How To Appreciate A Graphic Designer

How to Give Your Graphic Designer Feedback in xi Like shooting fish in a barrel Steps

A couple weeks ago, we were talking virtually how your designer is non an order taker. I fabricated a pretty convincing example equally to why, as the client, y'all should refrain from telling your graphic designer how to do their task. But of course nosotros're now all wondering, when and how should y'all offer feedback? If at all?

Rest assured, I retrieve it's perfectly fine and healthy for a client to provide constructive feedback in the designer-client human relationship. In fact, something feels wrong if the client doesn't have anything to say when I present a design. Trust me, we desire to hear from you! Then it's really simply a matter of how you phrase things.

Let's become over them, shall we?

1. Offset, make sure you're on the same folio

When providing feedback, information technology's important that you both are clear on what exactly you're evaluating. Are y'all looking at the overall look and feel of the pattern or logo? Are you giving input on the color scheme or font choices? What well-nigh the message and branding? Or the imagery used?

Fifty-fifty being aware of whether or not the images and content are placeholders can be a big deal. I've had then many clients who immediately say they don't like the photo on a website comp, which was really just a placeholder and was going to exist changed anyhow. Relax, and let'southward effigy out what we're talking nearly first.

Bad: "What practice you think?"
"I like information technology."

Skilful: "First, allow's go over the overall look and feel of this brochure. Do y'all think it conveys the message yous were trying to communicate?"
"For the nigh function, yes. Yet, I'thou non certain if the outside looks very welcoming, which is an integral function of our make. What can we practise to address that?"

2. Be straight and honest

Don't worry, nosotros are professionals. Every bit much as I'd dear information technology if you were ecstatic nearly the design and didn't want to modify a affair, the reality is that doesn't happen very often and I'1000 used to hearing criticism. I promise you, you won't hurt my feelings if what you lot accept to say isn't all roses and sunshine. Just don't be a wiggle about information technology; I yet spent blood, sweat, and tears on this design for yous.

Bad: "Yes, I guess this will work."

Good: "This is a expert outset, and I appreciate how much endeavor you've put into researching my competitors. But I'm worried that this looks a footling too much like some of the stuff they're doing. Is it possible to differentiate ourselves better?"

3. Eliminate "similar" from your vocabulary

Much similar #4 beneath, it's important that yous eliminate the give-and-take "like" from your vocabulary when giving design feedback. Frankly, I don't care if you like it. What I care nearly is if this design meets your concern goals. What I intendance about is how your audience responds to it. So keep that in listen when giving your designer input.

Bad: "I really similar that font!"

Good: "The font you used is a swell pick, I think information technology is very legible and volition really appeal to our younger audience."

iv. In fact, go out your personal tastes at the door altogether

I know this is hard, but try to non bring any personal biases into the design presentation. Think, you are not your business concern. Information technology is a separate entity, with its own goals and needs. Remember what those are, and stick to them.

Bad: "I actually merely don't like blue. It reminds me of blueberries, and I detest blueberries."

Practiced: "Although I personally don't care for blue, I know our company stands for trust, loyalty, and security. Does blue do that?"

5. Ask questions

If yous're unsure most something, ask! In that location is no such thing equally a stupid question. Well, there are, but not during design presentation and feedback 🙂 It's a safe space.

Bad: "…."

Good: "Can you explain the difference betwixt RGB and CYMK again?"

6. Be the problem maker, not solver

Like we've been talking about, your task as the client is to conspicuously define the problem for the designer. The designer's task is to find the solution. Avert giving prescriptive feedback whenever possible, and instead tell the designer what issue you lot or your audition might exist having, and trust them to ready information technology.

Bad: "Tin can you motion that button upward and to the right? And make it bigger? And red?"

Proficient: "I'yard worried that people won't see the push. What would you recommend to make it more prominent?"

7. Reference the design brief. A lot.

Good feedback will refer back to your business concern' goals as well equally the audience's needs. Bad feedback is subjective and prescriptive.

Bad: "Those muted colors and serious photos are then tiresome. I think bright, colorful images would be much more fun."

