth while also respecting your effort. The best feedback provides context behind the critique rather than just following trends or what 'looks good' to them. 4. 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞. Feedback should give you a clear direction, not just a list of what’s wrong. What good is it if someone just says, “This doesn’t look good”? You’d be left wondering about a hundred different ways to fix it. The way you 𝐚𝐬𝐤 for feedback determines the quality of what you 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐯𝐞. Here are some better ways to ask for feedback: 1. Focus on a specific area: Instead of "What do you think?" ask "Does this layout make it easy for users to navigate?" 2. Ask for pros and cons: "What’s working well and what could be improved?" 3. Request alternatives: "If *something* doesn’t work, do you have any suggestions to improve it?” 4. Clarify intent: "This work prioritizes *a certain need*. Do you think it meets that goal?" 5. Encourage detailed input: "Can you explain your thought process as you review this?” 6. Give context: "Since you understand *a particular user need* I'd love your perspective on this." 7. Ask for usability insights: "Would this be intuitive for someone as a first time user?” Asking for feedback is a critical skill that takes intentional effort to get right. The way we ask for feedback is just as important as the feedback itself. Let's Discuss- Is it easier for you to give feedback or receive it? #ProductDesign #UX #Feedback #EarlyCareer

What users say isn't always what they think. This gap can mess up your design decisions. Here's why it happens: → Social desirability bias. → Fear of judgment. → Cognitive dissonance. → Lack of self-awareness. → Simple politeness. These factors lead to misinterpretation of user needs. Designers might miss critical usability issues. Products could fail to meet user expectations. Accurate feedback becomes hard to get. Biased data affects design choices. To overcome this, try these strategies: 1. Create a comfortable environment: Make users feel at ease. Comfort encourages honesty. 2. Encourage thinking aloud: Ask users to verbalize thoughts. This reveals their true feelings. 3. Use indirect questions: Avoid direct queries. Indirect questions uncover hidden truths. 4. Observe non-verbal cues: Watch body language. It often tells more than words. 5. Triangulate data: Use multiple data sources. This ensures a complete picture. 6. Foster honest feedback: Build trust with users. Trust leads to genuine responses. 7. Analyze discrepancies: Compare what users say and do. Identify and understand the gaps. 8. Iterate based on findings: Refine your design. Continuous improvement is key. 9. Stay aware of biases: Recognize potential biases. Work to minimize their impact. 10. Keep testing: Regular testing ensures alignment. Stay connected with user needs. By following these steps, designers can bridge the gap between user thoughts and statements. This leads to better products and happier users.

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