Tips on Giving Creative Feedback

Navigating the Creative Process Together

Not everyone speaks the language of design or has all the answers—and that’s okay! What matters most is communicating in a constructive way to shape ideas our together. Your unique perspective is the key to our success.

[ When giving feedback, think of it as a conversation, not a final judgment. ]

HELPFUL VS. NON-HELPFUL FEEDBACK

Helpful Feedback:

• Specificity: "I love the blue in the color scheme—it aligns well with our brand." (vs. "Change the colors; I don’t like them.")

• Objective Alignment: "The moodboard reflects the professionalism we’re aiming for." (vs. "Make it more interesting.")

• Highlighting Favorites: "The typography feels on-brand. Let’s explore similar options." (vs. "I don’t like any of the fonts.")

• Describing Emotions: "The imagery evokes trust and reliability, which is great for our audience." (vs. "It doesn’t feel right.")

• Comparisons: "This reminds me of a competitor’s design. Can we make it more unique?" (vs. "I don’t like it; it’s boring.")

• Clarity on Changes: "Can we try a warmer color palette to make it more inviting?" (vs. "It needs to be different.")

• Providing Examples: "Apple’s minimalist style works well. Can we aim for something similarly clean and modern?" (vs. "I want it to pop more.")

• Considering the Target Audience: "The design appeals to younger customers—can we tweak some elements for professionals?" (vs. "I don’t think our customers will like it.")

Non-Helpful Feedback & How to Improve It:

• Vague Statements:
  ❌ "It just doesn’t feel right."
  ✅ "It feels too formal—can we make it more inviting?"

• Personal Dislikes Without Explanation:
  ❌ "I don’t like the font."
  ✅ "This font feels too playful for our brand—can we try something more sophisticated?"

• Subjective Requests Without Direction:
  ❌ "Make it more interesting."
  ✅ "Can we add more contrast or a bold accent color to create visual impact?"

• Lack of Context:
  ❌ "I don’t like the colors."
  ✅ "The color palette feels too muted. Can we explore richer tones?"

• Overly Broad Critiques:
  ❌ "Change everything."
  ✅ "The layout feels cluttered. Let’s simplify the design and add more white space."

• Negative Comments Without Direction:
  ❌ "This is terrible."
  ✅ "The composition feels off. Can we balance the elements more?"

• Ignoring Brand Guidelines:
  ❌ "Make it look like [trendy design], even if it doesn’t fit our brand."
  ✅ "I like the modern aesthetic of [trendy design], but how can we adapt that while staying true to our brand?"

• Unclear Demands:
  ❌ "Redo it."
  ✅ "The concept is close, but I’d like to see an alternative layout that feels more structured."

FINAL NOTES: Effective feedback leads to better collaboration, clearer direction, and a final result that truly reflects your vision.