Adept: "According to our brief, we wanted the brochure to entreatment to a more affluent audition. Working professionals in their 50's and lx'south, who make over $250,000 a year. I'm not certain colorful images will practise that."

8. Do not endeavor and comp

This is about the worst thing a client can practice, is when they take it upon themselves to design a comp or a mockup of exactly what they're looking for. As tempting as it is, don't.

I've never seen a client be happy with the results, and they oftentimes wonder why the design notwithstanding isn't working. I in fact charge actress when a client does this, and am considering calculation this to my contract. Go out designing to the design professionals, and refer to point #6.

If you must, provide some examples of outside designs that give the aforementioned impression yous'd like, and explicate what it is about them that seems to work.

Bad: "I made an example of what I'm looking for!"

Good: "Since our target market is very technologically advanced, and into what's new, we would similar the website to be trendy and 'airy' with a lot of white space…kind of like how Apple tree or eBay are doing theirs."

9. Don't requite cliché, vague, or overused feedback

If I hear the words, "arrive popular," one more than time, I swear I'g going to pop. A cap that is 😉

I kid, simply seriously, please practise not resort to using tired phrases to communicate with your designer. We hear them all the time, and frankly, no 1 knows what the hell "jazz information technology up" even means anyhow.

Bad: "Brand the logo bigger."

Proficient: "We would like more than emphasis on the logo. It seems to be getting lost at the moment and is hard to run across."

x. Don't let a committee get involved

Oh, the dreaded design by committee. And then Bob in accounting thinks the logo should be more circular and happy, just Sue in marketing thinks it should be sharp and edgy…tin we compromise? No, nosotros cannot compromise.

As the proverb goes, a mullet is a compromise between long hair and short hair. No thing how yous view it, it'southward merely ugly.

If you must become feedback from several people, select only a few key players, and ask directed questions, like, "does this logo communicate forcefulness?" or, "would these colors resonate with kids?"

Avoid asking them openly what they call back, because everyone will feel like they become to chime in and play designer. Compile their feedback into a coherent list, and decide what is important and what is not (hint: you'll exist taking a lot of feedback with a grain of salt). Then present that list to your designer, and together y'all tin go over it and discuss whether or not that input is appropriate for the brand.

Brand certain your designer has only ane point of contact (yous); nothing is worse than getting conflicting input from several different people.

Bad: "Jane likes this, but Sarah said that, and Jon's kid drew this! Oh, and my boss thinks it should exist vomit yellow."

Good: "Overall, anybody responded well to the idea of tying in mythology to our brand. However, some of them couldn't tell if the logo was a panthera leo or a tiger. Tin can y'all attempt rendering that a piffling differently to make that more clear?"

xi. Inquire the designer their professional opinion

Here'south a wild thought…endeavour asking the designer what they think.

I had a customer do this to me, and I almost fell out of my chair. Nosotros were reviewing some logo designs, and had narrowed it down to 2, and she asked me, "in your professional person opinion, which one do you recall will resonate more than with our target audience, and why?" And so I told her, honestly what I thought, she listened, and basically was thinking the same thing.

I really feel that together nosotros arrived at the best possible determination for her new logo. Now, you don't always have to just go forth with what the designer says, just you might exist surprised at what they accept to say. When all is said and done, they are the design experts, and ultimately you should trust their judgment. If you don't then something'southward incorrect.

Bad: "I remember we'll just go with this one."

Good: "What do you think volition be the best option for our visitor?"

In that location you lot have it, eleven easy ways to give good, solid feedback to your designer.

Yous both can give thanks me after. If you follow this advice next time y'all encounter with your designer, non only volition you be their favorite client for all eternity, you'll also finish up with a more successful, and strong, pattern.

What about you?

What sort of feedback do you lot appreciate, if you're a designer? If you're a client, what words or phrases take helped yous the most in getting your point across? Accept you been guilty of letting personal bias into your input?

Sheila

Sheila Patterson is the owner and Creative Managing director backside Noon Creative. GCU professor by mean solar day, brand identity proficient by night, she loves all things related to design. When she'due south non creating astonishing logos and websites, you lot can notice Sheila tormenting her married man and two feline furbabies, communicable the latest Game of Thrones episode, or reading a good book. Naps are prissy likewise.

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