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How To Ask For And Give Better Feedback

If you work in the design field, you know that one of the dread, for most of us, are feedback.

Articulating a criticism is hard, and receiving it, even harder. Everything can be criticized, and everyone has an opinion.

So, most of the times, feedback bring pain and torment, and could result in sterile, unconstructive discussions.

I’ve been through this, and here are some small basic tips I’ve learnt along the way that could help you.

“What do you think of my layout/Illustration/etc ?” is the best way to open the gates of hell.

Everyone has an opinion, and everyone has tastes. By asking that question, you could expose yourself to random subjective answers ranging from very positive to truly discouraging.

If you want a feedback, ask for something specific, and identify which part of your work on whom you have doubts.

What do you think of that area ? Is it visible/readable/comprehensible ?

Ask targeted questions, and avoid hell.

Provide context

If you ask for some feedback to someone that is absolutely non-related to the project : provide a context (except if you want to test some parts that have to be understandable by anyone).

Provide context about the client, the project. About what is not relevant in your design choices.

That color is awful, that font is disgusting, that logo is a nightmare.

Yes, but maybe you didn’t have the choice. Skip that part quickly, and set the frame for what is important.

Who is your client, what are the stakes, what is the issue you’re trying to solve there ?

Don’t let critics run like wild horses. Put fences.

Don’t bring all the village to the party

Repeat after me : everyone has an opinion and everyone loves to share it. Multiply that fact by ten, and it might results in 10 people saying ten different things, contradicting themselves, and sending you and your sanity into one of Hell’s circle.

Until it’s absolutely required, don’t let a crowd build itself around your desk and disperse the crowd. This is not a contest, they will not win something in the end.

As much as possible, be kind, polite, and ask them to be let alone (or with the people with whom you were initially working).

Decline unsollicited feedback

Everyone has an… Should I really repeat myself ? No, of course :)

Sometimes, people will come at your desk, attracted or puzzled by what they see on your screen, and will want to share their opinion and advices to you.

You can welcome them, or tell them that for now, you don’t need any feedback.

If you choose the first option, remember the two first tips and provide the frame. If things go south, listen, be polite and then, put the conversation to an end.

You have eyes, you have an opinion, fine. Now, until what you’d seen is utterly provocative, awful or disrespectful to the human eyes : resist and stay away.

The one who’s working is probably focus on his work. Maybe that work is in its early stage. Maybe its more difficult than it looks, etc…

So, don’t interrupt.

If you really want to share your opinion : just ask. Politely. Send an email to ask if it’s possible to chat about what you’ve seen later, and if you receive a positive answer, then go.

Stay focus, and be specific

Yes, the same advice is also good for the one who provides a feedback.

If someone asks you a specific question, try to answer the question or help fixing the issue.

If someone asks you a broad question, avoid the quick, broad, subjective answer, and try to determine with that someone which part should really be discussed.

You hate orange, that’s a matter of taste, but that is probably not relevant in the project.

There should be a bigger issue to deal :)

Ask for context

There again, that advice is the same for both the one who gives and the one who receives the feedback.

When one of my colleague asks me for a feedback, and I don’t know anything about the project, the first thing that I ask, before having a look at the layout is : what’s the context ?

Tell me the story. Tell me what’s the goal. I’m curious.

It will help me to keep for myself unrelevant questions, and ask some others, hopefully more pertinent.

The person is not the work

At all means, don’t formulate a critic that target a person. A person is not his work, so, please, always be kind and separate what you see from the one who did it.

Maybe you’ll find those tips too easy, but, I can assure you that most of times, they are difficult to apply.

Because of the nature of the work, of the place we’re working, the people we’re working with, or simply our own nature.

But if you try some of them, even at a small scale, I really hope that they will help you to improve your daily tasks and the way you interact with your teammates.

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