Tips for Designer Feedback

Your designer has just sent you files to review–where do you begin? How do you communicate your ideas to your designer effectively?

Clear Directions

Keep your instructions as direct as possible, focusing on one aspect at a time. When your critiques are easier to navigate and understand, you’ll get higher quality work that is ready faster. If things are confusing or contradictory, your designer will have to ask more questions and has a higher chance of not meeting your expectations. Be as specific as possible with your feedback. Phrases like “make it pop!” typically aren’t helpful, but comments such as “I would like a brighter shade of red” are actionable.

Timely Responses

Make sure that you’re meeting all the deadlines on your end so your designer can keep moving forward with the design and meet the timeline of the contract. It’s okay to need a few days to give a thorough response–just make sure your designer is aware and has the capacity to alter the timeline.

Focus on your Goals

Remember that the main goal of the graphic designer is to visually communicate a message, and make sure to reference your own goals throughout the process. It’s easy to get lost in choosing a color palette or a typeface and forget the main focus of the project. Check in often with yourself and your designer to make sure you’re hitting your goals.

Say What You Mean

There’s no need to sugarcoat or hold back with your feedback–your designer wants to create the best possible solution for you and your business. If you just don’t like something, it’s okay to say so, as long as you can explain your reasoning so your designer knows exactly what you’re looking to avoid. Remember that you’re critiquing the design, not the designer.

Trust Your Designer

Graphic designers have experience and often have formal education in the field. Of course, your opinion is incredibly important in the collaborative design process, but be sure to listen to concerns and critiques your designer has as well. You are working together to design a solution, and together can create something you wouldn’t have been able to separately.