The Art of Feedback: Navigating the Creative Process Together

HOW TO PROVIDE HELPFUL FEEDBACK FOR PROJECTS

Not everyone speaks the language of design or has all the answers when it comes to your creative projects. That's perfectly okay! What matters most is how we communicate and frame our thoughts to collectively achieve our end goals.

Your unique perspective and insights are the key ingredients that make our collaboration successful.

In providing feedback, consider it as a conversation.

Express your thoughts, preferences, and feelings about the creative elements you see. If something resonates with you, share it. If you're unsure about a particular aspect, ask questions and then some more until you’re clear.

By framing your feedback in specific and constructive ways, we can navigate through the creative process more efficiently, bringing us closer to the final vision that aligns seamlessly with our brand.

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HELPFUL VS. NON-HELPFUL FEEDBACK

Helpful Feedback:

1. Specificity:

   • Helpful: "I love the color scheme, especially the use of blue. It aligns well with our brand's identity."

   • Non-helpful: "Change the colors; I don't like them."

2. Objective Alignment:

   • Helpful: "The moodboard captures the professionalism we want for our brand."

   • Non-helpful: "Make it more interesting."

3. Highlighting Favorites:

   • Helpful: "The typography stands out and feels on-brand. Let's explore more options like that."

   • Non-helpful: "I don't like any of the fonts."

4. Describing Emotions:

   • Helpful: "The imagery evokes a sense of trust and reliability, which is great for our audience."

   • Non-helpful: "It doesn't feel right."

5. Comparisons:

   • Helpful: "This moodboard reminds me of our competitor's design, which we want to avoid. Can we explore a more unique approach?"

   • Non-helpful: "I don't like it; it's boring."

6. Clarity on Changes:

   • Helpful: "Can we experiment with a warmer color palette to make it more inviting?"

   • Non-helpful: "It needs to be different."

7. Providing Examples:

   • Helpful: "The minimalist style works well for Apple. Can we aim for something similarly clean and modern?"

   • Non-helpful: "I want it to pop more."

8. Consideration of Target Audience:

   • Helpful: "The moodboard resonates with our younger audience. Can we adjust some elements to appeal more to professionals?"

   • Non-helpful: "I don't think our customers will like it."

Non-Helpful Feedback:

1. Vagueness:

   • Non-helpful: "It just doesn't feel right."

2. Personal Preferences without Explanation:

   • Non-helpful: "I don't like the font."

3. Overemphasis on Subjectivity:

   • Non-helpful: "Make it more interesting."

4. Lack of Context:

   • Non-helpful: "I don't like the colors."

5. Failure to Identify Issues:

   • Non-helpful: "Change everything."

6. Negative Tone without Constructive Input:

   • Non-helpful: "This is terrible."

7. Ignoring Brand Guidelines:

   • Non-helpful: "Make it look like [current trendy design], regardless of our brand guidelines."

8. Demanding Changes without Explanation:

   • Non-helpful: "This isn't what I want; redo it."

Remember, effective communication and collaboration between the client and the creative team are essential for achieving a successful outcome.